A major job-finding and training scheme is being launched this week to help cut Bradford's rising jobless figure.

Bradford West Labour MP Marsha Singh is due to launch the Worksearch Project by Act-ion for Business Limited (ABL) at the Carlisle Business Centre in Manningham on Friday.

The Project is being set up with help from Bradford & District Training & Enterprise Council and the Employment Service.

The project will give unemployed people jobsearch training and advice and run Basic Skills Workshops to help people needing extra help to become more confident in their search for work.

Bradford's jobless figure rose last month to 16,287 from 15,829 previously. The new figure is an increase on previous months because the Employment Service has added other towns into the Bradford travel-to-work area. The main speakers at the launch are Mr Singh, ABL's chairman Gwyn Jones and ABL chief executive Gurdev Dahele.

Mr Dahele said: "The Worksearch Project will assist the unemployed in getting into jobs. It will provide support to young people, long-term unemployed, women and people with English as their second language."

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