Free service to up skill working people

Our Next Level team is looking for people to join their project, which supports people in work to progress in their career.

The project is part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and aims to help motivate and train low skilled working people, using a range of learning pathways to improve skills and get them into a better job. 

Examples of the free training courses they offer include food hygiene, fire safety, IOSH, customer service, leadership and management, health and social care and manual handling.

The team also work with local employers including Avert Fire, New Century Foods and Cat-Tech to provide their staff with training, and make sure their business has the skills it needs going forward.

Maryanne Fitzgerald, Next Level Manager said: “Our service is completely free of charge to anyone in employment. This can be full time, part time, permanent, temporary, casual work or someone on a zero hours contract.

“We work with individuals to plan where they want to go in their career and how we can help get them there. At the moment we have fewer women on the project, so it’d be really great to get more signed up. If you’re interested or want to find out more, just let us know.” 

Since launching in 2017, the project has seen many successes with 421 people signing up, 146 accessing training, and 54 improving their work status.

Mark Jackson, who has been helped by the project said: “For me it’s been life changing. I’m deaf, so finding work can be harder and my options are limited.

“When I joined Next Level I worked in a factory, which wasn’t ideal and I wasn’t happy there. But since then, the team have helped me to get my Level 3 British Sign Language qualification and I now work as a Personal Assistant, helping other deaf people.

“I can’t thank the team enough, and would encourage anyone wanting to get a better job to get in touch with them.”

If you’d like to find out more about the project, click here.