One North East set aside millions to help skilled workers

Sep 26 2009 by Amy Hunt, The Journal

MILLIONS of pounds have been set aside to support skilled workers facing unemployment and help them to stay in the North East.

The board of development agency One North East has approved a further £3.2m for the Talent Challenge project, helping jobless professionals who would otherwise have to leave the area to find new work or training.

The funding, on top of an initial investment of £1.45m from One North East, will allow the project to run until March 2012, offering a wide range of services to graduates, professionals, managers or highly skilled technicians who are newly unemployed, under threat of unemployment or subject to short-term working.

By 2012, Talent Challenge hopes to have helped up to 2,000 people to identify their skills and experience and find new job opportunities more quickly, through an individual assessment.

Talent Challenge also aims to benefit businesses by supporting their employees to pursue further training and other opportunities.

Over the next three years it is predicted the project will safeguard 50 jobs, support at least 370 businesses, help more than 3,000 people gain new employment and help more than 1,600 people improve their skill levels.

Dorothy Kelly, Talent Challenge Project Manager at One North East, said: “We have been piloting the service since March which offers a hands-on approach to individuals affected by the recession.

“It offers them real help and advice at the risk stage before they are made redundant or shortly after to ensure they are armed with a package of support to get back into work.

“This extra funding is a real boost for the region and will go a long way to helping to retain highly-skilled and talented individuals to ensure we are in a strong position for the economic upturn.”

Northern Recruitment Group is providing the Talent Challenge tailored assessment, action planning and advice service for individuals.