LONDON, Jan 12: Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Monday announced a 500-million-pound (560-million-euro, $750 million) plan to tackle rising unemployment in a Britain, which faces a deepening recession.

As part of the plan, which he detailed at a conference of businesses, trade unions and welfare groups in London, employers will be paid to recruit and train the long-term unemployed, while the government will also fund increased numbers of training places and support for those looking for a job.

Brown said he expected the plan, which will be rolled out in April and spread over two years, will help half a million Britons into work or work-related training.

“It is our determination that Britain leads the world in showing what we can do to help the unemployed and create the jobs of the future -- and we can do it best in partnership,” he told the conference.

Businesses will be awarded up to 2,500 pounds ($3,700, 2,800 euros) for each person, who has been unemployed for more than six months whom they recruit and train.

The government will also put forward a plan to provide school-leavers with a guarantee of a place at college, an apprenticeship or training while at work.

“Now more than ever is the time to invest in our young people, in their skills and their talents -- in training them for the future,” Brown said.

“This government will not leave millions of young people to pay -- in lost chances and through years of hopelessness — the price for a global recession.”

Unemployment in Britain has been steadily rising in recent months as it counts the cost of the international economic downturn — the number of people claiming jobless benefits leapt in November by the biggest monthly amount for more than 17 years, official data showed last month.--AFP