HAYLE FIRM SHOWS HOW TO KICKSTART CORNWALL'S ECONOMY, SAYS CLEGG (Julia Goldsworthy)

Julia Goldsworthy <info@juliagoldsworthy.org>

HAYLE FIRM SHOWS HOW TO KICKSTART CORNWALL'S ECONOMY, SAYS CLEGG

April 1, 2010 12:00 PM

Nick Clegg and Julia Goldsworthy talking to an engineer at Rigibore Ltd in Hayle

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said a Cornwall-based scheme that places graduates into local jobs while supporting businesses could point the way to future prosperity for the UK.

Mr Clegg came to Hayle to see the Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP) scheme in action at local firm Rigibore Engineering Ltd. He said the way that the scheme linked local firms with local graduates pointed the way to a sustainable economy in Cornwall.

A family-run company, Rigibore is one of Cornwall's success stories, manufacturing specialist drilling equipment for mining companies all over the world, including America, India and Europe. They have taken on several UCP graduates in recent years, who have helped boost the fortunes of the company.

Mr Clegg and MP Julia Goldsworthy chatted to recent recruits Richard Thomas and Uday Divakaran, who explained how they had found work through the scheme.

Mr Clegg said: "This is an example of how we can give hope to young graduates in Cornwall and kickstart the economy at the same time. The government should look at schemes like Unlocking Cornish Potential and use them as a model of how to improve employment prospects across the country."

Julia Goldsworthy said: "Under Labour, youth unemployment has doubled in Cornwall since 2007. Now one in five people under 25 are out of work in Camborne and Redruth.

"Labour have failed to build on the devastation left by the Conservatives when they tore the heart out of this area by wrecking local employment.For too long Cornwall has seen a brain drain of young people leaving the county to find work and afford a home. The UCP scheme is helping them to have a future here in their home county."