LEWISHAM: College helps tackle unemployment (From News Shopper)

LEWISHAM: College helps tackle unemployment

11:23am Friday 21st August 2009 in News By Rebecca Moore - community correspondent

As the number of unemployed hits new highs, Lewisham College’s The Skills People are offering a helping hand to the jobless.

The Skills People will be holding an employment, training and recruitment open day this month specifically aimed at getting people in the local community back into work.

On Wednesday 26 August 2009 Lewisham College’s Lewisham Way campus will be opening its doors to adults who are currently unemployed or are at risk of becoming redundant.

The Skills People will be offering free psychometric testing to guide people towards suitable career paths and attendees will have the opportunity to sign up to one of The Skills People’s employment programmes.

The programmes available will offer participants free training in order to re-skill and refresh their skills and guide them into sustainable employment. Training will be offered in a wide range of areas including retail, hospitality, security and business.

Applicants will also have the opportunity to chat to high profile employers, including big name hospitality brands such as ISS Caterhouse who will be keeping an eye out for potential employees.

Siobhan Scantlebury from The Skills People said: “Through this open day The Skills People are offering local people the chance to make a fresh start. The downturn has really pulled the rug out from under a lot of people – people who have been working all of their lives have suddenly become unemployed or are facing redundancy.

“We can help these individuals update their skills or even retrain so they’re able to work in a totally new sector. Better still, we can support them back into jobs.”

Employment, Training and Recruitment Open Day Wednesday 26 August 10am-2pm, Lewisham College, Lewisham Way, London SE4 1UT