Nick Timothy – the MP for West Suffolk – chatted to the team at Haverhill Jobcentre Plus when he visitedon Friday 7 March 2025.
East Anglia district manager for the Department of Work and Pensions, Julia Nix, and the centre’s manager, Sam Freeman, were both on hand to introduce him to staff members and show him around.
They then give Mr Timothy a briefing about their work locally to help people find job opportunities and access the right community support.
The visit came at a time employers are saying that the Government’s rise in employer national insurance is hitting businesses hard, with many firms unable to take on new staff but being forced to increase productivity instead.
Following his visit, Nick said: “In these challenging times, I was delighted to meet the staff at this excellent facility, including its manager Sam Freeman, who is to be congratulated for making it such a success. The team are full of enthusiasm for the work they do, and their knowledge of — and passion for — Haverhill is infectious. This JobCentre is a real mainstay of our area.”
After speaking to Mr Freeman, Mr Timothy said he is keen to examine how job applicants at the Haverhill facility might be able to access more adult learning opportunities in Cambridge and other locations nearby.
“This would be a huge boon for local people. Hopefully, the bureaucratic obstacles can be overcome so people here in Haverhill can take advantage of the huge variety of courses available nearby so they can develop knowledge and skills.
