Member Article

STOCKTON ENGINEERING COMPANY SNAPS UP FORMER CORUS WORKER

Chris Watson, from Teesville, a former engineer at Corus, was signed up by Stockton-based firm Francis Brown Limited as an estimating engineer less than two weeks after his last day at the Teesside Cast Products plant.

Chris left work on 28 February and attended an on-site employment and training fair for the affected workers on Monday 8 March at Steel House, co-ordinated by Jobcentre Plus on behalf of the Corus Response Group.

At the event, which was attended by 56 employers and training providers, Chris met a representative from specialist recruitment agency Techconsult UK Ltd, who told him about a range of employment opportunities which were available with their clients. They arranged for Chris to have an interview later that day and he accepted a job offer on Thursday 11 March with Francis Brown, which designs and manufactures pressure vessels and process equipment.

Chris (47) had worked at the Redcar plant for more than 30 years, starting as a plater in the fabrication shop before working his way up to his most recent role as an estimator and contracts engineer. The father-of-three was particularly concerned about finding a job which would make use of his specialist skills and provide a similar level of security for his family, in particular for his 18 year-old daughter Lauren who is due to start University later this year.

Chris said:

“The recent months have been very unsettling for us and as I have very specialist skills I didn’t really want to have to start my career all over again.

“Lauren’s due to move to Leeds in September to study event management at University. When she heard about me losing my job she offered to give up her place and look for a job after she finished school instead. I was worried, but I told her there was no way she was doing that.

“I thought I’d never get the same type of work again – it just shows how wrong you can be. If it wasn’t for the employment fair I don’t think I’d have got the chance so I’m grateful for that help.

“It’s worked out really well for me and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Prior to starting his new job with Francis Brown Chris has been completing a Prince2 project management qualification, which was funded by the Response Group. This is an industry recognised qualification that his new employer, based on Hill Street East, will value.

Jamie Brown, Company Director of Francis Brown Limited, said:

“We’d actually been struggling to recruit for a few months as we needed a highly-skilled employee with just the right type of experience.

“With workers leaving Corus we found we suddenly had access to a pool of people with skills that could easily be transferred to work in our industry.

“I’m really pleased we found Chris and could give him this opportunity. He’s a good guy, with all of the background and skills we’ve been looking for.”

The Response Group is continuing its hard work on-site to ensure as many of the workers find new opportunities as possible.

The wider response group support package consists of:

A dedicated Resource Centre on site at TCP within Steel House staffed by employment experts

Access to the latest job vacancies posted with Jobcentre Plus

One to one advice sessions with all staff

Skills analysis to identify other career options if necessary

Advice on self employment options

Benefits, pension and tax credits advice

CV updating and interview techniques

ENDS/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Amy Wardlaw .