Jobs success for dad after volunteering on council scheme

A council employment programme has secured its first success with Shane Goodier securing a full-time job after working with a business as a volunteer.

Father-of-five Shane, 39, from Bacup, was introduced to Rossendale Borough Council’s Employability Officer Paul Becouaran on one of his visits to the JobCentre. He would walk from Bacup to Rawtenstall to sign on.

Shane was originally from Warrington and had worked for various companies, latterly Littlewoods and had previously been a sheet metal manufacturer.

He was accepted on the Rossendale Works project which works in partnership with Active Lancashire to get residents into work.

The JobCentre signposted Shane to a course at Accrington and Rossendale College and then Paul matched him to Caswell Engineers based on Knowsley Road Industrial Estate, Haslingden.

The family-run heating, ventilation and air conditioning manufacturer will celebrate its 50th year in business next year and employs about 65 people, with almost two-thirds living in Rossendale.

Shane started a voluntary placement with Caswell in May. He retained his benefits and received travelling expenses.

He was due to work for free for eight weeks but the placement was so successful that after just six weeks, Shane secured a full-time job as a production labourer.

Shane said:

My father died three years ago and I struggled to cope with it. My wife and I moved to live with her mother but when she died we couldn’t stay there so moved to Bacup.

“I was at a low ebb but since gaining full-time work my confidence has come back.I have found my feet; I want to climb the ladder here and I would like to see my career progress at Caswell.

If I had not been accepted on this scheme then I would probably still be walking between Bacup and Rawtenstall every two weeks.

Paul said:

I am at the JobCentre every Tuesday and since the end of April I have seen 49 clients.

I am big into exercise, education and work placements with the hope that they will lead to employment.

When I am doing an assessment I know that not everybody is ready for work. It is about tailoring the programme to the individual’s needs and signposting them where necessary.

Paul already has links with eight businesses and would welcome interest from other companies. There is no cost to the employer to take someone on a placement.

Caswell Chairman Richard Coxen said:

We were pleased to have been involved in the borough council’s initiative and for our business it has been successful.

We are happy to be able to be a part of this scheme and to be able to help Shane back into employment.

Councillor Alyson Barnes, leader of Rossendale Council, added:

It is great that Shane has secured a job through Rossendale Works and I wish him all the best for the future. I am sure that this will be the first of many successes for the project

“We are also working with businesses in Rossendale to help them to grow and expand, and also to attract new companies into the borough. This in turn will create more good local jobs for people like Shane.