UNEMPLOYED residents are being urged to tap into a major new project, which aims to create more than 720 jobs in Hartlepool.

Over the next 18 months, £3.25m from the Government’s Future Jobs Fund will be used to help create the jobs through a partnership of public, private and voluntary sector employers led by Hartlepool Borough Council.

Employers are also being encouraged to get involved in the scheme and create jobs within their organisations.

The town has already established itself as one of the top performing Future Jobs Fund areas in the Tees Valley, with 34 new jobs filled in October and a further 141 currently available.

The vacancies are open to Hartlepool residents, aged 18 to 24-years-old, who have been claiming Job Seekers Allowance for between 39 and 50 weeks.

Alternatively it is available to those aged 25 and upwards, live in one of the Government-designated unemployment hotspots in the town and have either been claiming Job Seekers Allowance for between 39 and 50 weeks or have been claiming Employment Support Allowance, Income Support or Incapacity Benefits for 39 weeks or more.

In the next few months there will be a wide range of jobs available in administration, health and care, retailing and warehousing, construction, tourism and hospitality and community work.

At the moment there are vacancies in administration, customer services, youth work, recycling, painting and decorating and security.

The initial start-up costs of the new jobs will be covered by the fund and further support may also be available.

Councillor Pamela Hargreaves, Hartlepool Borough Council's cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: "It's vital for Hartlepool's economic future that we do everything we can to help people onto the jobs ladder, particularly our young people, and to support firms which want to expand their workforce.

"Thanks to the Future Jobs Fund, we have a very important opportunity to make a real difference.

"We very much welcome interest from businesses and organisations which are not yet involved but would like to play their part in this major project for our town."

For more information contact Kim Williams, at Hartlepool Borough Council on 01429-284482.