Jobs: Partnership aims to give unemployed skills for work

National education, training and employability provider NCG has created the Employment Gateway to help develop skills like job history writing and interview techniques.

They can also gain help in finding suitable job vacancies and can access training and support to help overcome barriers preventing them getting work.

The Employment Gateway is delivered by Intraining, a prime contractor for the government’s flagship Work Programme. It was created through a partnership with two colleges, Newcastle and Lancashire.

The service is available across the country to those who are in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance, Employment Support Allowance or inactive benefits.

The Gateway also helps customers access short courses covering subjects from English and maths to business admin, customer services and health and care. These courses are designed to help the customer to gain confidence and support them back into the job market.

Phil Bonell, managing director at Intraining, which delivers the Employment Gateway, said: “Our team at Intraining has considerable experience of delivering welfare to work services and the colleges have a proven track record of supporting and enabling local communities. Working together, we aim to work with customers to create an individual service, which combines support and training and identifies much-needed transferable skills into the job market

“With unemployment figures at an all time high, it is essential that we tackle this national problem. Unless urgent action is taken, the levels of unemployment and youth unemployment are likely to increase further still.”