STAFF facing redundancy from a Department for Work and Pensions site could benefit from £1,000 towards re-training.

Capita, which manages the file storage site at Scholefield Mill, Nelson, for the DWP, has offered the grant to those facing redundancy, if they are still employed at the end of this year.

Any member of staff who wants to take up the offer would need to start a vocational training course with a ‘recognised provider’ within six months, and the money would be paid directly to the training provider.

Concerns over the lack of support for staff wanting to re-train were among the issues raised by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) during discussions with Capita.

Last month PCS representatives and some of the 96 staff whose jobs are under threat took their campaign to London, and met with Capita’s retiring chief executive Paul Pindar.

PCS officer Caroline Turner said: “We welcome this offer from Capita but we have written back seeking clarifications on the conditions of the offer, and about redundancy payments.”

Most of the staff at the file storage site in Brunswick Street, earn £6.67 per hour and staff who have been there up to eight years face redundancy payments of around £2,000, with the PCS calling for all staff to receive a £6,000 payment.

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson said: “Having met with staff, Capita and with PCS, one of the major concerns has been about re-training for people looking to move into a different line of work.

“That is why I have been pushing for Capita to work with the Jobcentre and local training providers, which they have been doing. However, several concerns remain.”