Largest supplier about to force administration
Clintons is the UK's biggest card retailer and employs more than 8,000 staff, and has shops across the South and South East
MP's reaction to job losses
The MP for Southampton Itchen has reacted to news that British Gas is to close its call centre in Hampshire with the loss of 550 jobs.
British Gas jobs to go
British Gas is planning to close a call centre in Southampton at the end of the year with the loss of 550 jobs.
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Annual wages rise by 1.3%
ONS explain what unemployment figures mean
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) have produced a short Q&A video on today's Labour Market Statistics:
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Tough times for the young with poor youth employment
by Penny Marshall - Social Affairs Editor
Youth unemployment up 11,000, while overall unemployment is down. Tough on the young.
Unemployment fell by 14,000 in final quarter of 2012
Unemployment fell by 14,000 between October and December to 2.5 million, official figures showed today.
The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance last month fell by 12,500 to 1.54 million, said the Office for National Statistics.
Read more unemployment news and see previous figures here.
Average earnings increased by 1.4% in the year to December, 0.1% down on the previous month.
Largest supplier about to force administration
Clintons is the UK's biggest card retailer and employs more than 8,000 staff, and has shops across the South and South East
Read the full storyMP's reaction to job losses
The MP for Southampton Itchen has reacted to news that British Gas is to close its call centre in Hampshire with the loss of 550 jobs.
Read the full storyAdvertisement
Council responds to job losses
– Cllr Royston Smith, Leader of Southampton City CouncilSouthampton City Council will do everything it can to support British Gas staff at this very difficult time.
Helping our residents into employment is a top priority for the city, and we are already pulling together a taskforce of council officers with employment and skills expertise and partners including JobCentre Plus and other agencies to respond to today’s news.”
Jobs loss at British Gas
550 call centre workers for British Gas were told they were out of a job today.
The company said it was closing the centre, in St Mary's Road, Southampton, by the end of the year as part of a cost cutting review. It said this would help it to stay competitive.
Andrew Pate speaks to Ian Peters, Managing Director of British Gas and Mike Jeram from UNISON.
British Gas jobs to go
British Gas is planning to close a call centre in Southampton at the end of the year with the loss of 550 jobs.
Read the full storyUNISON - British Gas move "a blow for staff"
UNISON has called the possible closure of British Gas Residential’s office in Southampton -with the loss of 500 jobs - a blow for staff and the local economy.The company has told the union it is considering closing the office in Southampton, where the lease is due to finish at the end of next year.
– Mike Jeram, UNISON’s National Energy SecretaryThis is obviously very worrying news and a blow for our members working in Southampton. British Gas has been a significant employer in the town for many years and the customer service centre provides a variety of working patterns that are popular with staff especially those with children or other caring responsibilities.
“UNISON’s immediate priority is the interests of our members in Southampton and the impact on British Gas customers. We will rigorously examine the company’s business case with a view to defending our members’ jobs and avoiding compulsory redundancies."
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