The Dream Job Course for Cornwall Returns with the help of Cornish Businesses and ESF Funding
An award-winning course which helps ambitious job-seekers in Cornwall to find their dream job is re-launched with funding from the European Social Fund and support from renowned local businesses. Stand Out from the Crowd is a life-changing employability course which was originally run by Unlocking Potential from 2009-2015 and uniquely, provides the training within a variety of local business premises. Out of more than 450 participants 8 out of 10 landed their dream, professional job within 6 months of taking part. Now participants for the new Stand Out from the Crowd can benefit from the same ground-breaking course which helps them develop their self-awareness, build courage and understand what employers are really looking for – on top of expert employability advice on CVs, interviews and communication. The next course starts on Monday 6th November.
The course is supported by a number of renowned Cornish businesses such as The Rick Stein Group, Ocean Housing, BF Adventure, Pirate FM, Francis Clark, TJ International and Brian Etherington so participants gain exposure to and advice from local employers. Michael Rabone, Head of Human Resources at the Rick Stein Group is an advocate for the course and frequently is a Guest-Speaker:
“Stand Out from the Crowd ensures individuals are better prepared for work. I see first-hand that the course helps people to appreciate and understand how businesses work, subsequently making the interview and assessment process easier to manage for an employer.”
In addition to CV-writing and interview technique, the course develops job-seekers’ (or career-changers’) self-awareness, interpersonal skills, networking skills, business awareness and crucially confidence. Participants are also given help to understand their personal and career values, so they don’t just look for ‘a job’, but identify organisations which complement their interests and broaden their scope for employment. Christina Saker from Liskeard took part in the Pilot course in September 2017 and says:
“I love how this course is not just about being more employable, it wants to take care of the person trying to be more employable too.”
The course is aimed at anyone who has ambitions and goals for their career which are unfulfilled and the team at Unlocking Potential say there are many different types of people the course could help. Head of Talent at Unlocking Potential, Nicky Luke:
“We’ve already had our delegates describe the first Stand Out course this September as “life-changing” and “like being brought in from the cold.” That’s because unlike traditional employability courses, this isn’t just about finding you a great job – it’s about helping you find fulfilment. Perhaps you are bored in your current job, are a returning parent after a career break, a new parent, have graduated more than five years ago or are in the uncertain position of facing redundancy, we can help anyone who wants to become unstuck, with bigger dreams they want to live.”
Anyone who is interested in the next available Stand Out from the Crowd Course, which begins on Monday 6th November, should fill out an expression of interest form at www.unlocking-potential.co.uk/expression-of-interest
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The funding for this project is part of Cornwall College’s allocation for the Plymouth University’s Widening Participation through Skills Project. Our allocation of the budget includes £448,000 of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.