The MG Rover Task Force, set-up by the Government to help staff affected by the closure of Britain’s last major manufacturer, has come to an end.

It has helped 4,000 people back to work since the Longbridge factory closed last summer. The Task Force’s final report said although many ex-MG Rover employees were now in work there are still 1,850 remaining people still without jobs.

Alan Johnson, Trade and Industry secretary, said: “It is good news that 4,000 ex-MG Rover employees are back in work, but there is still a lot of work to do. Our aim is that through Jobcentre Plus, the Learning and Skills Council and Advantage West Midlands the remainder will also soon be back in work.”

Johnson announced ongoing support in the form of a new £2 million ‘employability support package’ to provide back to work support. The initiative will be run by Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council and will run until March 2008.

The initiative will target the remaining unemployed workers and will provide support to help with job searches, childcare, CV and interview techniques. It will begin next month and over the next few months will be rolled out to all former workers who need help.

The Task Force has also agreed in principle to allocate £3 million to create a vocational training centre for 14-19-year-olds in the Longbridge area.