Hull in print : Feature - Your Council creating new earning opportunities for you

Unemployed teenager Harry Stockman had no idea that his life would be turned around in just 40 minutes after stepping onto the Local Work Guarantee (LWG) bus.
The bus, which had been touring Hull helping people to find work, was parked at St Stephen's shopping centre when Harry climbed aboard.
The 19-year-old apprentice engineer, from Bransholme, had been laid off half way through his apprenticeship.
And he wanted to ask the LWG team if they could help him get his job back.
But he couldn't believe his luck when they asked if he would be prepared to attend a job interview (for a brand new post) there and then.
The only problem was that the interview was on Hedon Road, and he had just 39 minutes to get there.
"I was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, and I hadn't had a shave," said Harry, a former pupil of Kingswood High School.
"But they just said to get myself down there, so I jumped on another bus, and just made it.
"The interview went really well and I was surprised how soon they got back to me as it's a new factory. I got the job."

Let's learn together

Harry's new employer, Panaloc Worldwide Manufacturing Ltd, which makes building parts, is setting up a new factory on Kingston International Business Park on Hedon Road.
Harry's new job is a 'hands-on' role, in which he is helping to get machinery up and running.
"We're picking up on Harry's training where it left off," said Panaloc general manager John Watkins.
"Hopefully we'll add to it, in a relatively high-tech environment using computer driven machinery.
"Harry is only halfway through his journey, but having said that, we all have a learning journey to go on as this is a new operation, so having one or two apprentices around fits in with that."

Quick-thinking team

But it wasn't just Harry's CV and his enthusiasm which helped him get the job. It was also the quick-thinking teamwork of Hull City Council's LWG staff.
"After a short chat with Harry, one of the team put two and two together and realised that Panaloc needed someone with exactly his skills," said team leader Bob Ferraby.
"The problem was that they were interviewing there and then. We rang the boss and he said if Harry could get down before 1pm he could have an interview.
"It was already twenty past twelve, but the lad was very keen.
"It must be record getting a job in 39 minutes."

Help for employers

Panaloc is one of more than 150 local employers who are taking part in the LWG scheme.
Under the scheme the employers receive wage subsidies of up to £100 per week for 52 weeks for each new apprentice.
The LWG project is also paying the same wage subsidies to Hull employers who take on graduates.

Team on wheels

But the bulk of people who'll be helped to find work are those who've been claiming Jobseekers' Allowance for less than a year, or who are claiming Incapacity Benefit
Under the scheme, such people will be employed for the first three months on a community-based project where they will get the chance to improve their skills before moving 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, providing they offer suitable training.
Already, staff from the council's LWG team have signed up hundreds of people for the scheme after spending three weeks travelling around Hull on their bus. Their stops included Morrisons on Holderness Road, Asda at Kingswood, Orchard Park Shopping Centre, Walton Street Market, Queen Victoria Square and St. Stephen's (where Harry caught up with them).
The scheme will help more than 1,500 people into jobs over the next two years, with 900 of those positions expected to be permanent.

info

The Local Work Guarantee scheme is funded by ONE HULL, a partnership made up of public and private sector organisations working together to create a better Hull.
LWG is part of the GROW family of projects, which are also supported by Yorkshire Forward, the European Regional Development Fund and the Department of Work and Pensions.
For more information, and to view GROW job vacancies, visit www.growinhull.co.uk.


< back	top ^