Kickstarting careers HOW THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN FOR JOBS IS BOOSTIN PEOPLE’S C INTO THE WORLD O
STARTING out in your career is never easy and young people have had a particularly tough time in the pandemic – but the government’s Plan for Jobs is creating fresh opportunities for employees as businesses begin to thrive again.
Schemes such as Kickstart, Apprenticeships (which are also open to older age groups), Traineeships and T Levels are giving firms incentives to help new recruits develop skills and experience. Businesses should always carefully check their eligibility for each of the schemes before applying.
In the Kickstart Scheme, which aims to create new jobs for 16- to 24-year-olds, businesses receive a £1,500 grant for each person they take on, to help provide employability support. Kickstart funds a new recruit’s salary and national insurance contributions for six months – so it’s a win-win for employers and employees, as business owners are discovering.
Among them is Paola Dyboski-bryant, founder of Dr Zigs Extraordinary Bubbles, which makes eco-friendly children’s bubble mixes and accesories in Bangor, Wales. “It’s been challenging to graduate in a pandemic with that anxiety and not knowing if there were jobs,” she says. “Young people have had such a rollercoaster ride.”
Paola has taken on six Kickstarters this year, and they are earning as they learn new skills.
“We have to make sure we deliver and give our Kickstarters the best training they can get,” explains Paola.
“We’re really nurturing them. I’ve always been very keen to support youngsters, so they’ve had really good training and good management, but even so I’ve been surprised by how fantastic they have been. They’re such a lovely bunch.
“Investing in people always has its rewards. The Kickstart Scheme has given us, as a small company, the opportunity to grow and recruits the chance to do something they wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.”
Kickstart recruit Tecwyn Emrys Jones, 21, agrees. “What made me apply for Dr Zigs was the job description. It had a varied amount of tasks on it and I’m a jack-of-all trades type of person so it really suited me,” says Tecwyn (left). “I did my GCSES and some of my AS levels and was ready for work.
“At the moment I’m packing and bottling on the manufacturing side, and the people here are nice. And it’s pretty decent to be earning money.
“I would say that if you see a Kickstart role then go for it – it’s really good for experience and for getting into the world of work.”
Jenny Mclay, 41, is the founder of Edinburghbased tourist attraction, The Chocolatarium. She says taking on a Kickstart recruit has helped her grow her business
“Before opening The Chocolatarium, I ran an English language school so I was very experienced in working with young people. I enjoy taking them on and seeing them grow as well as it being helpful for the business itself.
“We initially took on six Kickstart recruits at the end of March and one now has a job with us. The scheme allows you to grow the business in a way you couldn’t before. Before it was just myself, the assistant manager and about six guides. One of the reasons I decided to use Kickstart was because with the pandemic, we were in the process of setting up an online chocolate shop.
PICTURE PERFECT
“With Kickstart, it’s not so much whether people have the skills – the whole point is that you can develop those skills. As long as they’re able and willing to learn, then it’s a really positive experience.
“The key thing is that if you can find a young person who is a match for you in terms of their interests and what they want to do, you’re getting talent and the government is supporting you in doing so. When you consider the training you’re giving and the benefit that a recruit is bringing, then I think it’s a win-win situation.”
“I graduated in photography from Edinburgh University last year, straight into the pandemic. I was looking for jobs to do with my degree or anything, but it was a struggle in the middle of a pandemic.
“My work coach told me about the Kickstart job, for a marketing assistant with a focus on photography – marketing with social media, websites and content creation, which I’d done in my degree so I thought it was worth a shot.
“Working here has helped me financially, but also with my confidence – I call it my first ‘ big girl job’ because it’s related to my degree. Learning within the context of the job you’re working in is really helpful. With other jobs you might be thrown in at the deep end – there’s more support with Kickstart.”
