As above job centre seems hopeless
Register with all of the agencies in your area, also C.V. to Royal Mail ,Parcel Force and building firms.Times are very tough but there should be a pick up in March.
Looking for container work but boxs seem quiet at the moment
Check job centre website every 1/2 hour. My gaffer puts an add on, gets 10000 calls within 1/2 hour, then takes it down to sort the wheet, 1%, from the chaff, 99%. 
The jobcentre website is a reliable indicator of the job situation in my experience. What Pav says is true, you have to be checking it at least every day, preferably 2-3 times a day to catch the occasional nugget that comes up there. There are also many firms who don’t use the internet to recruit so contacting them direct is the way to go. Have you taken a trip down to Tilbury?
I got my last job witch I started last month from the Jobcentre Plus website. 
always found either going to places or ringing them direct asking if theres work go. if you make a good impression when you meet them or are polite and good mannered on the phone people remember that, I’ve learnt such today. rang an agency this afternoon i’d done work for in the past and was told to come in tomorrow. when he asked my name he remembered me and said just bring your digi card n license dont need to see anythin else. hour later he was back on the phone and im away out in 45mins for a night shift!
Best Jobs you get from other People,helping you into the Company they work.
Don’t take a Job from a Drunk who tells you after a few Beer he runs a Transport Company and needs Driver.
Jobcentreplus,Yes,…well,…now,…You need to be injured in Case of Illness or Accident,and they also give you a Donation for a Beer a day,or two
Get a CV done by a proffessional and some copies printed on decent paper Then get along to the local industrial estate etc and knock on some doors I’ve seen some cv’s recently hand written on lined paper ffs the boss put them straight in the skip !!