A new £1.4million three year scheme, Scarborough Job Match, has been announced by Scarborough Borough Council which aims to connect unemployed people to sustainable employment in the town.

David Kelly, economic development manager at the council says: “Recent employer surveys have highlighted the problems that local firms have in recruiting people with the required skills and qualities, and that there are high concentrations of unemployment in the town.

“As a result, the council has launched Scarborough Job Match to ensure that employers have access to the skills they need and that individuals in Scarborough town and Eastfield have the opportunity to gain the skills needed to help them progress into employment or into better jobs.”

Guidance Services have been appointed to run this unique jobs brokerage service, with an official start date in August, which will have three priorities for investment.

The main priority will require Guidance Services to work with businesses to provide advice and practical support on aspects of recruitment -including matching people possessing the right skills and qualities to an identified vacancy – and employee retention. They will also work with employers to help them retain their staff rather than lay them off when dealing with the current economic circumstances.

Working with individuals will be the core of the second priority. Workless people not currently on mainstream welfare to work programmes will be supported with access to training schemes and with job applications.

The third priority will see the refurbishment of premises in Scarborough town and Eastfield to provide Community Access Points in the heart of the local community, where individuals can access the support they need to become ready for work.

Matt Parsons regeneration officer at Scarborough Borough Council adds: “Over the last ten years public and private sector investment of over £450million has helped bring about significant change in the town. Despite the current economic climate, the longer term view is that the ability of Scarborough to diversify and strength the local economy is returning.

“However there are still significant concentrations of unemployment in Scarborough town and Eastfield. Scarborough Job Match aims to support residents from these communities into sustainable employment and provide them with the opportunity to benefit from, and contribute to, the ongoing renaissance of Scarborough.

“On the employer’s side, if we can assist 10% of the town’s 4000 employers then we know the scheme will have achieved part of its key objectives.”

Scarborough Borough Council is being funded by Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund for the Scarborough Job Match project.

Guidance Services is the lead partner in a partnership with Working Links and Groundwork North Yorkshire.

Woodend Creative Workspace in Scarborough has welcomed a new prestigious tenant with the move of BBC Radio York into a purpose designed radio studio.

Previously located in nearby Londesborough Lodge, the BBC has moved into state of the art premises at Woodend, which will allow the radio station to make more programmes from Scarborough.

The studio hosts the early morning show across North Yorkshire between 5am and 6.30am, hosted by Jerry Scott. It is also a base for Fay Yeomans, the east coast producer and district reporter Jill McKenzie. And Dr Rock is now recorded in Scarborough.

Andrew Clay director at Woodend says. “Securing the BBC studio cements Woodend at the centre of a creative revolution in Scarborough. The listed building is home to managed office and studio accommodation with 35 businesses now based here.”

The building includes 52 office units, nine artist studios, a public exhibition space and conference and meeting rooms.

David Kelly, economic development manager at Scarborough Borough Council adds: “Woodend’s primary focus is to encourage new ideas and talent and help create and sustain new and existing businesses in the creative sector. It sits at the very heart of Scarborough’s Renaissance programme and most recently played a leading role in Scarborough’s success in winning the nomination as Britain’s and Europe’s most enterprising town. Securing the BBC marks a superb first 12 months for Woodend.”

The developer behind the 83-acre Scarborough Business Park has reported “a high level of interest” in the £100 million scheme. Caddick Developments is currently in discussions with over 20 businesses who, collectively, could occupy a large proportion of the Business Park, which when completed will provide approximately one million sq ft of accommodation.

Peter Holley Director of Caddick Developments, comments “We have potential occupiers showing interest in the Business Park having identified the cost saving benefits of locating to Scarborough, and the skilled workforce available, as key drivers in their decision making process. Despite the current market conditions, we are still progressing a number of deals and following the first signs of economic recovery, we expect a flurry of new occupiers as various organisations make their final commitments to the scheme.”

Major infrastructure works, including an entire new road network and the upgrading of off-site utilities and state of the art broadband connections, have now been completed on the Business Park in preparation for new occupiers to move in.

Deals have already been completed on 15 acres of land and a number of occupiers are already trading from the site. These include, haulage company TEF Transport Ltd, who now occupy a brand new 25,000 sq ft building on the Business Park, and Gladman Developments whose high quality office space on the development is now home to new tenants including Swedish bank Handelsbanken and HSBC. Other deals include the sale of 5 acres of land to a local firm and 2.5 acres to Firmac Ltd, a Scarborough based engineering company who are nearing the completion of their new facility.

The development, adjacent to the A64, offers potential occupiers a range of benefits including flexible building solutions and the next generation of communications, following the installation of the new NYnet 100MB Internet connection which provides download and surfing speeds over three times faster than those accessible in many of the biggest cities in Britain.

Caddicks have secured detailed planning permission for Scarborough’s first dedicated trade park within the development which will create a much-needed commercial hub for Trade Counter operations within the area.

Sir Alan Sugar

1. Faith no more – Paul Torrist: “I am a Roman Catholic and as God is my witness I shook her hand outside.” Sir Alan: “Yeah? Well I’m Jewish and I couldn’t care less.” (Series 1)

2. Schoolboy error – “You didn’t like it when you got a B in your French exam. You’re not going to like it now, because you’ve got the big F – you’re fired!” (Series 4)

3. Nanny State – “This is a business bootcamp. Mary Poppins I am not.” (Series 4)

4. Sinking Feeling – “I’ve heard you managed the Titanic restaurant. Well, this is another disaster.” (Series 2)

5. Dead Weight – “You seem to have gone from anchor to w*nker.” (Series 2)

6. Fairtale Ending – [To Ansell Henry about Alexa Tilley]: “So Ansell, tell me about Gretel.” (Series 2)

7. Straight Talking – [Syed Ahmed on why he should stay]: “Because I’m a winner…” Sir Alan: “You’re not a bloody winner, you lost!” (Series 2)

8. No action replay – “I have an imaginary remote control in my hand – and you’re on pause.” (Series 3)

9. Just the two of us – “If you survive here, I promise you this: as sure as I’ve got a hole in my bloody a*se, when it’s down to two of you, people that nice about you now will not be.” (Series 1)

10. Classically trained – “You think you can second guess or play me? Well let me tell you I’m as hard to play as a Stradivarius” (Series 5)

Welcome to the Scarborough Business Association ‘business blog’. If you represent an organisation interested in developing the Scarborough business community, growing our region’s economy or would simply like to promote your own business online then please start blogging!

P.S. We’re also on the look out for a bit of business humour so please feel free to post related entries.