JOBLESS people in Derby are set to get a helping hand from a new scheme where they get six-month posts for which the city council pays the salaries.
The Derby's Working Project will fund 80 paid employment opportunities at businesses in the city.
This will cost £249,000, which will be funded by cash given to the city council by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Now the authority is calling on firms to sign up to take part in the scheme.
Councillor Sarah Russell, cabinet member for business, finance and democracy, said: "I'm proud that Derby's Working will support residents while, at the same time, helping local businesses to identify some of the untapped potential that exists in our city, and to benefit from an extra pair of hands at no cost.
"I'd urge businesses to contact us, find out more about the scheme and get involved in giving deserving people the opportunities they so desperately want."
Participants will work for six months for either 20 or 30 hours a week, and be paid at the living wage rate of £7.45.
Asked why six months, a council spokeswoman said: "This is to ensure we maximise the number of people that can benefit from the programme. We are working with local employers to explore the possibility of extending the period."
No participants have yet been signed up as the scheme will not officially launch until February.
But once it has started, placements will be offered to unemployed people through Jobcentre Plus which will also support businesses with the interview process.
Those on the scheme will be provided with a dedicated mentor and employers, who, the council said, "will work with staff to provide references towards the end of the six-month period".
At the end of their placement, the authority will aim to keep in touch with the people to see how they get on.
Businesses that could take part are from the manufacturing, hospitality and leisure, care, logistics and distribution, creative industries and the third sector and social enterprises.
To get involved companies should e-mail derbys.working@derby.gov.uk.
Firms will be contacted by the council and invited to a conference in March 2014.
