Pictured above: Ring of steel - Emily Smith (left) and
Ian Dilworth (right), who were both supported into employment by
Pertemps People Development Group, with Karim and Karima Pradhan,
of U2 UK Ltd
A young Birmingham woman may help keep US and Jamaican Olympic
stars - including the world's fastest man Usain Bolt - safe in 2012
thanks to her new career in security.
Emily Smith, aged 20, from Hockley, had been unemployed for more
than six months after an apprenticeship she had secured collapsed
during the week it was due to start.
Her change in fortune came when she was referred by Jobcentre
Plus to employment experts Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG)
under the Work Focused Training initiative for 18-24 year olds.
Emily took full advantage of all the training on offer including
in life skills, coaching and interview technique. Tina Pritchard,
PPDG employer liaison co-ordinator, helped Emily by encouraging her
to attend awareness days to find out what jobs were on offer which
led her to find Birmingham-based security firm U2 UK Ltd.
The company is gearing up to bid for contracts protecting the
high-profile sportspeople staying in the city during the Olympics
in two years' time, including the teams from the US and Jamaica. U2
UK Ltd is looking to expand its security teams by snapping up local
people, particularly women security guards, to meet demand.
She did so well at her interview that U2 UK Ltd immediately
offered her a job. She had to undergo an intensive training
programme of 30 hours plus an exam to gain her Security Industry
Association (SIA) badge which is required for an individual to work
in security. The course and badge were funded by PPDG.
Emily has recently completed her training along with three other
people selected by U2 UK Ltd and funded by PPDG, and is now waiting
for her badge to arrive so she can start work.
She said: "I've really enjoyed my training and I'm looking
forward to starting work with U2 UK Ltd. PPDG has given me that
chance to gain more experience and a qualification, and helped me
to get that career."
PPDG's Tina Pritchard said: "It is a great opportunity for Emily
to work with a local company employing local people towards
something that will hopefully leave a lasting legacy in the
community well after the Olympics.
"With Emily, it has been a wonderful example of the PPDG ethos
of finding that spark within someone as she had not considered a
career in security before. I am sure she will have a successful
career and wish her good luck with U2 UK Ltd."
Karim Pradhan, managing director of U2 UK Ltd, said: "Everything
seems to be going well so far and in the first two months we have
trained four new officers. We will very soon badge 10 officers who
will go straight into employment. The selection process has helped
us a lot in assessing the potential candidates suited for the
positions we have to offer and Pertemps People Development Group's
help in speeding this process has been excellent."
PPDG works in partnership with Jobcentre Plus and other
organisations to deliver employment and training initiatives
including Flexible New Deal, Employment Zone, Lone Parent
mentoring, and Learndirect training programmes. More than 100,000
job seekers have been helped into sustained employment by the
company since the projects began. It has trained 130,000
people in vocational skills, and over 175,000 people have
benefitted from professional information, advice and guidance
services. In addition to support into employment, Learndirect
facilities put on-line learning in reach of clients and the general
public.