A NEW temporary job centre has opened in Keighley.

Twenty-four work coaches are based at the site, which occupies part of the former Beales store in Low Street.

The Department for Work and Pensions says the coaches will provide one-to-one tailored support to help people find employment.

Keighley's new centre is one of three to be opened in the Bradford district.

Clair Hussey, work coach team leader at the Low Street premises, said: "We can’t wait to welcome people and support them on their employment journey.

"This is an exciting time for the people of Keighley.

"The new site is in the heart of the town centre, with links to nearby public transport and local employers.

"It will give us the opportunity to work innovatively, bringing in partners and employers daily to enhance the existing offer that we provide from our current Worth House job centre.

"We are offering daily job search support, ensuring all our customers are helped with a tailored offer."

Some of the Keighley team joined the Department for Work and Pensions as part of a recruitment drive which saw 13,500 work coaches employed across the country.

Among them is Suphia Ahmed, who said: "The best thing about being a work coach is that you can support people, offering them guidance so they can reach their full potential in their career aspirations."

The launch of the new Keighley centre forms part of the Government's so-called Plan for Jobs.

Employment minister, Mims Davies, said: "We know it has been a challenging time for many people and that’s why we’re boosting our job centre support in every community of the UK, including Keighley.

"Every customer benefits from having a dedicated work coach, who knows the local jobs market and works with businesses in the area to match jobseekers to the latest opportunities.

"It’s brilliant to see our Plan for Jobs in action, from Kickstart to sector-based work academy programmes, and our work coaches are there to help people thrive and progress in employment."