Today (22 June), Home Secretary Suella Braverman opened a brand-new Home Office hub in Stoke-on-Trent, which created 500 new jobs for local residents.

The new office space in the heart of the city at Two Smithfield in Hanley has been created thanks to £7 million of government funding and support through Stoke-on-Trent's £56 million allocation through the Levelling Up Fund.

The site will be home to a new Asylum Casework Hub which will help to significantly speed up asylum decision-making by improving case working capacity and efficiency. The Hub will be staffed by up to 330 new asylum caseworkers and bring all national asylum correspondence into one place.

The Hub will play an important role in the government's plans to reduce numbers being housed in costly hotels and cut the burden of the asylum system on taxpayers. It will add to the 1,280 caseworkers already in post and help to clear the backlog of legacy asylum cases by the end of 2023.

The new office is set to create 500 'high-quality' jobs for local people (Home Office).

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: "I'm pleased to be opening this new site in Stoke which will see the creation of 500 high-quality local jobs.

"Located in the heart of the city, it will help cut the burden of the asylum system on taxpayers, while also bringing huge benefits to the region.

"Through the creation of these jobs, we are showing our continued commitment to driving growth and opportunity across the UK."

The Home Office has partnered with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to ensure the new investment has a long-lasting impact on the local community, with local students and job seekers being actively encouraged to apply for the new jobs now available at the Hub.

READ MORE: Plans to transform Grade II listed Stoke pottery factory into brand-new housing 

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