Tendring Success Stories

Essex Employer Division Paints Another Success For Tendring's Learners

Jan Climpton, who runs the family business Old Road Paints with her husband Stuart and son Mark, has just employed Joe Benson, aged 17, as a second recruit who’ll train on an Apprenticeship with Essex Employer Division and gain a valuable qualification in Customer Service as he works. Another employee Sky Boltitude, age 19, has just completed his Apprenticeship in Customer Service with the Employer Division.

Joe and Sky had left school with no qualifications. They had both attended local training company TBG Learning, whose ‘Entry to Employment’ programme boosts the confidence of school leavers through help in basic skills, advice on careers and work experience. TBG Learning also arranged a DIY course for Joe, which got him interested in doing a work placement at Old Road Paints, which led to the job offer.

“We’re proud of what Sky and now Joe are achieving - the qualifications are important when they haven’t achieved any at school, because they prove they can do the job. More businesses should give local young people a chance like we do”, said Jan Climpton, Old Road Paints, which has been established for 34 years and supplies domestic and trade customers with paints and wall coverings.

Joe Benson, said “I enjoy it here and am grateful to TBG Learning and Old Road Paints for giving me the opportunity of a job and training.”

100% success with Jobfit
TBG’s Employer Division in Essex, along with the e2e (entry to employment team), is successfully piloting Jobfit, a special programme developed by TBG. It gives unemployed 16-18 year-olds the opportunity of a work placement before moving into paid employment on an Apprenticeship programme.

Jobfit has produced a 100% success rate for e2e learners, helping them make the important transition into paid employment. Its successful formula is matching young people to employers’ vacancies and arranging 8-12 week work placements, during which the young person and employer receive close support. Tutors help prepare the 16-18 year olds for their first work experience ad mentor them on a personal level to address any particular concerns they have, from interview nerves to coping with dyslexia or social issues.

Employers work with TBG in two ways, either taking an Apprentice on placement leading to a permanent job, or by constantly offering short-term placement opportunities on a rolling basis.

Jobfit a Win-win for Bunzl
Bunzl Vending in Colchester, Essex, has recently employed two young learners who received additional support from TBG Learning through their new Jobfit programme.

Katie Stirling, aged 19, who started on e2e and Katie Parker, aged 16, have gained full-time employment with Apprenticeship training.

Nadia Butler, National Call Centre Manager for Bunzl Vending, which services vending machine clients across the UK, says:
“I was doing an NVQ myself through TBG Learning and my assessor introduced the idea of trying the young people on the Jobfit programme and soon after we decided to employ them. I’ve been impressed by TBG Learning and find it refreshing that they are looking after the interests of both the young people and employers like ourselves.”

65% positive progressions in Essex
Since August 2004 TBG Learning’s e2e programme in Essex, funded by Essex LSC, has consistently grown and developed, resulting in a 65% positive progression rate for young learners. The employment sectors they are entering are wide ranging, with particular interest in retail, care and hospitality and catering.

One success story is Clare Fox, who joined e2e Tendring. She says:
“I joined e2e because I was trying to find employment but was having no luck! I felt that e2e would allow me to improve my qualifications and boost my C.V. Whilst attending I have gained an ABC Word Processing qualification, as well as passing National Tests in Numeracy & Literacy level 1.

E2e has helped me gain confidence when I am around other people and it has also helped me to be able to express my opinions and beliefs.

I have just been awarded a job for six months with the Providence Trust in London. My work will be in supporting young people who have learning difficulties. The aim is to assist them in trying to live an independent life, or as much as is possible. After the six months is up, I hope to carry this on as a career.”

On National Tests
TBG Learning is supporting learndirect strategies and matching its learning programmes to stated Government priorities. This includes enabling Teaching Assistants without Level 2 qualificatons to take new online National Certificates in Numeracy and Literacy, which prepare them for the new Higher Level Teaching Assistant qualification.

Teresa Anderson, a Teaching Assistant at Coppins Green Primary School in Clacton, Essex, is one of hundreds of Teaching Assistants nationwide who, due to the recent changes, are expected to have the Level 2 standard in Literacy and Numeracy. With her personal motivation and perseverance and the support of tutors at TBG Learning Tendring, she has gained her qualifications..

“Without the help and support from TBG Learning I never would have achieved this and would not have been able to go onto the course for Higher Level Teaching Assistant” said Teresa Anderson.