Mark recently visited the offices of Jobcentre Plus in Leith to mark 100 years since the establishment of the first Labour Exchanges.

Just sixty-two Labour Exchange offices opened in February 1910 but from those humble beginnings the service has developed into today’s Jobcentre Plus which employs around 84,000 people in nearly 750 offices.

Mark said:

"The radical vision behind the first Labour Exchanges was that people should be supported in looking for work rather than simply left to fend for themselves and it continues to underpin the work of today's Jobcentre Plus."

"Visiting this office has given me the opportunity to thank staff for their hard work and commitment over what has been a difficult last eighteen months.

“With positive news of growth in the economy, Jobcentre Plus will continue to be vital in giving people in Leith looking for work the support they need."

Jim McGonigle, District Manager for Jobcentre Plus added:

“I am pleased that Mark has taken the opportunity to visit Leith Jobcentre to help celebrate our centenary and to hear his extremely positive comments about the efforts of my staff to help people back to work at this time”

“Jobcentre Plus is working closely with our partner organisations to secure more opportunities for all our customers and, in particular, young people through the Young Person’s Guarantee.

“In the last month 4125 people have found work and 51 people have been successful in securing Future Jobs Fund places. We will continue to do all in our power to help people find employment”  

In the last Budget the Government set aside an extra £1.7 billion for Jobcentre Plus to make sure that it is able to offer a personalised service to people looking for work. This has made a significant difference to Leith Jobcentre Plus which has added an extra floor and taken on new staff as a result.

The Young Persons Guarantee is a UK Government scheme under which all young people between 18 and 24 who are unemployed for six months will be guaranteed a job, training or work experience. The aim to ensure that young people leaving school gain or retain the skills necessary for work and are not lost to the job market as happened in the 1980s and 90s.

Investment like this in combating unemployment fits with the vision of the pioneers of Labour Exchanges who acted out of concern about the social effects of unemployment as well as the financial hardship it causes.

Labour Exchanges were introduced by the then President of the Board of Trade, Winston Churchill, after a campaign by trade unionists and social reformers for action to combat unemployment. The scheme was devised by William Beveridge who is regarded as the architect of the welfare state for his later report on social security drawn up during the Second World War.

Leith Jobcentre Plus is at
199 Commercial Street,
Edinburgh
EH6 6QP
Tel.: 0131 555 8000