CORNWALL council is introducing a new service to help people with support and advice on employment, training and skills and where to find further help.

Residents can call the People Hub phone line on 0333 015 0699. It will be available between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, with an out-of-hours messaging service outside of those times.

People Hub will be staffed by a multi-agency team to provide immediate information, advice, and guidance about:

• Employment and skills support programmes

• Temporary staffing agency workers

• Those under threat of redundancy or made redundant

• Self-employed

• Zero hours contract workers

• Being furloughed

• Retraining or developing new skills

• Sick pay and processes

People Hub was due to be launched later this year, but has been set up now as an emergency response to help people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

It will be managed by the Cornwall Development Company and work alongside the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth & Skills Hub to provide individuals – as opposed to businesses – with a similar service by monitoring what is happening and providing links to other organisations and agencies who can provide more personalised and in-depth support.

Cornwall Council cabinet portfolio holder for culture, economy and planning, Bob Egerton, said: “This new service is aimed at people who are concerned about their jobs and what help and support they can access in this current very difficult situation.

"The People Hub will help give individuals the support they need in the same way that the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth & Skills Hub is a fantastic resource for businesses.”

Mark Duddridge, chairman of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We know that COVID-19 is having a huge impact on our economy so it’s vital that individuals as well as businesses are supported through this crisis. The People Hub will provide that support to anyone facing employment issues or wanting to develop new skills.”