After Jonathan’s tireless campaigning to government, in 2021 the Home Office announced they were creating over 500 brand new jobs in Stoke-on-Trent over the next five years.
Jonathan first raised this in November 2020, having run a petition and gathered letters of support, from the likes of the local Citizens Advice, and Staffordshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
He met several times with the Home Secretary, and lobbied relentlessly at every opportunity in the House of Commons to make the move a possibility.
It will see the opening of a brand-new Innovation Centre within which new caseworker, IT, policy and corporate roles will be created, offering exciting career paths to local people.
Also included in the move will be great new apprenticeship opportunities, which is excellent news for young people across our city looking to make the first step in their careers.
These types of high-skilled jobs will be transformational for local people, demonstrating the great potential of the Potteries as a growing hub for new employment opportunities.
The Home Office have already recruited 100 people into roles, with more waves being released until all jobs are filled in 2025.
In November 2022 it was confirmed by the Home Office that the first 100 jobs would be moved into Two Smithfield, Hanley, and that they were working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to secure a long term premises.
The Home Office have since advertised the recruitment of an additional 160 job roles in customer service and asylum & human rights, again based at the Two Smithfield site in Hanley, which is set to open in March 2023.
Jonathan said: “I am delighted that the Government have listened to my calls and backed Stoke-on-Trent as the second home for the Home Office.
To have secured such a presence for the Home Office, one of the big beasts of government, will be truly transformational for Stoke-on-Trent.
For too long places like Stoke-on-Trent have been taken for granted by an unambitious and complacent Labour party who are more interested in talking down our city rather than talking up its potential. Under this Prime Minister the people of Stoke-on-Trent will no longer be taken for granted.”
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