A Jobcentre has opened in a long-empty unit in Canterbury city centre previously occupied by Currys.

The Department for Work Pensions (DWP) swung open the doors to its base, on the corner of Longmarket and Burgate, this morning.

The city is now home to two Jobcentres as a result of today's launch, with the permanent branch in Northgate also remaining in operation.

The new centre, which employs 21 'work coaches', is due to be temporary.

Bar chain Slug & Lettuce previously planned to move into the site, but pulled out earlier this year due to the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry.

Despite the firm's departure, the owners of the site – LaFarge UK Pension Trustees Limited – still secured permission to turn the long-empty unit into a bar.

But the plans look some way off, as it is now a temporary Jobcentre.

Mims Davies MP, minister for employment, said: “We know this has been a challenging time for many people and that’s why we’re boosting our DWP Jobcentre support in every community of the UK, including here in Canterbury.

“Every customer benefits from having a dedicated work coach.

"They know the local jobs market and work with local businesses to match jobseekers to the latest opportunities."

When submitting plans to open the site earlier this year, the DWP said: "This office will be a short-term overflow facility addressing the need for rapid expansion of the DWP estate to address the additional needs for more work coaches and unemployment support due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"It’s aimed at a different clientele than that which normally attends Jobcentre Plus and will serve as a base for rapid face-to-face meetings between clients and job coaches attending clients by appointment only."

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