Basingstoke MP, Maria Miller, joined a meeting of the M3 Job Club to celebrate their 2021 successes and look ahead to 2022. Also taking part were the Mayor of Basingstoke, and representatives of Lenovo, who have recently partnered with the Job Club on a mentoring programme.
Maria said: “This has been a big year for the M3 Job Club, having celebrated their 10th anniversary and receiving Basingstoke’s Place to be Proud of Award.
2021 has obviously been an incredibly challenging year for businesses and consequently those looking for work. The reality is covid-19 will likely remain with us for the foreseeable future, and our route back to normality and to get the economy running at full tilt is by boosting our immunity to the disease. It is therefore heartening that the UK has been world-leading in both the development of vaccines, and their rollout, which will enable our economy to fully re-open, allowing businesses to once again have confidence in the future and to hire more people.
Looking ahead to 2022, the pandemic will have no doubt led many people to reflect on their own lives, including their careers. And we have seen significant changes in working practices. This will all contribute to many in the workforce looking to change their path, whether that be employment in a new sector, starting their own business, or changing their work-life balance. Flexibility in the employment market will therefore be important, and we need to be better at utilising the wealth of experience and skills which older job seekers can bring.
I therefore commend the work of the M3 Job Club, who have helped so many people back into employment, including those who have been out of employment for a relatively longer period of time. This ‘Journey with Lenovo’ scheme is just the latest example of the valuable work the Job Club does engaging with both local and global businesses for the benefit of their members.”