Jobjunction Employment Partnership at Birmingham Airport
Jobjunction is an ESF co-financed eight-week rolling training and recruitment partnership project, based at Birmingham International Airport Jobcentre, which helps jobseekers get the essential skills they need to get a job.
This innovative project, between Jobcentre Plus, Solihull College and Pertemps Development Group has been running for four years, delivering a range of courses, including customer service, communication skills, conflict handling, welcome host, confidence building, team building, manual handling, health and safety, security, first aid and time management.
Each course also involves built-in job trials and guaranteed interviews without the risk of participants losing their benefits, as well as mentoring support by Jobjunction staff.
Of the 154 learners engaged in the project over the last three years, 86 per cent have gone on to achieve a qualification, and the majority of participants have also gained employment within the airport.
Successful learners have included Quaisar, who used to work at a fast food company but grew tired of their excuses not to help him develop. Following his time with Jobjunction he got a job as a passenger services assistant for an airline handling agent, and continues to learn.
Another learner is Charlene who joined the project with no qualifications; after taking the numeracy course she's now planning to do A-level maths and is in work.
Fran Hall, the Project Manager, said, "[Jobjunction] gets people into work and off benefits. It restores their confidence and provides realistic solutions to enable sustainable employment. It changes perceptions about people who have been long - term unemployed and satisfies employers' needs."