Tessa Munt MP joined fifty job seekers at Strode College in Street last week as they graduated from Strode’s retail skills training and earned themselves a job interview with Morrisons.
A new Morrisons store will open in Wells in December with a staff of 259. While some staff will transfer from other stores, the Wells store will create many new jobs for local people. All those who completed the retail training at Strode are guaranteed an interview with Morrisons.
Strode College teamed up with Wells Job Centre and Morrisons earlier in the year to plan and develop the joint scheme designed to get job seekers into work. As well as successfully training fifty job seekers, the College has hosted pre-employment days, open days, activity days and job interviews.
Strode’s involvement in this project is part of their on-going support for unemployed people. They work with the jobcentre on a daily basis and visit each week giving individual interviews and guidance to people who are unemployed.
Graham Knight, Head of Business Development at Strode College and Vice Chair of the Somerset Chamber board, said: “This has been a great partnership, with Mendip District Council involved from the beginning, helping bring together Strode, Morrisons and local Job Centre teams to help applicants and bring employment where it is needed most. Strode specialises in retail and customer service skills and, over the last three years, we have become renowned for our work with people who are unemployed. This scheme brings those skills together in a way that has made a huge difference for all applicants. We are delighted that Tessa Munt MP and local councillors joined our graduation ceremony to celebrate the students’ successes.”
Tessa Munt, MP for Wells, said: “I welcome this innovative project to help local unemployed people back into work and I congratulate the graduates. Forming partnerships and taking action with training and encouragement all help to break the cycle of unemployment. Strode College, Jobcentre Plus Wells and Morrisons should be commended”.
Morrisons New Developments Resourcing Manager, Gail Roberts-Brown, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Wells Job Centre and Strode College to help get local jobseekers into work. The partnership has delivered a great support network to help coach, train and prepare local unemployed people for jobs at our new store and we are proud to be able to work in the heart of the community we will serve.”
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Notes
- Photo caption: a) Tessa Munt MP and representatives from Morrisons and local Job Centres celebrate with jobseekers as they graduate from Strode’s retail and customer skills training.
- For information please contact Ruth Walker, Strode College Marketing Co-ordinator (PR) on 01458 844589 or: rwalker@strode-college.ac.uk