A NEW support service helping people bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic has been officially opened – and it’s already making a difference.
Not-for-profit organisation Fedcap Employment is delivering the UK Government’s new Restart Scheme in the Thames Valley, helping people to pick up skills for the modern workplace and find suitable, sustainable jobs.
Councillor Jason Brock, Leader of Reading Borough Council, officially opened the new office at Reading Business Centre in Queens Walk on Tuesday, February 15.
During the event, attendees were given an insight into how Fedcap Employment has been delivering the Restart Scheme, which helps people who have been out of work for nine months or longer with tailored support.
The organisation’s frontline team can help with everything from updating CVs to tackling health concerns, and from impressing at interviews to launching new start-up businesses.
The 26-strong team are already working with some of the region’s leading employers, including Thames Water, Travelodge and Compass Group.
Since Fedcap began delivering the scheme last year, it has supported more than 1,300 people across the South Central area of England to successfully find new jobs – including almost a hundred in Reading.
Reading Borough Council leader Cllr Jason Brock said: “Reading is a town of tremendous business success, even in spite of the pandemic, but that success has also created a job market where it’s a huge challenge for some to get their foot in the door.
“We know that there are parts of Reading with entrenched economic inequalities and persistently higher unemployment levels, contributing to the town being one of England’s most unequal places.
“The approach that Fedcap specialises in – of offering holistic support to get people into employment or starting up their own business – is exactly what’s needed if we’re to help every resident to share in Reading’s success.”
And Brian Bell, Fedcap’s chief executive, said the company was thrilled to open the office, which would be “the heartbeat” of its work in the South Central region.
“Our Reading team is successfully placing one person per day into employment,” he added.
“We’re here to make a difference to people’s lives, and we’ve already started to see the positive impact we can have in the area.
“Day after day, our customers are picking up the skills, confidence and experience that they need to kickstart the next stages of their working lives and careers.”
For more information, log on to: www.fedcapemployment.org
