Ex Corus employees Forge Ahead with Community
Communitas, the training and learning arm of Community the union for life, has developed a course to help Corus workers in Yorkshire cope with redundancy. The Forging Ahead course is funded by the Yorkshire and the Humber Learning and Skills Council, and is being delivered at the Flash Lane offices in Bramley by Communitas and a number of former Community branch officials.
The course includes sessions on CV writing and interview techniques, introductory computer skills, and money management, and provides information about training opportunities as well as job openings in the local labour market.
Martin Bramhill, one of the Forging Ahead participants, and a former employee at Brinsworth Strip Mill praised the course, saying “It opened my eyes to the available help and resources, and my CV looks a lot better now!”
Thirty nine ex Corus employees have already completed the course, and many of these attended an event on Friday 27th November, where they were presented with certificates by Community General Secretary, Michael Leahy OBE.
John Healey, the Labour MP for the Wentworth constituency which includes the Aldwarke plant also attended the event. He said “Steelworkers made redundant from Corus were deeply affected because they had often been at the plant their whole working lives. They need special, targeted help to cope with losing their job and make the right choices for their future, whether that is going back to work or taking up training or learning opportunities”.
Mr Leahy, who thanked Mr Healey for his on-going support, said “It is regrettable that a course like Forging Ahead is necessary, but it is nevertheless a unique example of a trade union working together with key agencies to bring help to ordinary men and women in these difficult times. It underlines our approach which is to support members in their communities as well as in their workplaces”
The course is available for workers under notice of redundancy at Aldwarke, Stocksbridge, Brinsworth and Scunthorpe. If you would like to book a place please contact Emma Wallis on 07921 940268 or Mark Kaye on 07753 951428