EMPLOYMENT and training for jobless people in Waltham Forest is being tackled by the borough's Business and Employment team with several schemes.

The much-needed development was discussed at last week's environment scrutiny committee.

The aim of the team is getting the unemployed in the borough back to work, by working with a number of agencies.

Environmental services project team manager Kathryn Lammas said the team was negotiating with new organisations in setting up businesses so that a certain percentage of the borough's workforce was employed.

The schemes that help the unemployed are Job Banks, the Capacity Building Project and the Vocational Training Initiative.

Miss Lammas said: "With our Job Bank initiative, based in Leyton and Walthamstow, we have a trained team of advisers who help the unemployed with interview techniques and CV preparations.

"We are helping promote various employment opportunities with a number of voluntary organisations.

"The clients who use our services, 75 per cent of them, go into full-time employment or further education."

Cllr Clyde Loakes said that he was concerned about the lack of opportunities for the unemployed over-50s, lone parents and long-term sick in the borough.

Miss Lammas said: "All the programmes are working in partnership with the benefits agency, and more funds have been invested.

"We have had meetings with Costco warehouse, and it is keen to employ the over-50s and lone parents as they are reliable and keen."

For more information on the Job Banks, ring 8496 2975/ 5353. For the Vocational Training Initiative and Capacity Building Project, ring 8529 4348.