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Your Council creating new earning opportunities for you
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Just the job
A multi-million pound project aims to create 900 long-term jobs by paying wage subsidies to businesses who take on new staff
L to R: Grant Shufflebotham, Scott Beal, Liam Holmes and John Badger are apprentices at Willerby Holiday Homes |
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These four apprentices at Willerby Holiday Homes are on a career path learning about the production and manufacture of caravans.
From constructing jigs, to cabinet making and furnishing interiors, their apprenticeships could eventually lead to careers in caravan design – as well as team leadership and management roles within the company.
It's a golden opportunity in a local industry which, along with many others, has been hard hit by the economic downturn.
The lads' apprenticeships are being part-funded by a new scheme called the Local Work Guarantee (LWG) project, which pays employers £100 per week for 52 weeks for each apprentice they take on.
"It's a significant benefit and very useful to businesses like ours in the current economic climate," says training manager Gary Youngson.
"Having the funding in order to support these individuals through their apprenticeships is great." The LWG project is also paying the same wage subsidies to Hull employers who take on graduates.
The aim is to prevent a 'brain drain' to other parts of the country, and to create a more skilled and educated workforce which is able to compete more efficiently in the global economy.
Help for job seekers
But the bulk of the people who will be helped by the LWG project are the unemployed who have been claiming Jobseekers' Allowance for less than a year, or who are claiming Incapacity Benefit.
Under the scheme, they will be employed for the first three months on a community-based project, which could involve anything from working as a receptionist to looking after the elderly, gardening or refurbishing parks and open spaces.
During this time they will get the chance to improve their maths and English skills, where appropriate, and to learn about qualities valued by employers such as punctuality, self-presentation, team-working, following instructions, and basic health and safety practice.
They will also receive help to find a permanent job, and take part in work placements with potential long-term employers.
Help for employers
After three months, the aim is that as many participants as possible will move into long-term jobs.
And the employers who take on these staff will be offered wage subsidies of £75 per week per employee for the first 36 weeks.
During that time they'll be expected to offer the employee a training plan which will lead to a Level 2 qualification (the equivalent of five GCSEs).
"It's a win-win relationship" says Mark Jones, head of the council's Regional Development service which is managing the LWG project.
"None of us are at our most productive when we first start a job, but the project overcomes this by providing an boost to employers." As an added incentive, six months into their long-term employment contract, employees will be paid a bonus of £250 (paid by the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward).
Other support
Many other projects offer support to job seekers in Hull, including:
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The LWG project aims to get 1,500 people into short-term jobs over the next two years, with 900 of them expected to secure a long term employment contact.
Funding for the LWG project comes from the ONE HULL partnership, which is made up of public and private sector organisations working together to create a better Hull.
For more information about the LWG project call 300300 or visit www.hullcc.gov.uk
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