Shop aimed at getting people into work opened

The Hub at Home, in Chapel Road, Worthing, opened its doors on Friday, with staff holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The social enterprise, set-up by The Work Hubs, is split into a retail facility and an advice and training facility for those furthest away from employment.

In other shops set-up by the company, ex-offenders have been employed to gain vital skills.

Supervisor Jemma Green said it was ‘amazing’ to have opened.

She said: “I’m delighted and it’s amazing to finally open our doors.

“We started preparing for it four months ago.

At the moment, it’s just me in the shop but we will be contacting the job centre and probation to get more people involved.”

A wide variety of traders are already showcasing their crafts in the shops, and one of them, Chris Watkins, made the first sale of the day.

Her jewellery business, Chrysalis, started as a hobby, but now her products have made it onto the high street, thanks to the shop.

She said: “I think this is an absolutely brilliant idea.

“The shop has given me an opportunity to showcase my jewellery that I wouldn’t have otherwise got.

“I saw a story about the shop in the Herald a few months ago and got in touch with them from there.”

The shop is located in the old Connexions shop, adjacent to the Post Office.

The Work Hubs managing director Juliette Green said the hard work starts now to deliver the shop’s goals.

She said: “It’s a great initiative where the long-term unemployed will be able to gain new skills.

“I think the hard work actually starts here, now, in order to make sure the community is engaged with us.”