PRIME Minister David Cameron has backed The Westmorland Gazette’s new jobs initiative which launches next week.

The Tory Premier described our Action4Jobs campaign as ‘a fantastic initiative’ and it was also backed by Labour’s Ed Miliband and Liberal Dems leader Nick Clegg.

Action4Jobs is a new dedicated recruitment section aimed at bringing together employers and education providers to help people of all ages find work or develop career opportunities.

There will be a focus on the local jobs market and showcasing career and training opportunities available locally.

Business Secretary Vince Cable, in charge of the nation’s job creation drive, said it would ‘help people to find work, fill skills gaps in local industry and build a stronger economy."

South Lakeland traditionally has a low unemployment rate running at around one per cent but with pockets of poverty. The rate is currently at 1.1 per cent with 679 people out of work and in Eden there are 374 jobless people.

Across Cumbria, those out of work for more than a year fell marginally month-on-month but is still 360 higher than it was a year ago.

In July, 1,393 people started claiming job seekers allowance - up on June, although 1,681 stopped claiming.

Between April and June, close to 4,500 jobs were advertised in Cumbria with 340 in the health sector and 237 in the food and beverage industry.

Mr Cameron said: "This is a fantastic initiative by The Westmorland Gazette to help people who want to work hard and get on. By bringing together employers, colleges and business groups at a local level, people can hear about new opportunities, share experiences and progress at every stage of their career."

Mr Miliband MP added: “Action4Jobs is a brilliant campaign. This initiative will hopefully get more people in work at a time when opportunities are not easy to come by. There is a generation of young people currently feeling let down.”

Deputy Prime Minister Mr Clegg said: “Getting young people working is one of my absolute top priorities, so I am fully behind the Action4Jobs campaign. It’s a great idea to bring employers and colleges together to help young people find work.

Don’t miss next Thursday’s Westmorland Gazette for the launch of Action4Jobs.