Jumping for jobs joy
ANEW £1m trampoline park has jumped into town, bringing with it 20 new jobs. Flip Out, which has just opened a new branch at the Royle Pennine Trading Estate near Tesco, is the fastest-growing trampoline park operator in the world, with over 65 branches in seven countries.
Their new venue in Rochdale includes box zones, tumble tracks and kids’ arenas.
All 20 staff who have been taken on were employed through the council’s employment links partnership, which helps get people job ready by offering free support, such as interview training and help to get onto courses.
The new recruits, who were all either previously unemployed, or working fewer hours, have been given training in a variety of areas, including party organising, first aid, reception work and safety marshalling.
Imran Matadar, general manager at Flip Out, Rochdale, said: “We found the perfect site here, but the fantastic support we got from the council, RDA and the Business Growth Hub really made it happen.
“This will be a great new facility for Rochdale. It will help get people fit and active and give young people something to do. We’re really keen to work with local primary schools and have given away free tickets, so youngsters can come in and see what we’re all about.”
Jade Massey, 19, is one of Flip Out’s new recruits.
She said: “I worked in warehousing before, but was looking for something different. I’ve got a health condition which can limit the jobs I can do, so I wasn’t really confident about applying for things, but I got a lot of support from Employment Links.
“Being here from the beginning makes me feel like I have a stake in this place and I’m so chuffed to be working here. exciting time.”
Training was provided by Middleton-based, Mantra Learning.
The Business Growth Hub also helped the company get a grant to install an energy efficient heating system.
Coun Liam O’Rourke, cabinet member for business, skills and employment, said: “This fantastic new opening will be a welcome addition to Rochdale’s It’s an thriving leisure scene and the fact that it helps people get fit and healthy is even better.
“I’m really proud to see that, with the help of our Employment Links Partnership, a number of Rochdale residents have secured jobs at this fantastic new facility, with one of the new employees coming back into the workplace for the first time in ten years after taking a break to raise her children.”