19 May 2000

GREAT DEAL: DISABLED PEOPLE TO TAKE JOBS AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF EXPANDING CALL CENTRE INDUSTRY

DISABLED people now have the opportunity to compete for jobs in the expanding call centre industry, through an innovative new pilot programme launched by the Training and Employment Agency today.

The initiative, run in association with New Deal for Disabled People, Bridge to Employment and the Cedar Foundation will offer up to 30 places at the cut and thrust of the sector’s growth.

Tony Logue, New Deal for Disabled People Team Leader, says the pre employment training programme has been designed to equip unemployed people with the skills to compete for job opportunities as they arise:

"The challenge of developing a course to enable many people – who might not have had any work experience before - has been energetically embraced by Halifax, Abbey National and Manpower.

"These employers are committed to giving our unemployed people a great deal – with guaranteed employment outcomes, an eight week training programme and a NTO tele.com training accreditation.

"As call centre opportunities increase, we are confident that more and more people, who might have struggled to find employment in the past will be given a level playing field to compete and win on. That’s what New Deal is all about – supporting people into employment through matching employers’ needs to those of individuals," he adds.

The New Deal programme, which has placed almost 10,000 unemployed people into jobs here, continues to develop niche programmes to support both employers and participants.

Eileen Thomson, deputy director of The Cedar Foundation which is providing the training says this pilot is breaking new ground.

"This programme brings people’s abilities, not disabilities to the fore. We would like to encourage people to consider the dynamic work environment of the call centre – a starting salary of up to £14,500 and a bright future with one of three leading employers.

"Unemployed people with disabilities will retain their benefits while in the eight weeks of training, lone parents may be eligible for child care allowance and all trainees will be reimbursed for weekly travel costs.

"All in all it’s a great package – and we’d ask interested people to touch base with their local JobCentre for an application form," she said.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT SIMON BURROWES AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT ON (02890) 257793.