Bright future for unemployed people in Wirral who have completed a unique work training programme

Feb 29 2012 by Linda Foo Guest, Birkenhead News

THE future is bright for unemployed people in Wirral who have completed a unique work training programme.

Thirteen young people have successfully completed the ‘Return to Work’ programme with Tranmere Rovers FC.

The course, which began in December, is the seventh of its kind and aims to get unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds into jobs.

The group attended a graduation ceremony with Tranmere Rovers FC manager Les Parry and club chairman Peter Johnson, after completing the 10-week course.

Four of the 13 have already found employment, while the rest of the group have acquired a wide set of employment skills and many have had a number of job interviews before the course finished.

Their six previous courses have also proved successful, with 86% of attendees going onto employment or further education.

Programme manager Liz Dicastiglione said: “We have seen a real difference with the group during the 10 weeks – when the young people come here many of them are not used to the focus and discipline that is needed to sustain a job. We have taught them the values of punctuality, good communication and acting professionally.

“We have great relationships with businesses in the region and secured a wide range of work placements with people such as the Crowne Plaza Liverpool, LA Productions, Wirral Met College, Williams BMW Liverpool and Youth Orienteering Limited.

“We endeavour to secure placements in the sectors that the young people wish to work in so it is all relevant rather than placing them in industries which they have no interest in.”

Another group is starting the scheme soon and Tranmere Rovers is keen to work with more employers who can offer short placements to the learners.

Placements are near the end of the course to get the students ready for employment.

Iain Gilford, 25, from Birkenhead, was one of the course attendees.

He said: “This course has helped me enormously to gain the skills and confidence to get a job. The whole team at Tranmere have supported us all the way through and I am now feeling very positive about my future. We have done a lot of individual work such as CV building and interview techniques, but it was also important as a group to learn about teamwork and communication skills.

“Highlights for me included a group trip to London and spending two weeks at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool hotel. I want to work in the hospitality sector so the experience was invaluable.”

For more information on the Rovers Return to Work programme call Liz Dicastiglione on 609 3390.