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Making the Connection (MTC) is a project being run by Lincolnshire Enterprise. The aim of the programme is to enable local people to take up local jobs, by developing, delivering, and sustaining a multi agency approach to worklessness.

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Achievements

The partnership of Making the Connection, Lincoln College, Lincoln Jobcentre Plus and Jobmaets has seen the delivery of the first series of pre-employment training events which give unemployed local people the skills, knowledge and confidence to find local jobs.
The first round of these Sector specific opportunities was held in Lincoln at Lincoln City FC’s Sincil Bank Ground and attracted 25 jobseekers who were interested in working within the health and social care sector. Since then
further gateway events have been held at “Hotspots” around the county (Lincoln Gainsborough Boston Skegness Grantham and Louth) and have focussed on employment opportunities in the Care, Retail, and Security and Customer Service sectors. Specialist events have also seen training opportunities based around working in the voluntary sector and the delivery of a Level 2 NVQ course in Hair and Beauty, currently being run at Mablethorpe College
The “Opportunity Gateway” events consist of two parts:
an information and enrolment day where up to 30 people attend and get presentations by JCP, Lincoln College and a potential employer.
And secondly the chance of a place on the three week training programme jointly funded by Making the Connection and Lincoln College. On completion of the training programme the students are linked into employers who are recruiting in their area.
Case Studies:
Construction Gateway:
The first Gateway was held during Oct, offering unemployed people the chance to complete a short vocational course. The Gateway consisted of 9 working days over 3 weeks and gave trainees work related qualifications aligned to the construction industry successful candidates were supported to the point of applying for the CSCS card (essential to work on site).
The Gateway was funded TNG and MtC with Jobcentre Plus providing New Deal clients. From over 30 applicants, 25 turned up to the event with 12 people going on to be selected for the Gateway and all were viewed as good candidates. Ages ranged from 18 to 50+, and included ex offenders, addicts, and people with construction experience and people without sector specific experience. A second gateway is currently being delivered and further gateway events are being considered with the aim being to develop
it as a core offer to communities and employers.
Security Gateway:
In July and Sept partners piloted a Security Academy for a selection of local employers. Fifteen students completed the course and are currently in the process of looking for employment . Andrew Gault, (Jobmaets contract manager for TNG) attributes these achievements to the: ‘strength of partnership working, a successful marketing campaign, and to the extensive level of personal support made available to the trainee’.
It was clear that the industry was experiencing problems with recruiting locally, and MtC took the lead in determining why these jobs were so hard-to-fill. Employers explained that forthcoming changes in the law will require security staff to hold a recognised Edexcel qualification. There was therefore a shortage of suitably qualified local people. At the same time they provided details of the personal attributes and skills they desired, and welcomed the opportunity to develop a pre-employment training course which would significantly ease their recruitment difficulties. The extent of employer guidance as well as their commitment to offering on-the-job experience and interviews played a crucial part in the sector routeways development and success.

Project contact

Jonathan Cooke
Making The Connection
Lincolnshire Enterprise
j.cooke@lincolnshire-enterprise.com
01522 803540

Making The Connection

The programme has a dual face in that it helps local people to access training and job opportunities with businesses moving into, or expanding within the local area. It also ensures that inward investors looking to relocate have access to a pool of readily available and skilled workers. More than that, MTC creates a seamless service that matches supply and demand within the area.

This project will enable Lincolnshire Enterprise to 'learn by doing' by testing out the model in discreet geographical areas, whilst at the same time developing a programme to support local activity across the county.

Project aims:

To identify the parts of the MTC programme that can be transferred to other parts of the county, in order to address local skills/ employment issues.
To bring together a robust and committed county wide partnership to deliver MTC activity that fits with the merging Employment and Skills Board. The partnership will include a wide range of public sector partners.
To identify key sites where the programme will operate in future years.

MTC aims to work simultaneously to accommodate the workforce needs of employers and to maximise opportunities for local communities.

Creating a co-ordinated, seamless service that matches the demand and supply side of the labour markets within Lincolnshire

Developing, delivering and sustaining a multi-agency approach to combating worklessness.

Developing the skills of all people particularly in the area's most disadvantaged communities, to meet the demands of the changing local economy.

"MTC is run by a public sector partnership and brings together inward investment; growth zones, training providers and the third sector. It matches existing employers and potential inward investors with a readily available and skilled workforce."

Jonathan Cooke - Project Manager - Making the Connection

Project partners:

Learning and Skills Council - East Midlands

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