Jobless seek new way back to work

A GROUNDBREAKING partnership is bringing new hope for Oldham’s jobseekers.

Upturn Enterprise and Guinness Northern Counties (GNC) have teamed up to provide a stepping stone programme helping the long-term unemployed gain invaluable new skills and work experience.

It’s an expansion of a successful office-based employment and training scheme developed by Upturn, an Oldham-based social enterprise group, which has been operating in partnership with a wide range of employers over the past five years.

GNC, one of the UK’s largest social landlords with its head office in Hollinwood, is one of the biggest employers to commit to opening its doors to provide a wide range of roles to help the long-term jobless.

Placement opportunities include office administrative support, property care and maintenance, landscaping and many more. The process is underpinned with professional advice on all aspects of getting and keeping a job, including job-hunting, help and support with application forms, CV writing, computer training and finding training courses.

Basel Horoszczak (43), from Coppice, has been out of work for 18 months after being made redundant from Slumberland in 2007.

He said: “I had applied for more than 50 jobs but was unsuccessful. I was often told that I had no relevant qualifications or no ‘real’ work experience.

“The constant rejection started getting me down and this affected my behaviour, anticipating beforehand that I would be knocked back with each application I made or interview I attended. I was giving up hope when I was referred to Upturn.”

They arranged a paid work placement at GNC as a Property Care Operative.

He added: “I received on-going support and much-needed encouragement after all my knock-backs. In addition to learning on-the-job, Upturn arranged for me to do an NVQ. I am now confident it will only be a matter of time before I secure the job I want. I’d recommend this programme to anyone.”

GNC project manager Ian Simpson said: “We are very proud of the work we do.

“For the past five years we have been working with a various number of agencies with varying successes, then we started to work with Oldham-based UEL. Together, we have developed a programme that is delivering extraordinary results in helping individuals back to work.

“We hope that this success continues and will be looking at expanding the number of placements we can offer in the forthcoming years.”

Upturn director Maria Williams said: “Those completing the programme have had a 100 per cent success record to date and we hope our successes continue.”

For details contact Mrs Williams on 0161-652 9002.