MP celebrates jobseekers' achievements

For 12 local jobseekers the New Year is starting well as they have been selected to take part in a specially designed training course to help them get back to work.

The course offers intensive training to improve maths, English and IT qualifications as well as employability skills.

The 12 participants will learn how to find jobs online, even when they are not advertised, improve their interview techniques, write a CV that an employer wants to read, overcome nerves when giving a presentation and learn business communication skills. All of these skills are vital in today’s market.

The 12 participants are all supported by Prospects, the employment, education and skills company delivering the government’s Work Programme in Devon. 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.

Local MP, Ben Bradshaw recognises how important meaningful work is to helping people build their confidence, improve their wellbeing and regain their self respect. Ben will be coming along to the final session on 29 January to present the participants with their completion certificates. Each person who completes the course will receive functional skills qualifications for passing English and maths skills tests, a 7” tablet computer to help them search and apply for jobs in the future and £50 of back to work vouchers so they can buy clothes for work or other essentials.

The course is being run by Reform Training and Skills for Prospects customers. 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/.