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Are you feeling lost in your job search? Wondering where to start after a career break? You’re not alone.
A recent Employability Support Day in St Austell, hosted by Seetec PLUSS, provided the answers and support that many are seeking. Finding a job can be hard, the search can feel overwhelming, and the route to employment isn’t always obvious.
The event aimed to connect those seeking work with organisations that can support them in achieving that goal, and so CHAOS Radio‘s Tom Howe went along to find out just how those connections happen.
Those who need a helping hand getting into work come from all walks of life; they may be young people, veterans, have disabilities or health conditions, have been made redundant, are changing careers, or are returning to work after raising a family.
“We want to promote all the amazing opportunities in Cornwall and support people who might need a little help getting back into work,” says Katherine Scott from Seetec PLUSS.
“That can be support with training, skills or well-being – anything someone might need to help them progress on their journey.
Some job hunters simply don’t know the wide range of help that’s freely available, or how to best access it. Others are still adjusting from the isolating impacts of COVID lockdowns, making some transitions back to work even tougher.
Then there are the acute challenges of living in a rural community – like transportation issues if you don’t drive.
With accessibility in mind, one of the reasons Seetec PLUSS held this event was to spread the message that they have offices across Cornwall and hope to organise similar Employability Support Days around the county.
“Come have a chat, come and have a coffee,” says Matt Loe, also from Seetec PLUSS. “We can talk about what level of support you need, then we can point you in the right direction.”
Their event served a dual purpose. It encouraged face-to-face conversations with job seekers and also helped the participating organisations.
By coming together, they could better understand how to collaborate and make the support journey as smooth as possible for those who reach out.
The People Hub, represented by Steve Avenell (pictured below), was one of the event’s supporting partners.
“Be it reskilling or upskilling to keep a job or find one,” he began, “we offer pretty much whatever support someone needs to move forward in their lives.”
Chris Kent (pictured below) from Active Plus also attended the Employability Support Day to support Cornwall’s large veteran population. There are some 30,000 veterans in the county, and this figure more than triples when you add in their families.
“We offer bespoke one-to-one support to assist veterans and their families with employment, education, upskilling, or volunteering,” he said.
“We’re massive advocates of getting people to try their hand at volunteering too,” adds Matt at Seetec PLUSS, who believes volunteering is a useful avenue into work for anyone, not just those from the Armed Forces community.
“It’s a great way to meet people and try doing something without putting any real pressure on you. It can then lead into something that becomes a little more permanent.”
Every person’s journey into work is unique, and that’s okay. The message from all supporting organisations is clear: free support is available to meet everyone’s individual needs and get them on their journey into work – all you need to do is reach out.
Missed the event or know someone who did and could benefit from this information? It’s not too late to get support.
Don’t wait – reach out today. Whether you’re a veteran, a young person, or someone returning from a career break, there’s support waiting to help you take the first step towards your new career.
Visit Seetec PLUSS for more information, while Armed Forces community members should also visit Active Plus.
#KeepItCHAOS #NoOneLeftBehind
