JAMES Cleverly has paid a visit to a recruitment firm to mark the anniversary of the UK Government's Plan for Jobs.

The Braintree MP visited the towns HQ of CSS Recruitment and Training on Thursday to hear about how they have used the Government scheme.

Over the last year the government has supported over 14.5 million jobs and individuals- more than a third of the working population, as part of the £352 billion support package which helped safeguard jobs and businesses during the pandemic.

Mr Cleverly said CSS Recruitment are a "fabulous example" of just one business who has benefitted from the scheme.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Mr Cleverly added: "It was great to visit CSS Recruitment & Training today, to meet their staff and hear first-hand about how they have been using the government’s Plan for Jobs measures to create new employment opportunities across Essex.

"Over the past year, millions of people and businesses across the UK have been supported by the UK Government.

"Our Plan for Jobs has protected people’s jobs, supported families and created new employment."

Exactly a year ago, Chancellor Rishi Sunak set out the Government's plan.

To mark the milestone, ministers visited businesses across the country who have played a role in delivering the plan.

CSS Recruitment and Training CEO Liam Gleeson, said:

“We are extremely grateful for the financial support that the government put in place for businesses during the pandemic. In the absence of this, it would have been even more difficult to survive the past year and a half.

“We are now fighting back, with plans to open further offices in Lincolnshire and Warwickshire, which will necessitate the engagement of additional staff.”

Throughout the pandemic, 11.6 million jobs have been protected through the furlough scheme and 2.9 million self-employed workers have been provided with £25.2 billion in government grants.

The £2 billion Kickstart scheme is also helping to create new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country and a £2.9 billion Restart scheme has been launched in England and Wales to help long-term unemployment.