The Future Jobs Fund

The Future Jobs Fund (FJF) is a Labour government scheme backed by around £1 billion that's supporting the creation of of jobs for the long-term unemployed, lasting until June 2011. In this time it's hoped to create 150,000 new jobs, principally aimed at 18-24 year olds.

Labour has guaranteed every single 18-24 year old who has been out of work for a year or more a job, work experience or training for at least 6 months.

Because we want the FJF to succeed and not be buffeted by market forces we have set it up so that, generally speaking, larger organisations like councils or major charities lead the bids, bringing with them smaller employers, youth groups and the like.

The first list of successful FJF bidders was announced at the start of August. Here's the list for London:



Despite bids from pretty much every corner of London, Wandsworth's Conservative council is nowhere to be seen.

This leads me back to the carping by Putney's Conservative MP about unemployment last month. It's easy to write about "supporting our community through the recession" but here's one way she and her Conservative council could be working with local business to create real jobs and she's nowhere to be seen. This is why the Conservatives are called the"do-nothing" party.

If you're interested in participating in the Future Jobs Fund, you can find out more here.