Pictured above: Weller Howard
After being made redundant from Avon Cosmetics in April, Weller
Howard was made up to go back to work within a week and be among
the first to benefit from the new Euro-funded 'Response to
Redundancy' (R2R) training.
Weller, 35 moved from Northamptonshire to Derby to live with her
boyfriend earlier this summer. She had never been out of work
before and had concerns about her lack of job search skills and the
current job market.
She had been looking for work since April when she saw an advert
for R2R, run by Derby-based Pitman Training at her local job
centre. She gave them a call, arranged a meeting and within
just a few days, Weller had started a new job as an accounts
assistant.
Pitman Training Centre's R2R project is being funded as part of
an additional £12.5 million from the European Social Fund
(ESF) and Learning and Skills Council across the East Midlands.
The money will help people who are currently under notice of
redundancy or have recently lost their jobs, by offering them free,
flexible training to boost their skills so they can move quickly
back into work.
Weller said, "I set up an informal interview with Pitman
training manager Kerry Bentley in June. She helped me
identify my main skills and also what courses would be of benefit
to me in accountancy."
Kerry then recommended Weller for an accounts assistant vacancy
she had heard about at Orbital Recruitment in Derby. Weller
was helped to brush up her CV and work on interviewing techniques.
Experts at Pitman Training helped to give her confidence to face
the interview.
Weller said, "I was a little nervous at first and ended up
having a more formal second interview. They fired questions at me
from all angles, but I felt confident and prepared thanks to my
training.
"After the interview I asked when I could expect to receive any
feedback about my application. I was told maybe later in the
day. However, about an hour later I received a call saying
that I had got the job.
"My first day was very exciting! It was such a fantastic feeling
starting my new job. Everyone was friendly and happy to show me the
ropes."
Weller is continuing her training, thanks to R2R and Pitman
Training, by doing a Level 2 Business and Administration. She
added,
"I would say to anyone out there who is going through
redundancy, get as many skills and training courses you can under
your belt."
"I had never been out of work until Avon, but I stuck with it
and sought out help and advice."
Kerry Bentley from Derby Pitman Training Centre said, "It
was great to help Weller back into work so quickly after joining
our R2R training. Many people who are made redundant often
feel shell-shocked as it's the first time they have ever been out
of work. It is therefore vital that those made redundant get
back into the workplace as quickly as possible.
"With our knowledge of the local labour market, we are helping
people get back into work, whether it involves refreshing their
interview skills, as we did with Weller, or training them to learn
new skills and improve their job chances."