Member Article

Reading College Tackles Unemployment Head On

• Reading College Helps To Train And Place 20 Adults At The New Grosvenor G Casino

Reading College, the Thames Valley’s leading Further and Higher Education College, is pleased to announce that more than 20 young adults are about to be employed by the Grosvenor G Casino (owned by Grosvenor Casinos Ltd) in Rose Kiln Lane, a new leisure venue due to open in Reading in March 2013. By working in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus, Reading College helped to prepare and train these unemployed people on the to successfully return to the workplace.

All centring around the Government’s “Get Britain Working“ scheme, young adults were offered employment at the new Grosvenor G Casino in Reading after participating in a sector-based work academy run by Reading College and Jobcentre Plus. Sector-based work academies are designed to help unemployed adults develop the appropriate skills and training to meet a specific business’ requirements. This includes offering access to pre-employment training; work experience placements and a guaranteed job interview. The scheme encourages businesses to work together with Jobcentre Plus, colleges and training providers all over the country to help those currently out of work and receiving benefits - but who are willing and able to work - to secure employment.

Lesley Donoghue, Principal at Reading College comments on this impressive success rate and about the importance of education, industry and advisors working together:

“The GDP growth forecast predicted that total UK unemployment would peak to 2.650 million by Q4 2013, making it a key priority for the whole country. Adult unemployment is something we want to significantly reduce in the Thames Valley and I’m delighted that in the last three months our Get that Job programme has prepared and supported 50 unemployed Reading people to get job offers and move from benefits to full time employment. To cap this having 20 people securing employment at the same time, with the same company is a great achievement and testament to the work that we have undertaken. I look forward to continuing to work together with local businesses, Jobcentre Plus and utilise our onsite advisors in the future to continue to strengthen our region and reduce those unemployment figures.“

Under the Government’s initiative, Grosvenor Casinos contacted Jobcentre Plus at the end of 2012 to host an open day to showcase new job opportunities. Unemployed adults from the Reading area were invited to attend and encouraged to apply for the open positions. Of the 100 plus people who attended, Grosvenor selected 38 to undertake pre-employment training courses at Reading College. The College worked closely with the casino to establish its business needs and requirements and produced a tailor-made course designed to prepare these individuals for work at the Grosvenor G Casino. Specialist training in areas such as food hygiene, conflict resolution and how to spot a problem gambler were taught over a six week period. To complement the training, Reading College deployed their specialist onsite support service, Reed Jobfinder Service (run by REED NCFE), to support the transition into employment.

Sian Jones, Employer Advisor, Jobcentre Plus comments: “Sector-based work academies are measures that the Government has put in place to help businesses and the unemployed simultaneously. Through this scheme employers have access to work-ready candidates with the right skills to sustain and grow their business and ensure that any new staff members taken on are tailor-made to be successful. Similarly, with skills shortages being a huge stumbling block for many jobseekers, this programme is designed to provide all of the necessary training and development for them to perform well and get a good job.“

Reed Jobfinder Service is available exclusively in Berkshire to Reading College students and this unique provision really does make the difference to securing employment. Alongside the course that Reading College taught to Grosvenor Casino applicants, its onside advisors offered advice and guidance on how to put the skills learnt in the classroom into practice. The team hosted mock interviews with the candidates and acted as a sounding board, to help in the transition from training and learning into the workplace. By having onsite employment specialists Reading College is demonstrating its commitment to getting people back into the workplace - offering the training and coaching needed for unemployed people to confidently attend an interview and be successful.

For more information please contact Janine Mitchell on 01189 001135 or email Janine@c8consulting.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Reading College .