DOOR TO FUTURE

Successful project gets people back into work

Two Wishaw men who had been made redundant now have new jobs and a bright future thanks to a supportive local employer and a successful North Lanarkshire get-into-work programme.

Colin Crumley, 36, was gutted to be handed a redundancy notice in September by the roofing company who’d employed him for 16 years.

And dad-of-six Mat Fisher also found himself out of a job when the Motherwell food warehouse where he’d worked as a machine operator had to let him go.

Colin heard from a friend about North Lanarkshire’s Working’s Prospects programme which helps people get back into work and he registered immediately.

Mat was also pointed in the direction of the programme’s Routes to Work initiative when he signed on at Job Centre Plus and, within two months of losing his job, was receiving the project’s support.

Both received assistance from Routes to Work coach workers who helped them update their CVs and prepare for interviews.

Routes to Work matched Colin with several vacancies and just days before Christmas, he was invited for an interview with Wishaw firm, Doorset Technology.

Colin was over the moon to be offered a job as a semi-skilled trainee with the Netherton firm which manufactures high quality timber doorsets for the construction industry, and he took up his new post on January 3.

The fact that Colin was able to take strides towards employment with support from coach worker Joyce Mair in such a short space of time boosted his confidence and set him up to embrace new challenges.

It was a similar success story for Mat, of Craigneuk. Mat worked closely with coach worker Claire Mills, who immediately put in place plans to dust down, update and improve his CV.

Within two weeks, this quick and efficient approach had led to an interview invitation from Doorset Technology, and Claire set about helping to prepare Mat for the interview and bring him up to speed about the company to help him come across as knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

The preparation paid off. Feedback from the interview was positive. He had impressed the employer, who asked him to start work as a semi-skilled trainee.

On accepting their job offers, both Colin and Mat were offered Innovation Fund support to buy work boots, and the programme gave them Tesco vouchers to tide them over until their first pay day.

Mat has since inquired about referring a family member on to Routes to Work to gain similar support.

And Colin’s sister, Laura, found work at a Larkhall care home thanks to the support she received from Routes to Work.

Both men say they love their jobs and are glad to be working again.

Mat said: “My job here is really good. It is a good laugh and I enjoy the people I work with. They are good employers and they have been good to me.

“A wee while ago, I got a call to say my wee boy wasn’t well and he had been sick at school. They didn’t ask any questions and let me go to pick him up straight away. They are very flexible that way.

“If you have kids and commitments, they are really good with you and let you make up your hours.”

Over the last couple of years, Doorset Technology has opened the door of opportunity to six employees through North Lanarkshire’s Routes to Work programme – including a new recruit who was offered a job just last week.

They are among many people in North Lanarkshire who have benefited from Prospects and have found jobs as well as developed skills and techniques for the future.

Prospects also offers an intensive inwork support service to ensure people are happy and comfortable in their new job and do not fall out of work.

In addition, North Lanarkshire Council’s Employability Services, through its Prospects initiative, works with employers to create vacancies and funds a wage subsidy for posts.

“Routes to Work has been really supportive,” said Doorset Technology director, Tony O’Reilly.

“It puts us in touch with people who might not otherwise be on the radar. It has allowed us to access local talent we would otherwise not get near.”

Over the last four years, Prospects has supported more than 7000 people into work. Working closely with partners at Routes to Work, it offers a wide range of support, training and advice including: in-work support, training and confidence building, and other North Lanarkshire Council services such as debt and money advice.

It is an all- age programme, with a particular focus on developing North Lanarkshire’s young workforce.

Prospects is funded by North Lanarkshire Council’s Education, Youth and Communities and the European Social Fund.

Continued Mat: “Doorset Technology is a good employer. If you are good to them, they will be good to you and there’s always overtime on offer. If you’re thinking of getting involved with Routes to Work, I’d say go for it. If it was not for them, I would not have a job.”

Visit www.northlanarkshiresworking. co.uk for more information.