Souter Lighthouse, now owned by the National Trust, was the first to use alternating electric current.  This was the most advanced lighthouse technology of its day, generating an astonishing 800,000 candle power light.  sencia’s New Deal team from Souter and The Leas worked under the guidance of the National Trust to improve the front gardens of the lighthouse.

Janette Russon, Business Manager, sencia in South Shields, explains: “Souter Lighthouse and the Leas are supported by one of sencia’s work experience placement projects.  It provides an opportunity for people who have been out of work for some time to gain real ‘hands-on’ experience, learning new or refreshing existing skills. 

“The work that we do at Souter Lighthouse supports clients gaining up to date skills to compete within the workplace, and in some instances, working towards their Construction Skills Certification Scheme card – a must have for anyone working in the construction sector.  The project provides access to numerous trades, including painting, joinery and gardening.”

Nick Dolan, Property Manager, National Trust, says: “The team from sencia did a fantastic job making ready the lighthouse gardens for the thousands of visitors that we receive at Souter each year.”

Works undertaken by the New Deal team in the gardens included careful laying of the new gravel surface ready for planting.  The gardens are open to the public from 14^th March 2009.

The £1m contract, known as Mersey Fast Track Project, is being delivered by employability business sencia, part of the Employability and Skills Group (esg), from its offices in Birkenhead.  The contract is funded by the Learning and Skills Council.

Di Fryar, Operations Director, sencia explains: “This is a common sense approach to filling job vacancies by making sure that customers are in the best possible position to secure employment. If a client is matched to a job in, for example, retail, the project staff aims to ensure that the customer’s CV matches all the requirements in the job’s Person Specification. 

“This might include accredited training in the form of a National Vocational Qualification in Retail, and non-accredited training such as a basic manual handling course to help with stock taking, all of which would be requirements for that vacancy.  The result of the activity should be that the customer receives a guaranteed job interview, wherever possible.”

Anthony Sullivan, aged 44 from Birkenhead, had been unemployed for 18 months when he got involved in the Mersey Fast Track Project.  Now employed as a Clerical Officer with the National Health Service, Anthony says: “The assistance and guidance provided by sencia was thoroughly professional and extremely helpful and was a major factor in my success at interview resulting in my job offer.  I feel that without this support I would still be struggling.”

sencia’s contract includes the development of Action Plans for almost 500 unemployed people, who will be expected to take part in skills development activities leading to new qualifications.  The effectiveness of the project will also be reviewed in terms of how it fits within the wider context of Government funded skills for work initiatives, including Train to Gain and Local Employment Partnerships. 

sencia’s contract runs until the end of 2010. 

sencia is working in east, north and north east London, as well as the City of London, to deliver help via the Government’s Skills for Jobs programme, funded by the Learning and Skills Council.  This aims to reduce unemployment by engaging more effectively with people not in work and moving them into sustainable jobs through support, learning and achievement of qualifications.

Adrian Holmes, esg Group Chief Executive Officer, says: “These are challenging economic times and Skills for Jobs is about helping people get back to work and equipping them with the skills and qualifications to stay in work. 

“sencia is working in local communities in different parts of the capital, each with its own unique challenges, to direct people into jobs that have long-term opportunities.  We are working with specific disadvantaged groups, providing language skills and basic literacy and numeracy, as well as helping those with mental health difficulties, learning difficulties and disabilities.”

There are three separate contracts focusing Higher Level English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs) and Learners with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities (LLDD).  sencia is responsible for putting together pathways to employment appropriate to the needs of these clients and the employers for all three groups.

ESOL clients will receive tailored support to increase the number achieving an appropriate language qualification, or developing language skills to enable them to move into high skilled employment, and increase sustained employment rates. 

LEPs are a deal between Government and business to tackle the increasing recruitment and skills challenges of the local labour market and economy.  Employers work in partnership with Government to open up employment and training opportunities to disadvantaged jobseekers. 

LLDD will increase job opportunities for those with mental health difficulties, learning difficulties, and disabilities. 

sencia’s contract runs until 31 July 2010. 

The two year contracts are to deliver the Government’s New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) in Manchester, Liverpool, Merseyside, South Tyne and Wear and Glasgow.  The NDDP contracts will be delivered by esg’s Employability business sencia.  NDDP benefits people with a health issue or a disability by adopting a structured, supportive approach to helping them back into work.

Adrian Holmes, Chief Executive Officer, esg, says: “These contracts are excellent news for esg and sencia and facilitate further growth in our business, taking us for the first time north of the border into Scotland.  We have set up a new support infrastructure to support the efficient delivery of these contracts, bringing with it the creation of over 40 new jobs, which in a time where many businesses are cutting back is good news for us and the wider economy.

“We are now supporting the Government’s drive to equip the UK with people who have the skills to make a meaningful contribution to the economy.  It appears from current forecasts that the economy will only get worse.  NDDP provides people with the best possible opportunities to get back into work.”

sencia helps incapacity and sickness related claimants get back into sustainable employment.  It offers impartial advice and support on how to work towards gaining employment and a wide range of services from application forms and CVs to equipment and training.  Work placements and trails are also arranged and benefits advice is given by a personal adviser.

Frances Kennedy, NDDP Area Manager, sencia, explains: “Clients who register with us see sencia employment consultant on a regular basis.  We complete an initial registration form and a basic skills assessment.   Within the first month, we complete a back to work plan – this is an individual plan which is continually reviewed during regular meetings.  These meetings can take place at sencia sites or close to the individual’s home in their local café or job centre – basically wherever is most convenient for them.  It is this unique personal approach that sets us apart in our approach to the delivery of NDDP and is reflected in our success securing contracts that will help almost 10,000 people in receipt of incapacity benefits. 

“We are also supported by a large number of partners that add value to our relationship with our clients.  These include Remploy and Breakthrough and are used for a range of support, including skills training, advocacy and support.”

For further information visit www.esggroup.co.uk or www.sencia.co.uk

Part of the Employability and Skills Group (esg) of companies, sencia delivers high quality training across the North East, North West, London, the West Midlands and the East of England.

Paul Knight, sencia’s Employability Director, says: “Our focus is on the delivery of the government’s agenda to get people off benefits and into work.  Our training improves peoples’ chances of finding sustainable employment and includes offering tailored provision to participants who find it particularly difficult to get jobs and are in real danger of becoming permanently excluded from the labour market.”

esg delivers learning and skills programmes on behalf of the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), National Employer Service, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Jobcentre Plus (JCP) throughout the UK.

esg operates across the UK, with operations in London and the South East, North East, North West, East and West Midlands, Yorkshire and Humberside.