BRADFORD retail academy SkillsHouse was established a year ago, and has since helped more than 500 people find employment.

The organisation, which supports people with complex needs, was established in June 2015 as part of Bradford Council's Get Bradford Working programme.

The academy works with a range of retailers and other businesses districtwide, with various courses and apprenticeships offered. Three local colleges are providing jobseekers with two-week courses in retail, hospitality and customer service, and students have also been trained in customer service through the World Host programme, used to train volunteers at the London 2012 Olympics.

SkillsHouse is also working in partnership with Remploy, which helps people who face complex barriers to employment, to find work for people with disabilities.

Paul Maxwell, 33, of Shipley has a hearing disability and limited speech, and communicates using sign language and by lip-reading. Unemployed, he was referred to Remploy for specialist support by advisors at Bradford's Jobcentre Plus.

Remploy employment advisor Carl Mitchell says: “We tailor our approach around our clients’ strengths. Paul’s passion for cooking was clear and we helped him develop his CV and focus on the skills and experience he already had and which employers would find attractive.”

Paul has an NVQ level 3 in catering and experience as a volunteer using his cooking skills, but had not been in paid employment for more than a year. Remploy contacted SkillsHouse to explore job opportunities in hospitality and catering.

Kerry Robinson, SkillsHouse Manager, says: “When Remploy referred Paul to us, he asked for help in finding him a role as a cook or chef.

“We were looking to recruit staff for The Broadway shopping centre. Paul took part in our SkillsHouse assessment centre, where we work with people who come to us to assess their skills and aptitudes. One of the group assessments was seeing how people work as a team. Paul was instrumental in his team in terms of preparing menus for the restaurant opening group activity.

“When recruitment started for the Food Court in The Broadway, we contacted Remploy to ask if Paul was interested in attending a recruitment day for KFC who were looking for cooks and chefs. Paul jumped at the opportunity and with the support of Remploy, successfully completed the KFC recruitment process and was offered a trainee chef position.

“After a successful period of training in Shipley, he was appointed in The Broadway in time for the centre opening in November.”

Now Paul has settled into his job as a chef at the food outlet. “It was always my dream to be a chef. I’m really excited to continue learning and developing my skills in such a supportive environment," he said.

Bharat Patel, KFC Franchisee at QFM Group said: “We need skilled and dedicated chefs like Paul so it’s great to have him on the team.”

Michael Jameson, Bradford Council’s Strategic Director of Children’s Services, said: "Paul’s story is a great example of how we can all work together to contribute to improving skills and help to increase the numbers of good jobs and grow the economy.

"Everyone can play a part and it's excellent to see SkillsHouse and Remploy working so closely in partnership with local businesses to find jobs for local people like Paul who have specific needs.”

Of the people SkillsHouse has supported into work, 166 have found jobs in The Broadway. Earlier this year the Telegraph & Argus reported that children's stationery retailer Smiggle, which opened its first Bradford branch in the shopping centre last week, was recruiting staff through the Skillshouse jobs website.

SkillsHouse is part of the council's £10 million employment and skills scheme aimed at not just getting people into work, but also boosting skills levels. The programme consists of seven initiatives aimed at tackling issues and barriers facing individuals in the labour market - SkillsHouse, the Employment Opportunities Fund, the Apprenticeship Training Agency and Apprenticeship Hub, Routes into Work, Industrial Centres of Excellence, the Advanced Skills Fund and Step up to Business.

Others who have benefited from the scheme include Umar Ali, who landed a job at New Look. “I saw a post on Facebook about recruitment so I called the SkillsHouse. They had me on their books within 12 hours," she said. “The support was exactly what I needed. SkillsHouse brought me right into the 21st century.”

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