WEST Cheshire College has been praised for its work in helping unemployed people back to work, in an Association of Colleges (AoC) report launched at the House of Commons.
The new AoC report shows the average college provides training for more than 1,000 unemployed people a year.
As unemployment climbs to 2.6 million, including more than one million young people, colleges are working harder than ever to give people the skills they need to get a job, according to the report.
‘Back to Work: Colleges Supporting Sustainable Jobs’ outlines the innovative programmes colleges are developing, often alongside Jobcentre Plus (JCP), and details some of the barriers jobseekers face in getting the training they need.
West Cheshire College’s retail works pre-employment course is highlighted in the report as one example of how colleges are helping unemployed people back into work.
The course, which packs 55 guided learning hours in a fortnight, has been running for two years on behalf of employers such as Debenhams and John Lewis and has trained more than 200 people, of whom more than 50 have gained employment.
Alison Ramsden from Helsby, who attended one of the courses, expected few problems returning to work when her twins started secondary school, but it proved harder than she hoped.
The 43-year-old single mother-of-three had retail experience but, thanks to the retail works course, she is now a full-time children’s clothes sales adviser at Debenhams in Chester.
Having spent two years looking for work, Alison was recommended to go on the course by Jobcentre Plus.
She said: “At 43, it is a lot more difficult to go back to work again. A lot of people would rather employ somebody in their 20s. This has given me more confidence and a whole new outlook.”
For further information regarding updating your skills or retraining for a new career, call the college on 01244 656555.
