Our new and improved online employment and skills offer

As the consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic become clear, many people are finding themselves out of work or struggling to find opportunities.

With that in mind, our Employment and Skills Support service has been upgraded to meet our customers’ growing needs. Thanks to these changes, it is now easier than ever to access advice on a wide range of training opportunities and job hunting strategies.

As well as doing this via our website, we can also offer direct support from our skilled team of advisors, who’ve years of experience in helping people in all aspects of employment and skills. Whether you are currently facing redundancy, have recently lost your job or are thinking of looking for work after a break, we’re here to help you. Mairead Wright, Senior Skills and Development Tutor, said: “Whether you want to learn something new for your current job, or for your own personal interest, there’s a wide range of online courses available.

“Many of these are free, so you’ve nothing to lose if you want to try something new.

Our new-look website shows you examples of what’s out there – there are options available no matter your age, experience or qualifications.

“Even if you don’t want to do a course right now, we also have information and advice on what to do if you  experience a change of income or circumstances, how to budget and find best deals, as well as links to other organisations who can offer specialist support.

“The increase in flexible, part-time and online options has seen more people embrace lifelong learning. During lockdown, nearly a quarter of workers took on new distance learning opportunities and have been using the time to upskill or reskill.

“If this is something that interests you, we’re on hand to help.”

From an employment perspective, our support can help you with every aspect of finding work – from deciding what you want to do, to making a CV and finding and applying for jobs.

Our Employment and Training Advisor, Rob Friday, has more than a decade of experience helping people find work and he can also help prepare you for interviews. Over the years, Rob has helped many people build their confidence, find their direction and move into jobs that they enjoy. Many of these stories have been featured in this magazine.

He said: “In these challenging times, many people are finding themselves back in the job market and so now’s the time to update your CV.

“We’ve got lots of tips on what makes a good CV on the website, and I’m also happy to work with you to make sure you’re giving yourself the best chance possible when looking for a job.”

Click here to find out more about the employment support we can provide.