A scheme to help people facing redundancy in the North Staffordshire area has been so successful it is now being rolled out across the whole of the region.
Nearly 3,000 people found new jobs through the support of the scheme, and more than 1,000 were given help to develop skills to improve their chances on the jobs market. The initial target of helping 1,200 people find jobs was more than doubled.
Advantage West Midlands (AWM) has contributed nearly £1.5million in funding to the North Staffordshire Workforce Development Programme since it started in 2007.
The project, run by trade union UNITY through the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership (NSRP), gives immediate and specific support to people facing redundancy in North Staffordshire, including funding free skills courses.
The list of nearly 1,500 companies whose staff have used the project's services over the past three years serves as a snapshot of just how hard the region has been hit by the recession. Major and minor retailers, manufacturers, the NHS and the armed forces have been among those forced to make people redundant. Nearly 150 of the companies were involved in ceramics, including iconic brands such as Wedgwood and Spode.
The project gave early intervention and support, complementing the help offered by Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council. Companies or individuals were able to call on the project's help immediately once redundancy notices were issued. This was crucial in helping people prepare themselves and be ready to go into training or another job once their redundancy was made effective.
Henriette Lyttle, AWM Partnership Director, said: "North Staffordshire has been hard hit by redundancies, which are devastating for all concerned. Getting people back into employment or training as soon as possible is very important, not just for the individuals and their families, but for the area as a whole.
"This project started as a response to specific redundancies, but proved so successful that it was rolled out to different sectors and now to the whole of the region. It is a good example of the work we have done with partners to promote economic growth and employment in the region.
"I cannot praise UNITY enough for the way they have helped turn so many people's lives around and offered them hope through this project."
Alison Knight, Employment and Skills Director with North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership, said: "This project has been immensely important to show workers and the communities that there is a future after redundancy. It was a key part of Advantage West Midlands' work with partners to help North Staffordshire respond to the changes in our economy and the impact of the recession."
Roger Malpas, Commercial Services Manager at Stoke on Trent College where they have run 400 courses and worked in partnership with the Programme. He said: “Because many people have been employed since they were 15 or 16 we help them with job search and interview techniques which have changed dramatically since they were last looking for work.
“The good news is that people come on these courses because they want to work. They have worked all their lives and they don’t intend to stop now. We have a very high success rate of people getting back into work because they are determined and will try something new. We had one lady who worked in the potteries but took up HGV training and is now a lorry driver."
David Hare, Managing Director of Construction Skills College which offers training through the Programme, said: “We have trained all sorts of people through the programme from a range of backgrounds including managers, engineers, warehouse workers, factory floor manufacturing workers and office based workers - the majority of the courses are aimed at people with no previous experience. The age of attendees on the courses range from their late teens to their 50s and 60s so they are open to anyone wanting to learn and get back into work - you are never to old to learn.
“A lot of people who come to us are lacking in confidence because they have worked for someone else most of their lives and they are now unsure of the options available or their ability to learn new skills. Being made redundant is a shock to their system. We help them build that confidence.
“I really would encourage people to give it a try. The courses are free and we will give support before, during and after attending a course. Learning something new can be challenging but the outcome could be that it is a turning point that sets them on course for a new career. If unsure their advisor would be able to discuss options with them and they are always welcome phone or call into our centre."
UNITY are now extending the project throughout the West Midlands with funding from the Skills Funding Agency and European Social Fund programme. The service is called the Better West Midlands project and will offer similar support to individuals facing redundancy.
John Day, Operations Director of Better West Midlands, said: "The project has seen many people turn adversity into triumph and we hope to continue to do so. The decision to spend money on redundancy support in the current climate is an obvious one, but the fact that the region’s ESF programme is leveraging the money in a timely and targeted way now is down to the forethought of Advantage West Midlands, the Skills Funding Agency and other partners involved in developing the initial project.”
Anyone facing redundancy can contact the Better West Midlands Project on 01782 266775 or email info@betterwestmidlands.org.uk