Ten people from the North of the Island currently looking for work have showcased their skills and talents to local businesses and potential employers in Ramsey following the successful completion of a Prepare for Work programme funded by the Department of Economic Development.
The participants, all aged between 16 and 22 years old, took part in the programme which ran over 4 weeks. They learned and developed a wide range of skills including customer service, communication, behaviour, and dealing with difficult situations.
The course culminated in a group presentation which incorporated all the skills learned throughout the programme.
The Department’s political member with responsibility for Employment and Skills Tony Wild MLC commented:
"One of our key objectives is to engage with young people who are unemployed to help facilitate their entry or return to employment, education or training. By delivering specialised training, such as the Prepare for Work programme, we can help promote self esteem, boost confidence and help instil a work ethic to those individuals who are currently disadvantaged in the job market."
Principal Trainer Angelena Boden of Transforming Training was impressed with the mature attitudes and progress of the group. She said:
‘It has been a very rewarding experience all round and it has been a pleasure to work with young people who take their search for work so seriously. They have progressed from being shy and uncertain to taking responsibility for their own learning. This has resulted in interviews for many of the delegates and offers of employment for some of them halfway through the programme. This is really good news and is what we are about."
The group presented FESTIVAL, a proposal to hold a two day community focused event in Ramsey. The primary aim of the group was to show pride in their local area and attract more people to Ramsey whilst showcasing their planning, presentation and creative skills.