16 years and up Apprentices work 30 hours a week with one day a week studying, usually at a university, college or training provider. They can take one to four years to complete
Businesses can apply for a £1,000 incentive payment for each traineeship work placement, that lasts for at least 70 hours, until July 31, 2022
PLANNING applications determined with Rochdale Borough Council include: ●● AN application for the erection of a porch and two-storey side and rear extension, following the demolition of the existing attached garage, at 4 Parkfield Close, Rochdale, has been refused. ●● AN application for a certificate of lawfulness for proposed singlestorey side and rear extensions, following the removal of the existing conservatory, at 15 Beechfield Close, Rochdale, has been granted. ●● AN application for a two-storey side extension, and singlestorey rear extension, following the demolition of the existing conservatory, at 21 Pleasant Street, Rochdale, has been refused. ●● AN application for tree works, involving the crown lift of one birch tree, one chestnut tree, and one cherry tree, the removal of a limb of an ash tree, the pruning back of a sycamore tree, and the removal of a lime tree, at The Royal Toby Hotel, Manchester Road, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● AN application for the removal of the existing 48 sheet advertising display unit and the replacement with a new internally illuminated 48 sheet digital display unit, at 409 Queensway, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● PRIOR approval was not required for the installation of a 20m high Phase 8 Monopole with c/w wraparound cabinet at the base, and associated ancillary works, at Touchet Hall Road, Stakehill Industrial Estate, Middleton. ●● PRIOR approval was not required for a single-storey extension measuring 5.7m from the rear of the original dwelling, with a maximum height of 3.2m, and a height to the eaves of 2.6m, at 33
Chatburn Avenue, Rochdale. ●● AN application for a non-material amendment to a previous application to alter the layout of the portacabin by switching the ground and upper floors, at Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority, Chichester Street, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● AN application for the change of use from two retail units to two hot food takeaways, including the installation of two extraction flues on the rear elevation, at 161 Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● AN application for a flat to hipped roof extension, replacement of the front garage door with one window, new windows to the front and side elevations, and single-storey rear extension, following the demolition of the existing conservatory, at 24 Shawclough Way, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● AN application for tree works, involving the felling of one beech tree, one willow tree, and two oak trees, at Tudor Court, Lowerfold Way, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● AN application for the installation of storage tanks and associated equipment to facilitate the storage of liquefied natural gas and liquefied nitrogen, at Asda Distribution Centre, Dig Gate Lane, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● AN application for a two-storey side extension, at 5 Furzegate, Rochdale, has been refused. ●● AN application to vary conditions of a previously submitted application with the erection of a 2m blockwork wall with mural, instead of the approved timber fence on the north boundary, and the erection of a 1.8m high fence along the western boundary, at 75 Kingsway, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● THE submission of details to comply with a condition involving Greenvale Brook design, in relation to a previously submitted application at various locations within Littleborough, at Riverstone Bridge; Charles Street, Peel Street, Foam Converters, and Lower Town House Brook, has been completed. ●● AN application for prior notification for a single-storey extension measuring 8m from the rear of the original dwelling, with a maximum height of 3.67m, at Leaches Farm, Ashworth Road, Heywood, has been refused. ●● AN application for the change of use of part of the ground floor to a cafe, at Spotland Bridge Mill, Spotland Road, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● AN application for the erection of a stable/ storage building following the demolition of the existing stable building, at Festhigh Barn, Hollands Farm, Rooley Moor Road, Rochdale, has been refused. ●● A RESUBMITTED application for the demolition of the existing taxi booking office and he construction of a replacement part single, part three-storey building, consisting of a taxi booking office and storage at the ground floor, and two selfcontained flats at the first and second floor, at site of Tiger Taxis, Holland Street, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● AN application for prior notification for a single-storey extension, measuring 5.7m from the rear of the original dwelling, with a maximum height of 3.4m, and a height to the eaves of 3.2m, at 115 Edmund Street, Rochdale, has been refused. ●● AN application for tree works, involving the pruning of two birch trees, at land adjacent to 70 Oakley Way, Rochdale, has been granted subject to conditions. ●● AN application for a two-storey rear extension, including the raising of the roof ridge height, and the insertion of a new window to the side elevation, at 19 Birch Hill Crescent, Wardle, Rochdale, has been refused.
MOORHOUSE METHODISTS
ON SUNDAY our morning service and sacrament commences at 10.30am and will be led by our minister the Rev A Halstead.
If you are still unsure about the government’s and Methodists’ more recent guidelines and need more information, then you can telephone 01706 644 134.
The minister vlogs will continue to be streamed online on Wednesdays at 10am and Sunday at 10.30am.
The weekly services and Zoom meeting information can also be accessed on Facebook.
TRINITY METHODISTS
“GIVE to our God immortal praise, mercy and truth are all His ways; wonders of grace to God belong, repeat His mercies in your song.”
Trinity’s Sunday service this week will be led by members of our congregation.
God’s mercies will be proclaimed in song as we worship Him.
We recognise His never ending care and know how blessed we are.
As the pandemic situation slowly eases we sense that there is a reluctance among some to rush back into confined spaces and we remind them that God’s blessing is available wherever they are.
“Your mercies how tender, how firm to the end, Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend.”
HEBRON PENTECOSTAL
LAST week we celebrated together with the lifting of restrictions we sang and gave glory to God for His goodness.
We enjoyed a church BBQ after the service and extended that welcome to the homeless and needy who enjoyed the food with us.
If you are able to join us this Sunday, or taking the first step of returning by joining us for our Tuesday evening prayer meetings, we encourage you to do so in order to develop your confidence again in meeting as the gathered church to worship God.
Looking forward to seeing you. All welcome. Sunday, 11am, is the main service at Hebron, with Sunday school during the service.
Bishop of Middleton the Right Rev Mark Davies (inset) will lead the service at St Andrew’s Church, Dearnley, on August 8
Every Tuesday in August we are meeting for prayer and worship at 7.30pm.
Friday, 7pm to 8pm, is youth group at Hebron.
For more information on our events or if you want to know more about Hebron, please visit our website at www. hebron pentecostal church. co. uk or email info@hebronrochdale. co. uk
Love & serve God, Love and serve people, Share God with people.
ST MARY’S, BALDERSTONE
AT ST MARY’S we love nothing better than getting together with our community on a Sunday to worship God.
