Dorset Council to offer free training to boost employability
It's hoped Skills Bootcamps will 'stop mental health problems developing'
Adults in Dorset will be eligible for free training courses this spring in an effort for regional councils to boost employability this spring.
The ‘Skills Bootcamp’ scheme is a joint initiative being pushed by Somerset and Dorset Council, Councillor Val Keitch said: “we are very proud to be involved with this.”
Courses will range from 3 to 16 weeks and focus on “in-demand sectors” including IT, cyber-security, welding, component removal, hybrid vehicles, data analytics and databases.
Cllr Keitch added: “What the program aims to do is to help adults develop in-demand skills which we hope will lead to well-paid roles within growing sectors like cyber-security or construction.”
The courses are closely monitored and designed by industry professionals and then, upon completion of the course, graduates are guaranteed an interview with local employers to help learners boost their employability and begin their careers.
Cllr Keitch said: “This is a wonderful free resource and it’s providing training with the primary aim of helping people get a new job or become self-employed.”
A recent graduate of the course, Carly Munroe said “The welding course was really beneficial and gave me valuable skills, which have helped me with my aspiration to be a pipe welder.
“If you’re considering doing the training, I say go for it. You will gain a good understanding of the area you want to work in.”
Cllr Val Keitch believes this initiative can help those struggling with unemployment and even people who are homeless and they have proven to do so on several occasions, none more so than with a graduate named Alistair.
Alistair was a former investment banker turned IT teacher who struggled with his mental health and found himself homeless prior to joining the IT readiness Skills Bootcamp.
After completing the course, he became an IT consultant. Cllr Keitch said: “he is a good example of how this can help someone who had problems with their mental health. This bootcamp enabled him to get back into the employment market."
The courses are perhaps more vital today than ever as county council continue to look for ways to increase employment post-COVID. Cllr Keitch said: “this is just one small way we, as a country council, can help to get these people back into employment and to give them new skills for the digital age”
Enrolment for these courses is open now but you are only eligible if you are aged 19 or over and currently unemployed or self-employed.