Small businesses in Worcestershire could receive £2,300 of Government cash earmarked to encourage recruitment of the long-term unemployed.

The new Recruit scheme is part of a package designed to meet employers' needs while providing increased support for individual job seekers, especially from disadvantaged areas.

Recruit brings together funding from several different sources and puts it into one simple scheme, cutting red tape and delivering greater flexibility.

The Federation of Small Businesses has welcomed the new measures.

"Putting individual job seekers and small businesses together through these imaginative proposals will be of immense help to all concerned and should lead to full and lasting employment as small businesses fulfil their job creation potential," said the FSB's head of parliamentary affairs, Stephen Alambritis.

Two lump sums

Payments will be made to businesses in two lump sums - a recruitment "incentive" is paid up-front, with the balance payable after 13 weeks, to reward retention.

The pilots, to be introduced in 12 areas in the spring, will be evaluated after six months.

It is not yet known if the county is to be included in the first wave.