Exeter MP joins jobseekers learning new skills

Five local jobseekers have successfully completed an intensive employability training course with Prospects and received recognition from local MP, Ben Bradshaw. The course equipped them with the skills needed to get a job, as well improving their English and maths functional skills. Ben Bradshaw MP visited the training and presented the five successful participants with their completion certificates and a brand new 7” tablet computer.

Ben spent time getting to know all of the participants on the course and hearing about how they came to join the Work Programme. He also spoke to colleagues about the support Prospects provides to people across the country and was interested to hear about the work and Prospects’ employee owned status. In Devon Prospects delivers the government’s Work Programme and the National Careers Service, both government programmes helping people improve their skills and working lives. The Work Programme supports people who have been unemployed for around two years and face a number of barriers to employment including poor qualification and skills.

One person who completed the course, run by Reform Training and Skills for Prospects, was Matt, who has been out of work for more than a year. Matt has very little work experience having left school with no qualifications and only a short work trial with Halfords on his CV.  The course has provided him with the functional skills, maths and English qualifications he needs to be accepted on a course at Exeter College.  He is now enthusiastic about applying for a place and learning a skilled trade.

Stephen also completed the course. Stephen has been unemployed for more than a year having previously worked as a kitchen porter and at a garden centre. Stephen had very limited experience of using the internet, email and other online activities. For many people who are unfamiliar with technology the prospect of emailing future employers, searching for jobs or even visiting a website to find more information about a company is daunting and often a significant barrier. Since coming along to Prospects Stephen has learned essential IT skills and now, having completed this course, is raring to go and ready to work.

All of the participants’ who completed the course have found their confidence has increased. They all confirmed they felt able to find jobs online, even when they are not advertised, cope with interview pressures and have created an appealing up-to-date CV. These vital employability skills were combined with having to attend the course everyday punctually and use business communication skills. All skills that are essential in today’s job market.

To find out more about the work Prospects does to help get the south west working contact www.prospects.co.uk or http://www.gettingthesouthwestworking.co.uk/