On the right road to getting a job
Date published: 12 August 2014
The Train, Learn, Drive and Earn scheme from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has seen a 96 per cent success rate in helping its graduates into paid and voluntary employment.
AN innovative transport scheme aiming to help unemployed people get back on the road to employment has seen its first graduates secure roles as bus drivers.
The Train, Learn, Drive and Earn scheme from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has seen a 96 per cent success rate in helping its graduates into paid and voluntary employment.
A total of 23 people, including one man from Oldham, have now completed one of the two 12 week-long free courses which give unemployed residents access to training, professional qualifications and work experience.
Samantha Peacock took advantage of TfGM’s offer of the course after four months of unemployment and has now taken up a job with Stagecoach Manchester.
Samantha, who is one of 18 people now in paid work after completing the course, said: “Within a week of learning about the training programme I was on a course — and within a month of finishing I was driving large buses around Middleton!
“It was one of the best courses I have ever done. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy it, it has made me very employable.
“I received plenty of support and guidance and passed first time.”
The driving course provides training and work experience to help trainees gain their D1 minibus licence as well as several other driver accreditations, while the furniture warehousing course option gives trainees training and work experience in route planning, van crewing, stock control, flat pack assembly and sales.
Both courses are endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and include training in general administration and customer care, with further support in CV writing, interviews and life skills.
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