Posted: 04/08/10
Work-focused training at West Notts
West Nottinghamshire College is playing a vital role in helping unemployed people in Mansfield and Ashfield to boost their skills and confidence with free training.
Running in partnership with JobCentre Plus, the college has two programmes available for people who have been out of work between six and 12 months and are claiming Jobseekers Allowance.
Training in IT, health and social care, childcare and construction crafts are available at the various college campuses along with literacy, numeracy, food safety courses and much more.
The ‘Six Month Offer’ provides work-focused training programmes which run for a maximum of 75 hours with a weekly attendance below 16 hours so that benefits are not affected.
The ‘Young Person’s Guarantee’ is aimed at those aged between 18 and 24 and offers up to 12 weeks of training at a minimum of 16 hours per week.
Students are entitled to a training allowance on this programme but the minimum 16 hours must be studied. It’s also possible to extend the training for a further 12 weeks once the initial 12 weeks have been completed.
Kath Perry, who leads the college’s external funding team, said: “We realise that unemployment can lower motivation and aspirations and in these troubled economic times there’s more pressure with more people applying for fewer jobs.
We’re confident that these courses will not only improve confidence and skills but provide people with the right qualifications for the right jobs. It’s also a great opportunity to re-train for a new career or to back up existing qualifications.”
Interested job seekers are advised to contact their JobCentre Plus advisors to discuss course options and start dates.