The first Jewish employment centre outside of London has opened in Manchester with funding from Bury and Salford councils.

JCom’s shop-fronted Employment Support Centre in Prestwich will offer a job search and advice service in partnership with local job centres. Features will include a benefits surgery and “hot desk” office space at a nominal fee for new small businesses.

Bury South MP Ivan Lewis and Bury Council dignitaries helped to open the centre on Monday.

JCom has helped over 400 Jews to gain employment or training opportunities over the past two years. It beat two other employment organisations to a Bury Council contract to roll out its model to the general public, although it is anticipated that many of the users will be Jews.

Mr Lewis praised JCom founder Norman Younger as a “local hero, a successful businessman who spends a significant part of his time giving something back. The Jewish community is often perceived as an affluent one, but with many large families, welfare and benefit reforms have had a disproportionately negative affect.”