The Department for Education and Employment is inviting bids to run 14 Employment Zones in England, Scotland and Wales. The contracts will cover a two year period from April 2000 and "will test out new and innovative help for long-term unemployed people".

Employment Zone funds replace benefit payments, and provide a flexible package of training and jobsearch with a Personal Advisor assigned to every unemployed person.

Employment Zones out to tender are in
Southwark
Tower Hamlets
Brent
Newham
Liverpool and Sefton
Haringey
Brighton and Hove
Doncaster
Birmingham
Plymouth
City of Glasgow
Middlesborough, Redcar and Cleveland
North West Wales
Caerphilly, Merthyr Tyddfil and Blaenau Gwent

Closing date for all bids is 5 October 1999.

Further information from: Gloria Brown, DfEE, Employment Zone Policy Team, SUPD6, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT