City College sets training targets for jobseekers

Chamber members City College Brighton and Hove has set itself the ambitious target of delivering pre-employment training to over a thousand jobseekers in the 2010/11 financial year. The training is delivered under a range of government programmes such as ‘Work-Focussed Training’, targeting those claiming Jobseekers Allowance for six months or over. The College aims to work with as many employers as possible and has already organised placements and job interviews for jobseekers with local employers such as the Ramada Jarvis, Umi Hotels, Pelham House Hotel in Lewes, the Sealife Centre, Peacocks, Brighton Toy and Model Museum and the Hove Place Pub.

Dan Shelley, City College’s Head of Partnerships and Projects, says:

“Jobseekers are referred to the College by Jobcentre Plus who we work really closely with, planning the courses and linking with employers to provide interviews and employment opportunities. Jobseekers tell us that through the courses, their confidence and self esteem is really boosted and that they’re much more confident going into interviews. We’re expanding the College’s employment support, have increased the team working on these projects and are actively looking for employers to offer these work-ready jobseekers work experience, guaranteed interviews and the opportunity to work in the city.”

James Young, currently on a Work-Focussed Training course in Catering at the College, says:

“I’m enjoying my time here and I’ve learnt new skills while refreshing some of the Catering skills that I already had. It’s definitely making a positive difference that these courses are available to us.”

Programmes on offer cover the main employment sectors including retail, hospitality, care, contact centre, construction and security. They range from a series of one day accredited courses to prepare people for work through to two week intensive and sector specific courses and longer 10 week courses, which provide more in-depth experience. Courses continue throughout the summer and the plans for delivery in September are already in place. The College will be offering courses in Retail & Customer Service, Contact Centre and Care alongside Construction courses linked into the City Council led Local Labour Market Scheme that guarantees local jobs on development sites in the city.

Local employers who are interested in supporting Pre-Employment Training should contact City College’s External Projects Team on 01273 667756.