MP showers praise on Scarborough employment programmes to tackle shortage of tradespeople
Thursday 25 November 2021
Robert Goodwill, member of parliament for Scarborough and Whitby, has commended our employability programmes which provide a range of training and employment opportunities to address the current shortage of tradespeople across the area.
On a recent visit to our office, Mr Goodwill met people from a range of backgrounds and skillsets who are currently engaged with our employment schemes.
Mr Goodwill met Terence Thompson and Janice Sims who are being supported through our one-to-one programme. The one-to-one programme involves specialist advisors providing personal support to people who are unemployed, helping them obtain employment or get onto the right course to help achieve their ambitions.
Janice Sims said: “People don’t realise how life changing the programme is, and what a difference it makes, until they have a go. Being on the project with Beyond Housing has given me the confidence to do things I didn’t think I could do.”
Terence Thompson added: “Being on this programme has helped with my mental health and confidence. It’s given me a real boost to my motivation.”
Our apprentices Jordan Carr and Jordan Todd in business administration and joinery, respectively, met with Mr Goodwill on his visit, as well as Daniel Butterfield, who has also engaged with us as part of the government’s Kickstart scheme as a voids assistant.
Commenting on his visit, Mr Goodwill said: “I was so impressed by the enthusiasm and energy of all the apprentices I met at Beyond Housing. Many companies tell me what the local economy is so short of, as we recover from the pandemic, are skills in traditional trades and new technologies. We are seeing wages rising for people who have ‘skilled themselves up’ and risen to this challenge whether that be in joinery and kitchen fitting, electrical work, or ground maintenance. I was particularly impressed by the way those with disabilities were focussing on their abilities and what they can do rather than, as so often is the case, finding reasons not to get into the workforce with all the advantages that holds.
“Rather than complaining about the lack of skills available, Beyond Housing, with its apprenticeship scheme, are delivering the skills they need and providing fulfilling careers for their new staff.”
Emma Grimes, Employability Manager at Beyond Housing, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Mr Goodwill and to be able to showcase some of the work we are doing to support our customers across Whitby and Scarborough.
“At Beyond Housing we are committed not just to offering quality homes but to supporting the development of resilient and sustainable communities. At the moment, we are working with employers, customers and trainers to focus on creating opportunities to address the local shortage in tradespeople.”
Our other employability schemes include Fresh Start Future You, which offers customers one-to-one, sector specific training in partnership with local employers. And our Building Better Opportunities programme provides flexible support for adults to overcome physical, psychological, financial and skills-related barriers to progress into employment, training and education.
To find out more about Beyond Housing’s employment-support schemes, email scarboroughemployment@beyondhousing.co.uk
