Support for adult skills, learning and employment

Thursday, 10 November 2022 14:30

By David Murphy

Council leaders have been supporting and encouraging local businesses to provide training, skills and employment support.

They visited a number of companies across Bury who support working people as well as provide training and courses to improve digital skills and help build people’s confidence finding work.

The council contingent comprised Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of the council; Cllr Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy; and Paul Lakin, executive director of place (business growth and infrastructure).

They started the day at JEWEL, based in Prestwich, who support the local community with digital skills - from the basics of computer use through to how to use Adobe Suite programmes such as Photoshop and Illustrator - as well as working alongside other community groups to provide a functional space that benefits all residents within the area.

Speaking with Issac Ginsbury, chief executive of JEWEL, the councillors discussed further how to support their online course provision so that JEWEL would be able to provide a wider range of courses online without additional cost to their customers. JEWEL further spoke on their future for the building in order to better provide to all their customers, including business support to further the opportunities available within the local area.

Following the visit, the councillors visited the family-run Orme Gallery in Pilsworth. Meeting with artist E. Anthony Orme and his son around their framing business, which has handled priceless artwork including original Banksys, as well as having supported artwork currently in the town hall. The Leader discussed how to best support further apprenticeships and how collaborating with local educators can help show young people that framing is a valued profession. Also discussed was how the gallery space could be used for cultural events such as art classes, to help bring the community together over local art created by local people.

The third visit of the day was to the Ingeus Work and Health Programme., Here, team supports those out of work to overcome obstacles to get them back into work, and they discussed how mental health was the largest blocker for people trying to return to work. The Leader spoke about how the council could further support through advertising their service where possible to make sure anyone struggling is aware of the service that can support their journey back into work.

The final visit of the day was also with Ingeus at their Restart programme which focuses more on getting people back into work who don’t have the same obstacles as those referred to the Work and Health programme. The Leader discussed with the team what can support their programme to get people back into work as soon as possible with local opportunities. Also discussed was the possibility of a future ‘Working Wardrobe’, a service which provides interview/business donated clothes, and supporting with mock interviews and confidence building.

Cllr O’Brien said: “It is always a great way to spend the day talking with local businesses across Bury who provide excellent support for our residents as well as helping to provide opportunities for work within the local area. With our plans for regeneration across the borough, we want to do all we can to make sure that jobs generated benefit our residents and businesses.”

And Cllr Morris added: “We are always delighted to spend time with local businesses across Bury and see first-hand the great work that these organisations do, including helping our residents get back into work and even providing support after they get a job. We always want to understand what we can do to help support businesses and other organisations across our borough.”

Find out more about the businesses visited: