New Renewables Training Hub Opens
It'll provide training and work experience opportunities to people hoping to find employment in the offshore wind industry on the Humber.
A new centre to help up-skill people for jobs in the renewables industry on the Humber officially launches in Hull today.
The Hub at the city's Central Library will offer training and work experience opportunities to long term unemployed people who are hoping for a career in the offshore wind industry - with the first influx of candidates coming through its doors today.
It'll also provide careers information and advice.
Danel Enze from Cottingham has been out of work since October and is among those hoping for a job at Siemens' Green Port Hull development. He told us:
"At the moment there isn't much going on job-wise apart from Green Port Hull so hopefully I'm going to try and fix myself up with some sort of work within Siemens if possible and if not it's back to doing a normal job search looking up and down the country. There are that many people looking for jobs that it is very competitive.
"I've done various jobs both skilled and unskilled so I will just apply for what I think is suitable for myself and there maybe other jobs available which I don't even know about so hopefully by coming in and checking the availability something may materialise.
"Working for Siemens would offer a bit more security for me because it is a big worldwide firm and you have a lot more job scope and it may also provide job opportunities across the country.
"It has been difficult finding work because all the local work that I have seen is either other skilled work that isn't to do woth my trade but I do have numerous skills."
Up to ten candidates will be undertaking the first ever assessment day as part of the Pathway to Employment programme at The Hub in Central Library on Wednesday 9 December.
This innovative programme will be delivered through collaborative working across the Council, Unity Training and Jobcentre Plus, helping people to develop their skills and assist people back in to work.
Leader of Hull City Council, Councillor Stephen Brady, said:
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Unity Training to deliver this training programme at our fantastic new careers and information hub at Central Library, and we hope that this project will encourage those who have been unemployed for a longer period of time to explore the opportunities available to them within the offshore wind industry and the wider renewables sector.
“By supporting our local workforce to improve the access they have to training and skills within the renewables sector, we will be giving the people of Hull and the East Riding the best chance when it comes to applying for these roles.”
Bob Ferraby, Green Port Growth Programme’s Skills and Development Lead, said:
“Partnership working with locally based employers is key towards engaging with jobseekers who have been unemployed for over six months, and by developing a programme which involves targeted assistance and support, we hope to achieve greater results in terms of greatly improving the chances they have of finding work.
“Today will be an opportunity to see at first-hand some of the tailored work we will be doing with jobseekers to ensure there is a smooth transition between unemployment and working in manufacturing and the renewables energy sector.”