Job scheme a hit in Rochdale

The Future Jobs Fund is proving to be a huge success in Rochdale with numerous organisations snapping up the chance to take on people who need to develop their skills and are willing to do the work.

The scheme finds those looking for work a paid opportunity, working 35 hours a week for minimum wage for six months.

The Adult Community Training Centre, on Newgate, which opened in January has taken full advantage of the scheme.

Jane Georgiou, manager of Adult Communuity Training described the Future Jobs Fund as a “win win situation”

When the business opened in January Mrs Georgiou was doing everything in terms of running the centre, however, as time got on she needed to go out and meet with people but in order for her to do this the centre needed to be manned.

Following information provided by the council Mrs Georgiou took on a graduate through the Future Jobs Fund at the end on April.

Since then the graduate, who had been unable to find a job, has improved her skills and become more confident in everyday tasks such as answering the phone.

Mrs Georgiou’s next employee from the Future Jobs Fund is Linda O’Rourke, a fully qualified teacher who, prior to work at the centre, had no experience.

Tony Hunking is also working as a handyman at the unit adjacent to the premises to get it ready for the centre’s expansion.

Over the next two weeks Mrs Georgiou is hoping to take on two more staff members courtesy of the Future Jobs Fund who are both ex service men unable to find work.

The pair, Kevin Blackmore and Caen Matthews, currently volunteer at the centre.

Mr Georgiou believes that without the staff employed through the Future Jobs Fund her business wouldn’t have achieved Investors in People status, because Investors in People is all about the staff.

Mrs Georgiou said: “I am very pleased with the Future Jobs Fund, it has been fun for everyone involved. It is a win win situation for a new business. I have been humbled throughout the whole process.

“The only downside is that they will only be here for six months, I feel like I should keep them on but unfortunately that isn’t going to happen. I think we have all enjoyed them being here.”

Mrs Georgiou added: “It is very positive and a very beneficial scheme. It is very sad that it is going to be cancelled as I think it is one of the better schemes we have ever had.

“Rochdale has been very successful with the Future Jobs Fund and I know that efforts are being made to maintain some kind of scheme like this in Rochdale.”

The programme has helped to reduce the number of young people unemployed in the borough.

Rochdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Skills and Economic Recovery, Councillor Keith Swift said: “The Future Jobs Fund has been a tremendous success for both businesses and participants and the scheme has provided tremendous benefits all round.”

The Future Jobs Fund provides people with routes into learning NVQ’s and equivalent and raises skill levels by at least one.

The scheme is open to non profit making organisations, 18-24 year old Job Centre Plus claimants and the long term unemployed.

As it stands 347 employees, 22 council departments and 34 voluntary sector organisations, 2 schools and 1 police department are currently registered on the programme.

The scheme has been scrapped by the new coalition government who are now developing a new work programme.