Pictured above: (l-r) Learner Sheila Jingo and Pertemps People Development Group's Jan Kubanyi 

Learning and earning are the focus of a Birmingham training initiative which is giving unemployed residents the skills and qualifications they need to get back into work.

Employment experts Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG) are working in partnership with Aston Pride New Deal for Communities to give local people the best possible chance of finding a job in a challenging economic climate.

As part of the Employment Connections initiative, local job seekers are participating in courses being run at the Newtown Advancement Centre to improve their literacy and numeracy skills, learn more about computers in addition to receiving support through role play to build their confidence in public situations. 

PPDG employment coach Jan Kubanyi said: "We see everyone from pre-entry level up to Level 2 qualifications, which are equivalent to GCSE grades A-C. Clients can also achieve City & Guilds qualifications to give them the start they need.

"People generally need help to improve their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, particularly aimed at filling in job applications forms and increasing their chances at interview. The demand is certainly there and we're currently facilitating extra reading classes twice a week to help clients through such difficulties."

Improving clients' numeracy skills is achieved through practical exercises that apply in everyday life including working out percentages and fractions so that people can understand retail discounts and salary deductions.

Jan added: "Training becomes more attractive and easier to grasp if it's practical and relative. Once we master the basic skills we can move on to computers and clients learn how to use the Internet effectively to search for jobs and develop other skills such as digital photography."

Local resident Valentine Barr has already achieved a C&G Adult Literacy Level 1 qualification and is about to sit his Level 2 exam.

He said: "The Aston Pride programme has been particularly informative and ideal for someone in my situation. The tutors show lots of patience, the learning materials are easy to comprehend and above all, I'm treated as an individual which has enabled me to gain basic literacy skills."

After achieving her C&G Adult Numeracy Level 2 qualification, Sheila Jingo said: "As soon as I walked through the classroom door I felt comfortable and was able to conquer my fear of maths. I'm so proud it's helped me to follow my aspirations, I've now enrolled on a college course and would like to comment that the endless one-to-one support from my tutor was simply amazing."

PPDG's team of employment experts provide advice on benefits, confidence building, one-to-one support, CV and interview preparation as well as finding the right job or training course. In partnership with DWP, the Ministry of Justice and Jobcentre Plus, PPDG delivers a diverse range of employment and training initiatives including Flexible New Deal, Working Neighbourhoods Fund, Learndirect and many ESF funded programmes.

Aston Pride - a 10-year, £54 million regeneration initiative - aims to transform the economic culture of Aston by reducing unemployment and raising household incomes.  It encourages residents to aspire to achieve their fullest potential and collaborate in acquiring a sense of common purpose and community identity.  It is also providing intelligent support for training, learning, the social economy, and business investment and development.