Council to help workers retrain for a better job

Cheshire West and Chester Council are to offer low-paid residents free training to help them get a better job.

Any residents earning less than £15,736 gross per year will be eligible for the free courses in industries such as IT, care and construction.

The courses are part of a national trail, which enables Cheshire West and Chester Work Zones to fully fund learners studying up to and including level 2 qualifications.

‘Many people who are in jobs which pay less than £15,000 may be unable to pay for the cost of retraining,’ said cabinet member for economic development and infrastructure, Cllr Brian Clarke.

‘The amount it costs to study and improve your CV can sometimes amount to hundreds of pounds which is unrealistic for people on a low wage.

‘This fantastic trial solves this catch 22 situation by giving people the chance to progress in their career for free. It will allow people to upskill and learn significant qualifications, which could result in them changing their lives,’ added Cllr Clarke.

The local authority has also recently struck a deal with Thomas Truck Training Ltd (TTT Ltd) to give people the opportunity to obtain the standard required to operate forklift trucks and gain a vocational award in Warehousing, without having to pay the usual week-long course fees.

Residents referred through the Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Work Zones across the borough will conduct their course at Thomas Truck Training Ltd.’s purpose-built facility in Winsford.

George Donnelly, managing director of Thomas Truck Training, said: “It is world class that the Council is supporting people in this way and there probably isn’t enough of it. We have encountered numerous people who are unemployed and have wanted to retrain but unable to afford it.

“Our accredited courses and relationship with the Council can only benefit learners who want to obtain the skills to become more attractive to employers. Any learner attending a course at TTT Ltd will be provided with the necessary learning support and incentives required to meet the course criteria.”