A group of Calderdale residents have been developing skills to help kickstart their career, as part of the ISCAL employability skills programme.
The ISCAL factory is owned and operated by Calderdale Council and helps local people with disabilities and/or health conditions, overcome barriers to move into employment.
As part of the factory’s recent employability skills programme, eight participants took part in an eight-week programme which aimed to support the development of essential work skills.
The programme covered skills including teamwork, problem solving, adaptability and resilience.
As part of the programme, Calderdale Employment Hub supported participants with interview techniques, and there was also the opportunity to visit local businesses including fabric manufacturer and supplier, J&C Joel in Sowerby Bridge and the Covea Group at Dean Clough, Halifax.
At Covea, the group also took place in mock interviews, allowing them to practice and refine the skills they had learnt as part of the programme.
Further work experience was available at ISCAL, with tasks including customer support, coaster printing, cleaning, and upcycling furniture.
At the end of the eight weeks, all the participants reported that their confidence had grown, and they had more idea of the type of work they wanted to pursue. One of the group has already been successful in finding employment and the others continue to receive support to help them reach their goals.
The group were awarded certificates to celebration their achievements. These were presented by the Council’s Chief Executive, Robin Tuddenham and Cllr Sarah Courtney, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport. Cllr Courtney said:
“ISCAL is a fantastic facility, enabling people to experience a real work setting and providing life and employment skills.
“The recent employability skills programme provided comprehensive support, developing skills and boosting confidence to help people to access long term employment across a range of employment settings.
“ISCAL offers people the opportunity to gain independence and thrive in the workplace. Helping people to use their talents and access opportunities is a key part of our Inclusive Economy Strategy, and we’ll continue to do all we can to ensure people have the skills to secure and progress in quality jobs.”
Malcolm Nutton, Senior Facilities Manager at Covea Insurance, said:
“We welcomed eight members of the ISCAL team to site for an informative insight into life in a busy office, those attending were, without doubt, fully engaged throughout the process.
“We took some time to arrange mock interviews, providing them with an insight into what they may experience in the real world.
“Each and every one of the interviewees presented a professional response answering clearly and accurately the questions posed. They were all a real asset and it was an amazing experience for ourselves to meet people so dedicated and driven to achieve their goals. What a fantastic group of people they all are.”
One of the participants in the programme, Alahna, said:
“Taking part in this course really helped with my confidence – it showed me that I’m more capable than I thought I was, and I had a lot of fun learning new skills.”
Further programmes at ISCAL includes a Youth Employment and Skills Programme for young people aged 16-19 who are struggling to find work. The eight-week programme aims to provide the skills and confidence to support young people into employment.
To find out more visit http://www.iscal.org.uk/,(external link) email salesiscal@calderdale.gov.uk or call 01422 352054, for further guidance about support into employment.