Warwickshire College helping people return to work

As unemployment nationwide climbs to 2.6million, courses are being offered at the college’s Rugby and Leamington Spa centres offering opportunities for job-searching and skills development to maximise the chances of gaining employment.

Working in partnership with organisations such as Job Centre Plus, the college is offering a number of work clubs, which offer training in interview skills, CV writing and job search skills.

The clubs have been open since November and have already helped people find employment.

Other ‘back-to-work’ courses – many of which are free - include preparing for an interview and bite-sized IT courses. The college also offers taster courses in areas as diverse as equine and agriculture, hairdressing and beauty, health and care and fitness.

Mariane Cavalli, Principal of Warwickshire College, said: “Warwickshire College is working closely with JCP to provide unemployed people with a variety of training opportunities, including the delivery of funded bite-sized accredited units to meet skills gaps, pre-employment training (PET), work clubs, literacy, numeracy, ESOL as well as a wide range of vocational programmes from entry level to level 5. In recent weeks Warwickshire College has provided flexible PET for a national chain within the locality with good success. The Work Clubs, where participants can gain essential IT and job search skills  along with CV writing and interview techniques are proving the most effective way to support unemployed people on their journey back to employment.

“In addition, the college’s funded programmes, such as the Prince’s Trust 12-week programme which includes work experience, are successfully engaging young unemployed people who, through effective information, advice and guidance, progress into employment, voluntary work or further college programmes.”

The news comes just days after the Association of Colleges (AoC) released a new study, called ‘Back to Work: Colleges Supporting Sustainable Jobs’, showing that the average college provides training for more than 1,000 unemployed people every year.

In a survey of member colleges, the Association discovered that 95 per cent of colleges offered training to the unemployed and 64 per cent had changed their provision to meet better the needs of jobseekers.

Martin Doel, AoC Chief Executive, said: “Colleges are integral to the communities they serve and are well-placed to provide responsive programmes to help people into employment. Our members are showing real flexibility and initiative in this area and their links with employers and JCP means that those candidates they put forward for jobs are ready for work. Not only are they providing people with the skills they need but they are helping increase their confidence with personal advice and tailored support.”

To join a work club, contact Joy Murdoch at Warwickshire College on 01788 863225 or email jmurdoch@warkscol.ac.uk