As a leading provider of vocational training in the South West and Midlands, Paragon Skills for Industry is ideally suited to support those people who are seeking to return to work.

Each year our 300 staff help more than 5,000 people at our 14 centres across the South West and Midlands into real jobs. We are proud of our close relationship with more than a thousand employers – from multinationals to SMEs –across a wide range of sectors including retail, customer service and business administration, engineering, motor, marine, child care, health and social care, hair and beauty.

Each individual that we work with is supported on their journey towards sustainable employment in their chosen career by a range of tailored support mechanisms:

• Initial meeting to assess careers paths and barriers to work
• Information, Advice and Guidance team
• CV development services
• Self worth and wellbeing programme
• Vocational training accredited by City and Guilds
• Post programme support

Recent examples of our work include:

Routes into work for Lush Cosmetics

As a preferred supplier of job focused training for JobCentre Plus in Dorset we have recently completed a two week course for people who have been unemployed for more than 6 months. During the course they learnt a variety of new skills to enhance their chances of gaining employment with Lush Cosmetics – Health and Safety, Manual Handling, COSHH, Food Hygiene, Infection Control, First Aid, Literacy and Numeracy, Interview Techniques.

By working closely with Lush and the Jobcentre to design and deliver a course that addresses the specific needs of learners and Lush we were able to make a real difference to their employment opportunities and are delighted that every person who attended the course was offered a job with Lush Cosmetics.

Retail Course for long term unemployed in Hampshire

Working with a major provider of welfare to work in Hampshire, we designed and delivered a City and Guilds accredited short course to improve the employability of the learners who ranged in age from 18 to 59. During the four week course, the learners studied modules in customer service and visual merchandising. All 13 candidates passed both courses with a number getting distinctions.

NEETS learners in Dorset

For more than 15 years we have provided information, advice, guidance and training to NEETs (not in employment, education or training) to improve their qualifications and skills in Maths, English, ICT and Lifeskills. We pride ourselves on providing high levels of pastoral support including liaising with many outside agencies to ensure that our learners receive the appropriate help and guidance to ensure their health and well-being and can achieve their potential. In our work with these young adults we encounter a variety of personal issues relating to housing, substance abuse, alcohol, relationship problems and lack of self esteem and confidence which have to be addressed to ensure retention and achievement.

We are currently involved in providing community work experience placements working with the Dorset Wildlife Trust on Brownsea Island, providing volunteers for the Streetwise project and local projects run by the Bournemouth and Poole Council.

Since January 2009 we have been involved in a pilot project for FL and are now moving in to full implementation in September, providing a progression pathway into apprenticeships, employment with training and further education.

For further information please call: 0800 783 2545 or email: enquiries@pgon.co.uk