PACE experts can steer you through every employment challenge

Little wonder it is often compared to bereavement with similar stages of grief, anger, shock and denial.

The Scottish Government’s Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) initiative can help with the practicalities of redundancy as well as the emotional implications.

PACE is a partnership of 22 organisations together with the Scottish Government. Organisations include Skills Development Scotland, SQA, Scottish Enterprise, HMRC, colleges and universities and Jobcentre Plus. There are 18 PACE teams across Scotland, providing support to people who have been made redundant or who are facing redundancy.

PACE Adviser Owen Davies explains: “Redundancy can bring a sense of loss and emptiness. Some employers have been like family, with close working relationships and generations of families may have worked there.

“Others may feel anger and bitterness and have a fear of change, especially if it’s being forced upon them.”

From practical help from the Money Advice Service about mortgage or credit card payments, to advice on your rights and entitlements from Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), PACE takes a holistic approach addressing all areas of your life. There’s been no shortage of high profile redundancies in Scotland, and PACE has already helped thousands of people move on.

But for some redundancy may not always mean bad news.

“There are people who see redundancy as an opportunity,,” adds Owen.

“They may have been unhappy in the workplace and redundancy is forcing a change upon them. Their work life balance may have been difficult or redundancy could finally signal the end of difficult travel or long hours.”

Redundancy can give people the chance to explore the full range of opportunities available to them: a job they have always dreamed of or perhaps working for themselves.

By using a coaching approach, PACE Advisers support people from where they are now to where they want to be by helping them overcome obstacles to their end goal.

“We wouldn’t dissuade someone or say something’s a daft idea, because they might just do it,” adds Owen. “We’d encourage people to find out if it’s achievable, and help them research and make their own informed decision.”

PACE Advisers are there from the outset, brought in by companies to help you deal with the difficult news. But anyone who has been made redundant or is facing redundancy can get in touch for free advice and support.

You might be reeling from the redundancy shell shock but it doesn’t take long to understand what practical skills are necessary in today’s job market.

When did you last create a CV, or practise your interview skills? Have you got an up to date LinkedIn profile – do you even know what LinkedIn is?

These are all issues confronting anyone in a competitive job market. You may struggle with reading, writing or numbers, or don’t feel up to date with the latest technology, which can make it an even more daunting prospect.

Using your redundancy money to retrain should be a last resort but understanding the many funding opportunities available for retraining can be a challenge to navigate.

This is where PACE, with a network of local and national knowledge, comes into its own.

Redundancy can be an opportunity – even if it is a forced opportunity, says Owen.

“It’s our job to highlight the positives while being sensitive to people’s emotions.”

As a PACE Partner, Wendy Burton, Director of Scottish Union Learning at the STUC agrees that opportunities to up-skill, develop transferable skills, and improve employability skills are crucial in the search for alternative employment.

She says: “The STUC encourages unions to involve PACE when providing support to workers across Scotland who may be facing redundancy.

“We welcome the training and resources that are made available through PACE and many good outcomes have been achieved as a result of partnership working between PACE and trade unions in dealing with redundancy situations in the workplace.” Forklift training after Alan Hamilton had been made redundant meant he was the front runner for a new job. The 44-year-old from Cumbernauld was working as a fabricator for a company in Bellshill last October when it announced redundancies.

Alan said:“The people came in from PACE, including Skills Development Scotland and New College Lanarkshire as well as Routes to Work, right away. They couldn’t have done any more for us.”

After meeting Alan, Routes to Work training coordinator Marion Paterson assessed his existing skills and suggested courses to enhance his prospects.

It was agreed that undertaking Counterbalance forklift training, along with CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) certification would offer him improved job prospects.

Alan also updated his CV with help from PACE Adviser Glenn Manchip, who specialises in supporting people facing redundancy.

Condorrat-based Alan said:“I went for the job with Alumac (Scotland) and there were other people who were experienced fabricators like me, but I had the forklift licence and I’ve been told this helped me get the job.”

Shona Struthers, Colleges Scotland’s Chief Executive, said: “The strong partnership between New College Lanarkshire, Skills Development Scotland, and the Scottish Government through PACE allowed Alan to immediately retrain which quickly led to him being employed as a forklift operator.

“The services delivered by PACE Partners play a crucial role by retaining capable people in the workforce, and Scotland’s colleges remain utterly committed to continuing this successful partnership approach.”