WARRINGTON’S Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) is tackling unemployment in the town head on taking on 18 new trainees this month – with the ultimate goal of having 10% of its workforce made up of apprentices and trainees.
The Trust is determined to tackle youth unemployment in the town after Office for National Statistics showed the total number of young people aged 16-24 who are out of work in the UK at 974,000.
Recognising the value that young people can bring to the workplace GGHT have committed to deliver a programme of modern apprenticeships, trainee schemes and work experience to help them into work.
The new trainees are a mixture of younger residents and older people who have been long-term unemployed. They will be employed by GGHT over the next 12 months playing valuable roles in helping the Trust to meet its commitments to improving the local environment and supporting its tenants to stay safe and healthy. Jobs include
the repair and painting of fencing and gates around tenants’ homes and helping to develop the Trust’s food club, providing fresh fruit and vegetables to local people at low prices. Two of the trainees will be working in partnership with Cheshire Fire Service to provide home safety advice to local residents.
During their time at GGHT the trainees will also be attending Warrington Collegiate to study towards NVQ Level one or two qualifications in Basic Construction Skills and Customer Services.
Roy Smith, Chair of the GGHT Board, (pictured right) said: “I am delighted to welcome these new recruits into our organisation and look forward to helping them develop their skills and progress in their careers.
“Given the high levels of unemployment we are currently seeing and the cuts to the benefit system, we feel that our commitment to helping our tenants and young people get into work and training is more important than ever. Our trainee schemes and apprenticeships are fantastic ways for people to earn a living while they learn and develop
new skills. We see our trainees and apprentices as an important part of the organisation and will continue to invest in these areas to ensure our workforce has fresh skills, talent and enthusiasm.”
Colette Mottershead is 24-years-old and lives in Bewsey, Warrington. Prior to getting this opportunity with GGHT she had been unemployed for 12 months and was working as a volunteer at the Longford Neighbourhood Services Centre.
Colette said: “I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to work with Golden Gates Housing Trust. I first found out about the trainee scheme when I was asked by the Trust’s Tenant Participation Team to attend a pre-employment training course at Warrington Collegiate. What really impressed me was the focus that was placed on finding people with the right attitude and willingness to learn rather than those who already had the most experience and qualifications.
“My job as a trainee home safety advisor is a fantastic opportunity to develop a career within the organisation and for me to help local people while gaining experience, skills and qualifications. In the future I would like to stay with GGHT and progress up the ladder.”
The Trust’s commitment to training and supporting its employees has resulted in a number of recent awards, with two of its current trainees being crowned Learner of the Year and Star of the Future at Warrington Borough Council’s Learner Awards 2013.
GGHT will shortly be starting a recruitment campaign for a number of Apprenticeship opportunities and are also offering a range of free training opportunities for its tenants and their family members. Anyone who lives in one of the Trust’s properties and would like additional support getting into employment, training or volunteering can register
with GGHT’s Positive Change initiative by visiting www.gght.org.uk/positivechange or calling 0800 25 26 27 and asking to speak to the Employment Team.
Picture shows some of the new recruits
