Free paper boost

READ all about it - free: (l-r) David Whaley (managing editor, Oldham Chronicle), Samantha Durr (employer and partnership manager, Oldham Job Centre), Mohammed Naveed (work experience at the Chronicle), Dave Benstead (chairman OBLG) and Graham McKendrick (OBLG co-ordinator)

OLDHAM jobseekers are to be given free copies of the Chronicle in a deal between the Oldham Business Leadership Group (OBLG) and Job Centre.

The idea, to promote the council’s Get Oldham Working project, was launched at yesterday’s OBLG Business breakfast at Mahdlo Youth Zone. The first free copies of the Chronicle were being delivered today.

The deal, for 26 weeks, will see Monday and Thursday Chronicles available to all jobseekers when they go into the Job Centre for help finding work.

Chronicle managing editor David Whaley told a packed room of businessmen and women: “Get Oldham Working is a council-led project but, in truth, it is so much more than that as it belongs to all of us in the borough.

“This six-month commitment by OBLG gives a platform for highlighting so much of the positive efforts being made by companies and individuals. I urge Oldham firms to come forward with job offers, their placement and apprenticeship success stories, their new initiatives — we will openly promote them all under the ‘Get Oldham Working’ banner and give the job seekers real hope that there is something out there for them.”

Samantha Durr, employer and partnership manager at Oldham Job Centre, said: “This is a real boost for Oldham’s jobseekers.”

Dave Benstead, chairman of OBLG, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this innovative approach to communicating with those who need our help most.”