Last weekend we had a very thoughtprovoking sermon from the Revd Aneirin Glyn and several members commented how great it was to be able to sing together again.
We hope and pray all those attending experienced something of the incredible love that God has for them.
We’re really looking forward to meeting again tomorrow ( Sunday).
Our altogether service starts at 10.30am where we will be focusing on 2 Timothy 3.10- 17.
All are welcome and we want it to be a great time- if we can keep mask wearing, hand sanitizing and keep some distance indoors, we think we can do almost everything else as normal.
For those who aren’t feeling ready to rejoin us yet but who are missing church services and have internet access: this week New Wine are offering all of their main celebrations, youth and children’s programmes and Accessible Church stream, absolutely free and without charge.
The event can be accessed via their website at www. breaksout. new- wine. org
If you have any concerns or prayer requests, please get in touch by email at stmarysbalderstone@ gmail.com or see our Facebook page on www. facebook.com/ saintmarysbalderstone/
ST ANDREW’S, DEARNLEY
OUR vicar, the Rev Rachel Battershell, is on annual leave until August 7 so if anyone needs to speak to a member of our Ministry team while she is away, please contact the Rev Mike Howarth on 01706 371 544.
Mike will be happy to deal with all your problems, worries, queries, concerns or anxieties in Rachel’s absence and he is well versed on St Andrew’s and its people, having been a member of our Ministry team for several years.
If your reason for making contact does not necessarily need a priest, you can also contact either of our church wardens, Christine on 07766 404 282 or Janice on 07730 367 919.
Tomorrow, Sunday, we have our usual 9.30am Said Eucharist, live and recorded on Facebook, as well as being open for sociallydistanced public worship.
Please be reminded that anyone intending to go needs to contact our PCC secretary David Johnson in advance to comply with Covid protocol; to provide details for track- andtrace and to make sure there are not more people in church than is reasonably safe.
A lot of people have asked us whether the latest easing of lockdowns etc will alter the Covid protocol at St Andrew’s.
The answer is: certainly not for the next two weeks.
The Rev Rachel and the wardens have decided to keep things as they are until she gets back from holiday.
Rather than rush into important decisions they feel there will be benefits gained from taking time, seeing how things go and then discussing it with Rachel on her return.
Date for your diary: Bishop Mark, of Middleton, will be in church on Sunday, August 8, leading the service in his own inimitable and highly interesting style before helping us to enjoy cakes and coffee.
It isn’t every Sunday we are blessed with the presence of Bishop Mark so it goes without saying that, notwithstanding social distancing, we get a good turn- out to give him a real St Andrew’s welcome.
We have been asked a few times about his background, so here goes.
He’s a Yorkshireman, who was Archdeacon of Rochdale before he became Bishop of Middleton in 2008.
After graduating from the University of Leeds, he studied for the Anglican Ministry at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield, the only theological college in the Anglican Communion which shares life with a monastic community.
We know it, and love it, because at St Andrew’s we have strong links with Mirfield, both historically and in more recent times when, before Covid, we had an annual visit each summer.
Bishop Mark’s first pastoral appointment was a curacy at St Mary’s in Barnsley from 1989 to 1992, after which he served as priest- incharge at St Paul’s, Barnsley from 1992 to 1995.
From there, he became Rector of Hemsworth, near Wakefield, until 2006 when he moved from the Diocese of Wakefield to the Diocese of Manchester to become Archdeacon of Rochdale.
Like any Yorkshireman, he calls it as he sees it and when he says he loves coming to St Andrew’s we’ve got to believe it.
Welcome Bishop Mark.
It will be fantastic to have you with us... even if you are from the other side of the hill.
We won’t hold that against you; and you’ve got to believe that, too!
ST CHAD’S AND ST MARY IN THE BAUM
ST CHAD’S, standing on the hill overlooking the town centre, behind the historic Town Hall, has been Rochdale’s Parish Church and an important centre of worship for the local community and beyond for over 800 years.
You are warmly invited to join us on Sunday mornings in Sparrow Hill and at our sister church, St Mary in the Baum.
We are following government and Church of England guidelines.
Please note the new starting times: 9.15am at St Mary’s and 11.15am at St Chad’s.
Tomorrow, Sunday,
August 1, the ninth Sunday after Trinity, at St Mary’s at 9.15am and St Chad’s, with choir, at 11.15am, is Holy Communion, with Celebrant and Preacher at both services the Rev Anne Gilbert, Vicar of Rochdale.
Saturday next, August 7, at St Chad’s at 3pm is Celebrity Organ Concert: Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside Organists’ Association present Darius Battiwalla ( Leeds City Organist) in Rochdale Parish Church.
Pay on the door: £ 8/£ 6.50 concessions, members and students (or retiring collection).
Sunday next, August 8, the tenth Sunday after Trinity, at St Mary’s at 9.15am and St Chad’s, with choir, at 11.15am is Holy Communion, with Celebrant and Preacher at both services the Rev Anne Gilbert, Vicar of Rochdale.