Employment Minister Guy Opperman has visited Newquay to find out about local schemes that help people back into work.

Mr Opperman went along to Newquay Jobcentre and Newquay Community Orchard.

He met with jobcentre staff,  DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) managers, Newquay BID (Business Improvement District) representatives and members of the orchard team.

Mr Opperman said: “It was great to meet the DWP team and Newquay BID and hear about the great work they are doing to fill local vacancies and help local businesses.

“The orchard is clearly a very special multi-faceted community project. It was great to see their work so far and see how the local jobcentre can work with them going forward.”

Newquay MP Steve Double, who accompanied Mr Opperman, believes the minister will take some of the job creation ideas put in place at the jobcentre and orchard to share nationally.

Mr Double said: “It was great to welcome the Employment Minister to Newquay so he could see first-hand some of the excellent local initiatives being delivered.

“Newquay Jobcentre is recognised as one of the best performing in the South West for the way it works with local businesses and community groups in innovative ways to help people find work. 

“I have literally watched the orchard grow since 2015 and what the team there has accomplished in that time is amazing and deserves to be nationally recognised.

“I know the minister will have taken away some of the ideas and enthusiasm for helping local people and improving the community demonstrated at Newquay Jobcentre and at Newquay Community Orchard as great examples to share nationally.”