The Response to Redundancy programme is an initiative aimed at individuals facing redundancy. Supported through the Skills Funding Agency and the European Social Fund, the programme offers careers advice and training. This can help individuals secure a different role with their current employer or provide access to opportunities with different companies.
Case study
Beverley was working for and electronics components company for over 19 years, working her way up from an Inspector of Graphic Design, through to a Quality Assurance Inspector and finally to a Team Leader. In November 2009 she was placed at risk of redundancy along with 15 other members of staff. This allowed her to gain access to the Response to Redundancy funding.
Because Beverley had been working for the same company for so long, she needed help with various aspects of the job hunting process including: producing a CV; searching for employment; interview skills; writing a covering letter and completing application forms. Beverley also wanted to attend our NLP session to help her deal with what had happened.
Beverley has always had problems with Dyslexia and needed help completing forms and paperwork. She had the idea of becoming a self-employed child minder and wanted as much information about this as possible. We identified Health and Safety, First Aid and Food Hygiene as three courses that she would need to complete to help her to achieve this.
Beverley has since completed the necessary training courses, policies and procedural checks, risk assessments and Ofsted inspection and has now been given the final approval to operate as a registered child minder.
The 45-hour course has opened my eyes to lots of things. There is a whole wide world outside the factory walls and the course has helped me get up to date knowledge of the work environment as well as finding time for myself and pursuing my chosen career.”
Beverley
In June 2010 BabcockEnterprise won the Keeping the South East Working category in the South East Skills Awards for its work on the Response to Redundancy programme. The award recognised the company’s commitment and outstanding training support to close on 500 employees made redundant at Vestas Blades, on the Isle of Wight.
Over the period, April to September 2009, BabcockEnterprise delivered outplacement and pre-employment courses for over 500 people. Accredited training was delivered across IT, Health & Safety, hospitality and security with some 350 accredited training certificates being awarded. To enable all staff to participate, the company set up training rooms on the Vestas site and ran sessions to suit all, including twilight sessions for night staff. Further, the business engaged with local employers to help skill up Vestas employees in new roles, as well as working with Jobcentre Plus and other agencies to help individuals identify the best options and prepare for the interview process. BabcockEnterprise’s Vestas programme success has resulted in 236 people finding work, 78 in training or education and 12 people setting up businesses.