SECRETARY of state for work and pensions Peter Hain hosted a fringe meeting at the Menzies East Cliff Court Hotel in Bournemouth yesterday.

There a ground-breaking new jobs pledge aimed at finding job opportunities for those on benefits was signed by the secretary of state and new stores controller of Dunelm Gordon Gwynne.

Building on the local employment partnerships announcement made earlier this year, Dunelm is one of the first employers in Dorset to have given a commitment to offer guaranteed job interviews for people who have been on benefits and are ready to work, as part of the government's In Work, Better Off: next steps to full employment green paper.

Announcing the partnership, secretary of state for work and pensions Peter Hain commented: "Today is a very important first step in the partnership between government and employers in Dorset striving to help thousands more people who are ready to work achieve their ambitions."

He said: "There are 29,000 job vacancies in Dorset - a lot of them in Bournemouth and Poole - so what we can offer is job ready people straight off the benefits system.

"These people are more loyal and they stay with an employer longer. For those who have a mild disability their absence to sickness rates are lower too."

Upbeat about the possibilities of such partnerships, Mr Hain added: "These workers might be lone parents, they might be older workers but we will get them job ready - ready to go for an interview and do the induction training necessary. So I think it's a win win for everybody - for the people who have been languishing on benefit because coming off benefit to work opens up a whole new opportunity and horizon. It's a win for employers and the business community because they prefer to recruit local staff. Where jobseekers need extra skills we'll provide training. It's a win for the community, it's a win for families and for children and it's also a win for the country because there is less taxpayer's money going on benefits so it can be put into health and other frontline services."

So how quickly can this be implemented?

The secretary of state replied: "It could be quick - simply in a couple of weeks or a couple of months depending on the number of jobs that are needed. Dunelm is opening early next year in Bournemouth and we can do a deal with them quite easily."

Dunelm's 37,000 square feet Bournemouth store is due to open in January 2008 creating 80 new jobs.

Mr Hain enthused: "We need to take advantage of the untapped potential in Dorset. It's a huge task, one which needs the co-operation of individuals as well as government and business to make it work. The government needs to demonstrate responsibility by funding basic skills training and reform its provision; employees need to take their responsibility to take up the training on offer, and crucially, employers themselves need to show responsibility by providing job opportunities."

He concluded: "Our goal is full employment in our generation across Dorset. The reforms offer a step change in our approach - with new support matched by new responsibilities. Those facing particularly severe problems getting back in to work will now get fast-tracked help. And our reforms will not just be about getting people into work - job retention and progression are the new standards against which the success of welfare policy will be judged."

New stores controller of Dunelm Gordon Gwynne added: "Dunelm will be opening its 87th superstore in Bournemouth in early 2008.

"If we can improve the strength of our service by tapping into the skills of people in the region and give people the chance to return to work, then it will be of great benefit."