EMPLOYERS came together in Oxford to help tackle the city’s recruitment crisis.

There is a general shortage of skilled and un-skilled workers and organisations have warned they are struggling to fill posts in care, retail, the health service and construction.

Yesterday Aspire, a city charity that helps local people into work, said it wanted to work with firms to employ more young people and ex-criminals. One company set to take up the offer is The Midcounties Co-operative in Oxford, which has more than 50 vacancies it has been unable to fill due to a lack of applications.

Leadership team ambassador Mark Adams said: “There are loads of jobs in Oxford and people have their choice but it is an expensive place to live, so they often commute from other places like Carterton and Witney.

“If there was a solution to that pressure from the cost of living on young people then we would also welcome that. But just getting the candidates through the door in the first place that is proving difficult – that is why we are here today, to see if we can find other sources.”

Part of the solution could be to bring in young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs) as well as ex-offenders, he said.

“We are forging links with Aspire because we have the opportunity through some of our retail stores to be able to bring these people through in a controlled way, for their benefit and for ours.

“Some of the things we have heard this morning are inspiring. And that is a word you do not use lightly. It has encourged us to think outside of the box and consider a different approach.”

Aspire said it wanted to link up with businesses, with the charity able to offer continuing support to people it helps into employment.

Chief executive Paul Roberts said the event yesterday, which attracted more than 80 firms, was a ‘huge success’.

He added: “All these companies face the same challenge but the key is mixing organisations that wouldn’t’ normally talk to each other – you have partners from the criminal justice system, private companies, local authorities and third sector charities.

“Oxfordshire has a very fast-growing economy but who is going to fill all these jobs? With the right support and opportunity there are thousands of people in the county who could do those roles. With the right culture change we could find a better solution.”