Bright Future for Ex-Offenders
Develop Training Ltd is in a pioneering partnership with Energy & Utility Skills to solve two challenges at once. Bringing real skills to ex-offenders to equip them for work and creating a resource of skilled workers to the utilities industry.
Ex-offenders can now access technical skills training that qualifies them for jobs in the utilities sector. Via a strategic partnership with Energy & Utility Skills, Develop Training Ltd. is actively involved in this training program as part of a pilot scheme designed to focus on the need for skilled people operating in the utility sectors.
If successful, this pilot which is taking place in Yorkshire and Humberside, will be replicated nationwide. The program underlines the recent findings of the Leach report that highlights the need to combat skills shortage. The program also addresses government targets on reducing re-offending.
Primarily focused around the gas and water sectors, the scheme has seen individuals undertaking training modules in NRSWA (New Roads and Street Works Act), Health & Safety and Communication Skills as part of their development. Both the generic nature of the training modules and the overlap between gas and water elements means that successful candidates are capable of several manual roles with utilities companies operating in the local community.
In 2007 the community-based training project has a target of some 168 ex-offenders with more than 60 individuals going on to complete Gas / Water NVQs, adding real value to their competence and employability as they progress with their careers in the utility sectors.