A NEW job club aimed at getting unemployed people back to work is to open in Bicester.

Job clubs have already opened at Banbury and Oxford Town Hall and the city’s Blackbird Leys estate.

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.

Experts will be on hand to give advice on careers, benefits, training and setting up businesses.

There will be a range of workshops from writing CVs and filling in application forms, to advice on interview techniques, as well as the latest vacancies and computers to use.

The Bicester club will meet fortnightly and will also be a chance for people to meet local employers looking to recruit.

It is a joint initiative between Oxford Economic Partnership, a body which promotes economic growth in the county, Cherwell district and Oxfordshire county councils, Oxford and Cherwell Valley College and Job Centre Plus.

Cherwell’s strategic director for planning, housing and economy John Hoad, said: “Banbury Job Club has been a great success and now we’re launching the idea in Bicester.

“We’ve already had thirty people contact us about coming along.

“In these difficult economic times, looking for a new job is harder than ever.

“The council is committed to maximising opportunities for job seekers and it’s good to see so many organisations coming together in one place every two weeks to offer help.”

County council director for environment and economyHuw Jones added: “Bicester is a growing town but that doesn’t mean that it’s immune from the effects of this economic downturn.

“Banbury Job Club has been a success. If we can deliver the same for Bicester then the town will have benefited a great deal. I look forward to seeing the job club in operation.”

Banbury MP Tony Baldry came up with the idea of the job club after many people living in the town were made redundant in the downturn.

The first Bicester job club will be held next Thursday at the King’s Arms Hotel, in Market Square, and will be officially opened by Mr Baldry.

From then it will open every other week between 11am and 1pm.

For details, call 01295 221866 or email info@ banburyjobclub.com or info@bicesterjobclub.com