Two more job clubs aimed at helping people get back into work could be set up after the success of the first scheme in Banbury.

Plans are being put together for a second job club in Bicester and a third in the south of the county, possibly Abingdon, the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership told the Oxford Mail.

The idea of the club is for people who have lost their job or are facing redundancy to have a place to meet and get advice.

About 300 people turned up for the county’s first job club session, held at Banbury’s Mill, in Spiceball, on Friday. A host of experts was on hand to give advice on careers, benefits, training and setting up small businesses. Dawn Pettis, business engagement and support manager for Oxfordshire Economic Partnership, said: “My job at the moment is to draft a full programme of job clubs, costings and advertising.

“It’s going to be an on-running programme over the next few months.

“Job clubs don’t come cheap and my job is to make sure we work with partners to get funding.

“We need to make sure we get the Banbury club right first, that it’s the right venue and see how much it costs.”

Banbury MP Tony Baldry came up with the idea to help the scores of people in and around the town facing redundancy because of the worsening economic situation.

These included staff at Woolworths, Prodrive, Aston Martin, and Brackley’s Honda Formula One Team.

In future weeks there will be workshops ranging from CV writing and interview techniques to setting up your own business.

The club is a joint initiative between Oxfordshire County Council, the Oxfordshire Economic Partnership and Cherwell District Council Jobcentre Plus, Oxfordshire Business Link, the Learning and Skills Council and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College. are also supporting the idea Banbury’s job club runs every Friday from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

For more information, call 01295 221 863 or email info@banburyjobclub.com news@oxfordmail.co.uk