Magic numbers for jobs and training

YOU’RE hired: “Apprentice” star Adam Corbally, centre, with, from left, the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Fida Hussain, Get Oldham Working apprentices Jordan Townsend and Ana Chadwick, and council leader Jim McMahon

OLDHAM Council has smashed its pledge to create 2,015 job opportunities by the end of 2015 — nine months ahead of schedule.

The Get Oldham Working campaign has been such a huge success it will now continue for the rest of the year anyway - to encourage the creation of even more places.

Since it was launched in May 2013, GOW has provided 1,184 jobs, 342 apprenticeships and 643 trainee and work experience opportunities across 179 local businesses.

The triumph was revealed at a celebration event at Gallery Oldham to thank the organisations who have pledged their support.

Special guest Adam Corbally, star of BBC’s “The Apprentice”, shared thesecrets of his own success from being a market trader to motivational coach and entrepreneur.

He praised Get Oldham Working as an “inspirational” initiative that has helped many young people and the unemployed to find work.

Adam, whose father is a taxi driver from Shaw, said: “Oldham is showing great commitment to get residents into employment.”

Council leader Jim McMahon said: “This is a milestone for Oldham Council as it shows that by working together we can make a real difference.

“We are seeing more businesses setting up in Oldham, young people wanting to work here and a positive attitude to make things better for ourselves. We may have smashed our target of 2,015 employment opportunities with nine months to spare — but we were never going to stop there. We will continue to carry on the good work with our partners.”