Trainees thank Seetec for helping them into work

With the growing unemployment rate in Greater Manchester, local training and education specialist Seetec is working towards helping the young generation by providing them with all the tools they need to kick start a new career.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the number of people in the city without jobs had risen by 8,000 people.

The education provider is aiming to tackle this one person at a time by operating a number of traineeship programmes to guide young people aged between 16-24 back into the world of work.

Backed as a key government initiative, the 12-week course has already helped hundreds of young learners in Manchester and beyond, develop the skills they need to find, stay and progress in work.

The programme includes one-on-one lesson time with the students, who may not yet have the skills to secure employment or an apprenticeship, along with interview training and on-the-job work experience.

As well as the valuable work experience gained, there are a number of other benefits to the training programme, including travel and lunch expenses, CV guidance, confidence building and the opportunity to meet and mix with other young learners in a similar position.

Anthony Howard-Cofield, aged 21 from Oldham, is one of the many graduates of the traineeship.

Since his course, he’s been able to secure permanent employment, proving that the scheme provides all the support he could need to help find a job when he had nowhere else to turn.

He said “Before taking part in the programme, I had no motivation and would often spend time just sat on the sofa with no desire to do anything. I just couldn’t be bothered.

“The programme gave me a reason to get up in a morning and structure to my day.

"It provided me with experience and motivation to secure employment.

"To anyone who was in the same position as me, I would say don’t give up.

"If you keep pushing and trying to find work it will pay off, you just have to put in the effort.”

After completing work placement and with the help and support of Seetec he has secured employment with Gala Bingo.

Anthony continued: “I am enjoying being back in work and it has given me new confidence and positive attitude, as well as meeting and interacting with the customers at Gala Bingo - I owe a huge thanks to the traineeship programme it was really good and helped me move into employment.”

Mo Hafeez is another success story for Seetec - having previously struggled to find work, he started his work placement in June this year and has gone from strength to strength thanks to the support he got from Seetec.

Having engaged with the programme and attended classroom sessions completing his vocational qualification.

Mo was keen to start work placement at the British Heart Foundation in Cheetham Hill.

He said: “Before starting the course, I was lacking in confidence as I hadn’t been in work for such a long time and it was difficult to get out of that cycle.

"Now, I am enjoying getting up and going to work everyday!

"I like working with the team and meeting the customers in the shop.

"I feel like what I am doing is good and I am making a positive impact in store delivering good customer service.”

For more information on traineeships or apprentice programmes in Manchester, visit: www.seetec.co.uk

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.