New scheme just the job for workers
A 'TRY before you buy' scheme aims to help Lancaster employers find top employees – and get jobless people back into work.
Several Lancaster businesses have started using 'Work Trials' to give people a chance of finding a new job.
Set up by Jobcentre Plus, the scheme lets an employer try out a potential employee for up to 30 days, at no cost to their business, before deciding whether to give them a job.
A Work Trial gives time to find out how well suited a person is to the job, and to the culture and workforce of the company, and also gives the potential employee the time to decide if a job is right for them.
Skerton man Darren Bodley found a new job thanks to a Work Trial at the Londis shop in Mainway, Skerton.
Following a successful trial period, he was offered a permanent contract of around 16 hours a week.
Londis owner Alan Winskill said: "It gave him the chance to see if it was the kind of work he wanted, and gave me the chance to see him doing the job at no cost to myself.
"We did the trial for three weeks over the Christmas period, which was good as we could test out Darren's reliability.
"It worked out really well for both of us, so I offered him a permanent job."
Alan has run the store with his wife Debra since September, after converting part of the former Blue Anchor pub.
"As the business grows I hope to take on more staff so I will be going back to the job centre to see what they can offer me," he added.
Other local employers offering Work Trials to prospective
employees include Evans Marquee Hire and the Whale Tale caf in Lancaster and Newland Design Ltd in Carnforth.
Trials are usually offered to someone who has been out of work for more than six months or has been unable to work due to ill health or is a lone parent.
The employee will continue to receive their benefit, plus travel expenses and a meal allowance which Jobcentre Plus will pay.
To find out more, businesses and potential employees can contact the labour market and recruitment adviser at the Jobcentre Plus offices in Lancaster or Morecambe.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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