Working Links Help Resolve Skills Shortage

Working Links, specialists at putting disadvantaged and long term unemployed people back into work, will be working with the construction industry to encourage job seekers into the sector.

In doing so, Working Links will help meet the growing skills shortage in the industry by providing jobseekers with training and skills development.

Since its creation in 2000, Working Links has helped over 36,000 long-term unemployed and disadvantaged people into sustainable employment.

Kim Pattison, coordinator for this project at Working Links said: "The UK construction industry is one of the strongest in the world, with output ranked in the global top ten.

380,000 people are needed in the construction industry by 2006 to help meet its rapid growth.

Working Links can help meet this target whilst lowering unemployment levels throughout the UK." Working Links has already received recognition from the construction industry for its work.

The Asbestos Removal Contractors (ARCA) presented an award to Working Links in recognition of its success in training a record number of individuals to prepare for work in this specialist sector.

Working Links has established relationships with industry organisations such as the Construction Industry Training Board, Building London Creating Futures and recently held an open day at the Institution of Civil Engineers, where London jobseekers had the opportunity to meet construction employers and learn about the job opportunities available in London.

Peter Wilson, project coordinator from Building London Creating Futures said, "We are all too familiar with the alarming statistics on skill shortages in the construction industry and this is particularly evident in London.

Working Links' approach is truly innovative and we look forward to building on this partnership." Pattison concludes, "Working Links is about bringing long term solutions to help businesses meet their recruitment needs.

Through partnership, we hope to see a continued increase in the number of jobseekers entering the industry whilst helping to make a significant dent on the skills shortage, which could potentially cripple the construction industry.

What's more, we are a free recruitment service for employers so we are confident that more organisations will turn to us for their staffing needs." The team at Working Links helps jobseekers break down the barriers they face in entering employment.

The company believes that one size does not fit all - Working Links treats each person as an individual: using creative and flexible ways to cut out red tape and helping to overcome particular barriers in getting people sustainable work.

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