Warwick Emanuel PR : Press Release
Partnership working brings benefit to Merthyr Tydfil jobseekers
1 October 2008
A new partnership between employment specialists, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and British Gas has resulted in seven unemployed people securing jobs with the energy company.
The partnership means that people working with employment specialists Remploy, JobMatch, Jobcentre Plus, Working Links, Careers Wales, Tydfil Training and Want2Work, now have the opportunity to take a very wide variety of training courses.
The training courses are free of charge and run by British Gas at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre. The Partnership has been awarded ESF Objective 1 funding which will allow the continuation of working with British Gas and other organisations to help more unemployed people in the area back into work.
One person to benefit from the relationship is 20-year old Alexandra Kelland. Alexandra, from Merthyr Vale, has Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and moved back to the area after completing her studies for an HND in acting at the University of Brighton. She was working with a number of agencies to help her get a job when she learnt of the partnership’s opportunities.
She explains: “I was already doing a course at the Neighbourhood Learning Centre and then found out about the specialist course that could lead to employment at British Gas. I jumped at the chance to learn about various aspects of the company and was thrilled when I was offered an interview.”
Alexandra was successful and has since started work as a customer service advisor. She is thrilled to be working and is full of praise for the partnership. She continued: “Without the various companies coming together things would have been a lot more difficult. Working with Remploy and the learning centre I was given support and advice which was invaluable. I am thrilled to be working. It’s great to be part of a team and no two days are the same – it’s fantastic.”
The specially designed courses involve participants learning about what employers expect from employees, an overview of what to expect from the chosen career and the opportunity to develop interview skills. More importantly, the course ensures that candidates are making the career choice that is right for them.
Remploy’s valleys area manager, Lynda Davies said: “At present seventy per cent of course participants have successfully gained employment – and this is something we hope can grow as the partnership develops. As the UK’s leading provider of specialist employment services to people who experience complex barriers to work we are thrilled to be part of the success and are looking to work with more people in the area to help them into work.”
For further information on the next course, including dates and times, please contact the Neighbourhood Learning Centre on 01685 727099 .
For further media information contact:
Nicola Roberts, Remploy Wales press office – 029 2055 5505
www.remploy.co.uk
