Photo back: John Manners – A Tech, Colin Bromley Gateshead College
Front: Craig Wright, Torus, Jennifer Manners – A Tech, and Paul Guy Gateshead College
Local entrepreneur John Manners supported by his wife Jennifer of A-Tech Fabrications moved last year to bigger, modern premises at Fulbeck Road on Aycliffe Business Park. Passionate about getting local people into jobs they offered part of this massive factory to help the long term unemployed by giving them the experience of working in an industrial environment and testing their aptitude for the different aspects of engineering and manufacturing.
In the space of a year over 63 men and women have been placed in jobs, filling vacancies in industry where there is a shortage of people wanting to be trained. Recently Torus, a national recruiting company, moved into A-Tech’s 54,000 sq ft. unit and are further developing the scheme.
A-Tech and Gateshead College have been successful in working with Jobcentre Plus and other Work Programme Providers who send jobless people down to A-Tech at Aycliffe to receive a 3-4 week Pre-employment Vocational training course.
John Manners told Newton News he wants more local unemployed people to take up the short courses available to help them in applying for jobs. “There is no doubt they enjoy what we offer and they leave here keen to work with new confidence in themselves” said John.
“We just want to give local people a chance to see what working in a factory is like and are able to show them operating procedures, help them with hand/eye co-ordination, talk to them about job opportunities, and test their suitability for the many different jobs available in industry.” said Craig from Torus.
The only condition for enrolment is that candidates are in receipt of JSA or ESA and must not have undertaken the course before.
Jobcentres in the county are sending unemployed people on this course and Torus are talking to other more local Colleges and Jobcentres.
The facility helps local charities who send donated goods for repair including washing machines and disability scooters. The trainees are shown how these items are stripped down, repaired and tested, receiving expert tuition from qualified tradesmen. The vision is to attract the long term unemployed to take the course and learn what work is available, helping them prepare for training in well paid factory work.
Topics covered include Health & Safety, Safe Handling Techniques, Team Work, Quality Checks, C.V. writing, Interview skills, workplace skills in assembly, logistics etc.
One of the candidates, Lee Pearson had worked in construction mainly as a bricklayer. When he arrived on the course he was down, thought no-one would give him a chance and thought the course was a waste of time for “people like him”, He was told he was just the type of person the course was designed for – people who want to retrain and get employment in the manufacturing sector. He gave it a go and after 3 weeks, the change was amazing. He was confident, energised, eager to get into factory life and get started. Lee is now entering his 13th week, and has already had a pay rise.
Torus have been around since 1995 and specialise in Industrial and Engineering recruitment. They have a number of branches, with a head office in Doncaster. An Open Day for local businesses will be held on Wednesday December 5th from 10.30 am. This is an informal get together inviting people to walk round the site, chat with John and Jennifer from A- Tech, Colin Bromley and Paul Guy from Gateshead College and Craig from Torus. Companies will be encouraged to ask questions, to see that what A-Tech, Gateshead College and Torus are doing to enable them to adapt bespoke courses to their requirements.
Refreshments will be provided. For further details ring Craig or Ani on 01325 468780 E-mail: craig.wright@torussupply.co.uk If you are unemployed and want to learn more about the course get in touch now with your work provider or call at A-Tech on Fulbeck Road, Aycliffe Business Park on 01325 304033
