Agency's support can make a big difference

TERESA COONEY, now working in a care home

AN ORGANISATION which helps people to improve their skills and job prospects is celebrating a number of successes in the area.

Seetec, which has offices across the UK including in Oldham and Manchester, has helped a number of women in the Oldham and Rochdale areas to boost their vocational qualifications and find jobs.

Oldham job-seeker Tracey Williams (54), from Lees, received help to become a lorry driver after a period of unemployment.

In the past, Tracey had worked for Royal Mail and also in the security sector, but she wanted to move into a new area of work, which required gaining a qualification to drive light goods vehicles.

She said: "I had been unemployed for 12 months and turned to Seetec for help.

"Seetec supported me by helping with travel costs to and from the driving course that I needed to take to get my LGV licence. I wouldn't have been able to afford to go on the course otherwise.

"My advisers were very helpful and friendly, and they supported me in every step of the process.

"I now have the skills and qualifications needed to help me in my career, thanks to Seetec."

Richard Purkhardt, an adviser at Seetec, said: "Tracey had a variety of experience and had worked as a driver previously, but the secondary training programme for her LGV licence took up most of her time, which left her with no time to work alongside her studies.

"Seetec helped Tracey with her travel costs to the course and gave her the time to revise for her upcoming exams.

"Once Tracey completed her programme, she found work within a week, and is now happy in her new role."

In another example, Seetec worked with Teresa Cooney (31), from Rochdale, who had been out of work for several years after becoming a single parent.

Priorities

She has now been recruited by an Oldham residential home.

Teresa went to Falinge Park High School and then Hopwood Hall College, where she did a level 1 hairdressing course.

Her previous employment history includes working at an RSPCA charity shop, for DHL as a warehouse as a picker and packer, and for Caffè Ritazza as a waitress.

Her priorities had changed to raise her daughter and her time away from work left her unsure how to apply for jobs or how to handle interviews.

When the time came for her to return to work, she had no confidence and lacked a sense of direction.

So Seetec helped her with one-to-one support focusing on job applications, interview preparation and telephone skills, and then looking at potential job roles.

Sarah Horsfield, manager at the care home on Franklin Street, said: "Teresa worked very hard before joining us, applying for numerous vacancies via email, application forms, and drop-ins.

"She has now found a role perfect for her lifestyle as a lone parent and is more than happy, and we are happy with her in return.

"Having people placed here with us from Seetec allows us to be a part of their journey back to work, and witnessing their progression and growth in confidence is a lovely thing for us to be involved in," she added.