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News

Senior Government Ministers visit City College

26 January 2011

Skills Minister John Hayes and Employment Minister Chris Grayling have visited City College Brighton and Hove, the largest provider of vocational education and training in the city, to hear about how the College is meeting the challenge to help people who are unemployed get back to work by increasing their skills. Mr Hayes and Mr Grayling met staff from Brighton Jobcentre Plus and staff and learners from City College to hear about what they have achieved to date and how things are working on the ground. The Ministers are held a roundtable discussion with local representatives from employers, the Probation Service, learning providers, Next Step careers advice, Local Enterprise Partnerships, Jobcentre Plus and Brighton and Hove City Council.

The Ministers acknowledged the excellent relationship the College has established with Jobcentre Plus who refer jobseekers to the College so that it can provide them with the skills and training they need to get back into work. In the last 12 months, of the 200 previously unemployed (six months plus) learners who have been on the College's work-focussed training courses, nearly half have already secured work. Since completing his course at the College, Sam Terry has found employment as Marketing & Promotions Assistant at the Rosehill Tavern in Brighton:

'I'd only ever worked in warehouses so I'd never worked with the public before so the customer service skills I got on the course made a huge difference to my confidence and my prospects. It was also through the support that I got in looking for work after completing the course that I found out about the vacancy at the Rosehill Tavern. My role involves creating and promoting themed nights, booking bands and DJs as well as serving customers. Before I started the course, I never thought I'd be able to get into a job like this.'

Similarly, for Bonny Aldridge, a work-focussed training course at City College has brought about a change in fortunes:

"Thanks to this training I've now found my perfect job. I had a week's placement on reception and after that I volunteered one day a week and then a vacancy became available and I was delighted to be offered it. The course helped my confidence no end and has made me much better equipped to deal with the public in my new job as a receptionist at City College."

Another successful product of the partnership between Jobcentre Plus and City College is Steve Garbett:

'It was the first time I'd ever been unemployed or claimed benefit and it was a complete shock to the system so the course was a great way of getting me back into a routine as well as all the important skills I gained. After I completed the course, I got help from the College sending loads of CVs and letters to countless schools across Brighton and Hove and one of the schools asked me in for an interview and I ended up being offered a job as a teaching assistant.'

John Hayes, Minister for Further Education, Skills & Lifelong Learning, says:

'The thing that impressed me most about the relationship with Jobcentre Plus and City College was the fact that it was already there. City College has formed that partnership and understands that in the move from disengagement to reengagement, skills are critical and the College is in a pivotal position to provide people with those skills to add to their employability. In terms of the relationship with Jobcentre Plus, they're providing a fantastic example that can be followed by others and part of the reason I'm here is to find out more about that. Also, part of the reason I'm here with Chris Grayling is so that we can cement what we do in public policy in terms of encouraging the spreading of that type of good practice.'

'Forming strong working partnerships at a local level between Jobcentre Plus, employers and training providers will be critical to getting people the training and support to get the skills they need to get jobs and for employers to benefit too. It is extremely encouraging to hear about some of the work going on in Brighton. I want to see more of this both here in Brighton and right across the country. My Department and the Department for Work and Pensions are working closely together to make this as easy as possible.'

Phil Frier, Principal of City College Brighton and Hove, says:

'I think to have two ministers visiting us is quite unusual and to see two departments - employment and skills - working so closely together is a major step forward. It's that kind of 'joined-up thinking' that will allow us to explore our relationship with the city in regards to getting unemployed people back to work which is one of the College's prime jobs.'

"In Brighton, City College is working closely and very effectively with Job Centre Plus in getting people back into work. The key has been a coherent and close relationship between the two organisations to ensure that we have a 'joined up approach'. We offer a programme which motivates the trainees and gives them real skills, which are valued by employers. We think it's the College's job not only to give them the skills they need, but to also support them back into regular work."

For City College media enquiries, please call Brian Bell, Marketing Communications Officer, on 01273 667788 Ext. 488 or email bb1@ccb.ac.uk website www.ccb.ac.uk

About City College Brighton and Hove: Situated in the heart of Brighton, City College Brighton and Hove has become an international centre of vocational excellence. Every year, 2,000 full-time, 7,000 part time, almost 400 Higher Education and 400 14-16 year old students as well as many international and European students choose City College as their place of further and higher education training. In addition, the College provides training to over 2,000 businesses via its 'City Business Skills' department which focuses on employer training needs. Offering over 700 courses from basic level right through to business and postgraduate training, City College is working with its partners to develop the workforce of the future.