A project which aims to help people affected by redundancy is seeking support from businesses in Cornwall.
New Work, a project being managed by DOTT Cornwall and sponsored by the Learning Skills Council, aims to enhance the skills of people in Cornwall so that they can achieve better paid jobs that are relevant to the county’s future economy.
In order to reach previously unengaged people, the New Work team is looking for the support of local businesses to help raise the profile of the scheme.
Robert Woolf of Penryn-based SEA Communications, who is delivering the project, said: “We’re keen to talk to recognised and trusted businesses within Cornwall who are willing to show support for the project.
“We feel businesses with deep roots here and who are trusted by the people of Cornwall can reinforce the fact that employers care about the workforce.
“We’d like to piggy back on this trust as we believe it will help those people we’re trying to reach feel more comfortable, as opposed to if they were approached by an organisation they may not have heard of.”
Already signed up to support the project is Origin Coffee and the St Moritz Hotel.
SEA Communications’ Helena Graham, who is also working on the project, said: “The support from Origin and St Moritz is fantastic. We’ve got other businesses in mind that we would like to gain support from, but we’re keen for any company that is interested to contact us.
“As well as the obvious benefits of being involved, such as demonstrating your support of people and communities in Cornwall, there is also the added benefit of linking the right people with your business in the future.”
Once the project is underway, the New Work team will work with people and businesses to design a service which improves access to information, skills and real job opportunities.
It will also aim to identify with employers any skills gaps and employment needs they may have.
The Design Council, Cornwall Council, University College Falmouth and the Technology Strategy Board have partnered to deliver the DOTT Cornwall programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly during 2010.
DOTT aims to use creative and design led methods to inspire change and solve some of the social and economic issues in Cornwall.
