Forward Thinking (labour market intelligence update) - November 2010
Redundancies Jobs Fair
July 2010
West at Work partners held a summer jobs fair for the Helphire employees facing redundacy over the coming months.
Staff were able to get a variety of information and advice about training, benefits, CV writing and job search opportunities.
Organisations offering help at the event included Jobcentre Plus, Nextstep, Skills Centre South West, Bath and North East Somerset Council, JHP Training and Prospects.
Another jobs fair is planned for the end of the year.
Helphire is one of the UK's leading providers of claims services and replacement vehicles following accidents.
New Skills and Competitiveness Board is launched
April 2010
A new Board has been set up to boost the local economy by tackling skills and worklessness issues across the West of England.
The Board is employer led and is made up of private, public and third sector representatives. Click here to see Board membership.
Its six main objectives are to
- Drive up skills: increase higher and intermediate level skills
- Tackle worklessness
- Innovate to improve the marketing of the city region
- Simplify and strengthen business support
- Increase business led innovation and enterprise
- Contribute to a greater understanding of demand and business need for employment locations.
The Board provides strategic direction for some West of England Partnership activity including the West at Work project.
For more information about the Skills and Competitiveness Board click here where the main aims and the draft 2010-11 Forward Plan can be viewed.
Minister Visits Skills Centre South West
December 2009
Regional Minister, Jim Knight, visited Skills Centre South West earlier this month to see how training is helping the area on the road to recovery.
West at Work joined forces with Cabot Circus and City of Bristol College to create Skills Centre South West - a new 'shop front' facility catering for the training and employment needs of both individuals and businesses.
The South West Minister met with students at the Centre to see first-hand how the service is helping local people move into training and jobs.
Mr Knight said: "The Government is determined to mitigate the worst effects of the recession. Equipping this generation of young people with the skills that employers in the South West need is crucial to ensuring we do not end up with another lost generation."
Skills Centre South West Director, Christopher Morgan added: "We are delighted to welcome the Minister to Skills Centre South West and show him what we are doing to help local people and businesses. The Centre opened in September and we are already having a very real impact by enabling people to access the kind of training and support that will help them move into sustainable employment."
Skills Centre South West is located at 64 Bond Street, Bristol and is open Monday to Friday. For more information visit www.skillcentresouthwest.org or call 0117 312 2088.
