Wirral News teams up with the Learning and Skills Council to help jobless people get back into employment

Mar 17 2010 by Lyndsay Young, Heswall News

JOBLESS people in Wirral are being thrown a lifeline to get them back into employment.

Wirral News has teamed up with The Learning and Skills Council on a Job Ready Campaign, which will provide funding for people to train for new jobs.

Funding will be offered to train people who have been made redundant or who are facing redundancy.

Up to £1,000 will be available if the person is undertaking at least 75 hours of learning.

Latest figures show unemployment in Merseyside has risen to almost 56,000.

The funding, which is being provided by the LSC and supported by the European Social Fund, will give each person training tailored to their needs.

Peter Johnson from nextstep, the national free service that offers adults help and advice on training, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of Merseyside and this free training will help large numbers of people move into a new career and a new start after redundancy.”

Liz Gillies is one person who has already benefitted from the Response to Redundancy funding as part of the Job Ready campaign.

The 41-year-old was made redundant from her position as a manager in a building society in September last year.

She found out about the programme provided by Wirral Metropolitan College and was enrolled on the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector course.

Liz said: “Being made redundant was a massive emotional upheaval, and I was desperate to get back into work quickly. The Response to Redundancy training has been a real lifeline – not only has it helped me to improve my skills set, the college had an excellent approach to dealing with the feelings and emotions that come with being made redundant.”

After her training, Liz went on to secure a new job as an employability tutor, supporting the long term unemployed in returning to work.

She said: “I can relate to what these people are going through. I help them develop interview techniques, improve their CVs and plan their career paths.

“I was looking for a complete change in career following my redundancy and doing a job that is as rewarding as this is more than I could have hoped for.”

A £9.8 million cash injection has funded the scheme in Merseyside. It is part of a national £100m package by the LSC, in response to the economic downturn.

Employers can access the funding to provide training for staff under consultation for redundancy to help them find new jobs.

For more information or guidance call nextstep on 944 6170.