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Scheme to help unemployed people get back to work hailed a major success A groundbreaking project developed by East Birmingham North Solihull Regeneration Zone (ebns) is taking a different approach to the problem of long-term worklessness and is set to save the tax payer more than £1m in just nine months. The Connection to Opportunities (C2O) project gives local companies access to a bespoke professional development mentoring and coaching programme that will help them support the long-term unemployed once they have a job. Funded by Advantage West Midlands, the initiative has already created 62 mentors from 24 different businesses, providing essential guidance, advice and skills to 56 people starting new jobs. It is an impressive return for the project and one that is much needed, with worklessness rates in East Birmingham and North Solihull ranked at 27% of the working age population - almost double the national average. Salim Shaikh, Project Manager, commented: ?Research has shown that unemployed people going back into work often leave within 13 weeks of starting, citing poor attendance,

(l-r) Salim Shaikh, Arfana Kauser & Aman Gahlan Arfana Kauser is one of the mentees benefitting from the C2O Project

The £200,000 project provides a three-day programme of interactive workshops designed to equip managers with the core principles of mentoring and coaching in the workplace.

It enables them to develop their management skills through role play and simulation activities and to improve the general employability skills of their new recruits, such as working in a team and problem solving.

One of the beneficiaries is Servisair, a leading global operator in aviation ground services.

The company, which plays a major role at Birmingham International Airport, is using Connections to Opportunities as a means of helping introduce and develop three new members of staff.

"The workshops have allowed us to better understand and assist the needs of our new starters, who we actively recruit from a workless background," explained Aman Gahlan, Recruitment and Training Officer.

"With the Midlands being hit hard with redundancies, we feel in a privileged position to still be recruiting and the new skills we have gained are being used to help new starters build confidence and become valuable members of our team."

If you would like to register your company on the Connections to Opportunities project, please call 0845 155 1599

Asda opening boosts Chelmsley Wood town centre?s regeneration The transformation of Chelmsley Wood town centre gathered pace in June with the official opening of Asda?s impressive superstore in Bosworth drive. Over 400 people will be employed at the £25m development, which was opened by 'Britain Got Talent' finalist Shaun Smith and local hero Tom Lackey, an inspirational 89 year-old who, despite suffering from a stroke, has raised thousands of pounds for charities and community groups

Councillor Ken Meeson, Leader of Solihull Council, said: "We believe that Chelmsley Wood and the surrounding area deserves excellent shopping facilities and it is pleasing to see this Asda store opening and our plans to rejuvenate the town centre becoming a reality for local people."

The new town centre already has new public toilets and a new bus interchange to make getting in and out of the centre much easier. Work is also nearing completion on a brand new library and Connect walk in service, where people can go for any Council related queries from Housing Benefit, to Council Tax and Blue Badges. This service will be opening in the Autumn.

Graham Edwards, ebns Chief Executive, concluded:

"Attracting Asda to the town centre is great news for Chelmsley Wood and will provide an attractive marketing tool when looking to secure further developers and potential retailers.

The £60m town centre transformation has benefited from £9m of Advantage West Midlands? funding, which has been delivered by ebns.

This includes refurbishment of the public malls, office space and replacement council accommodation within the shopping centre.

For more information about the work happening in Chelmsley Wood town centre call us on 0121 704 6155 or email: mswallow@solihull.gov.uk

A busy time for ebns

The last six months of 2009 is going to be a hectic time for East Birmingham North Solihull Regeneration Zone, with three major publications set to be launched and a celebration event planned for November which will showcase the work and impact of ebns.

The 16-page annual report will be the first to hit the shelves, closely followed by a 48-page special report document that will cover all of the different strands of its activity, including enterprise, people and communities, infrastructure and environmental.

Employment land in the Zone will form the focus of the final publication, with ebns working closely with Birmingham City Council and the Homes and Communities Agency to outline all of the potential sites ready for development over the next couple of years.

Dates for release and final details for the major celebration event will be announced in future e-newsletters.

ebns
www.ebns.co.uk