News: Forging ahead in South Yorkshire

A ground-breaking programme piloted to help Corus workers in South Yorkshire cope with redundancy is being rolled out to other companies across the region in a bid to support employers during the economic downturn and recovery.

The Forging Ahead course, developed and delivered by Communitas was funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the Government's national Response to Redundancy programme.

The course, initially developed as a five-day pilot programme, provides practical advice sessions on issues such as IT skills, mock interviews and CV advice, as well as dealing with the feelings and emotions around redundancy.

Since completing the course late last year, nine former Corus employees have got new jobs while over 30 have gone on to other training and support.

Now, the course has been adapted by the LSC and Communitas as a model for other sectors, and has already helped businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber.

Shaz Ghalib, Economic Development Manager at the LSC said: "Many of the people taking part in Forging Ahead had only ever worked at Corus. They had little experience of the basics of job hunting such as writing CVs, or interviews and many had only ever worked in male-dominated environments. The programme helped them be better prepared for work and equipped them with the right skills for jobs in sectors and industries where there are more opportunities.

"The programme is the result of a unique partnership between the LSC, unions and the employer. As well as the practical advice such as information about self employment, tax and careers, the course also looks at some of the emotional issues around redundancy. For many people it is a very difficult issue to deal with, often affecting confidence and self esteem."

John Guest from North Anston in Rotherham ended a 30-year career in steel manufacturing when he volunteered for redundancy from Stocksbridge. He said: "The course helped me realise that the future ahead is uncertain, but that I can choose and affect the outcome. Having identified future careers, I am now training to secure the type of career I want, preferably still in a large organisation, and perhaps outdoors and mobile.

"It also helped me deal with the fact that I am now no longer part of the 'society' where I worked. I had to come to terms with the fact that I wouldn't be seeing the people I had worked with for many years. It was a good forum to discuss these issues - it brought out a lot of different view points."

Michael Leahy OBE, General Secretary of the Community Union added: "It is regrettable that a course like Forging Ahead is necessary, but it is nevertheless a unique example of a trade union working together with key agencies to bring help to ordinary men and women in these difficult times. It underlines our approach which is to support members in their communities as well as in their workplaces."

Other organisations involved in supporting the course included Leeds City College, Yorkshire Forward, JobCentre Plus, Rotherham Investment & Development Office and Business Link.

Communitas website
Rotherham

Images: communitas.org.uk