South West European Social Fund (ESF)
Awards 2010 THE WINNERS Awards Ceremony held on 18 March 2010 at the Rougement Thistle Hotel, Exeter
Presented by Government Office for the South West with support from the South West Regional Development Agency, Jobcentre Plus, the Learning and Skills Council and the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
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CELEBRATING SUCCESS AND PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT The south west european social fund (esf) awards have been organised and presented by government office for the south west with support from the south west regional development agency, jobcentre plus, the learning and skills council and the convergence partnership office for cornwall and the isles of scilly.
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THESE AWARDS ARE AN INAUGURAL CELEBRATION RECOGNISING THE EXCELLENCE IN EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS ACTIVITY ACROSS THE WHOLE OF THE SOUTH WEST FROM BOTH THE ESF CONVERGENCE AND COMPETITIVENESS PROGRAMMES.
Held at the Rougemont Thistle Hotel, Exeter on 18 March 2010, the South West ESF Awards 2010 were hosted by Peter Cloke OBE, former Director for Children and Learners in Government Office South West. The Rt. Hon Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for the South West and Minister of State for the Department of Work and Pensions, being the Keynote Speaker and presenting some of the Awards. Dr. Juliet Williams, of TwoFour Communications was also in attendance as a Keynote Speaker and presenting Awards as well as Carleen Kelemen, director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and vice chair of the Institute of Directors for Devon and Cornwall.
Jon Bright, Regional Director of Government Office for the South West presented the South West ESF Outstanding Contribution Award, welcomed the launch of the awards by saying,
The awards are designed to celebrate the important role that the European Social Fund plays in employment, skills and training and innovation for thousands of people across the South West.
Carleen Kelemen, director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said,
‘These new awards will give us the opportunity to celebrate the people and organisations that are making a positive difference thanks to activities funded by the European Social Fund across the whole of the South West. To date thousands of people have been given better prospects as a result of the ESF Convergence and Competitiveness programmes.’
‘People are at the heart of economic regeneration and are the building blocks of our economic recovery. The ESF programmes across the South West are a unique opportunity to help us invest in the people and skills needed for the economic upturn and beyond.. These awards will celebrate personal achievement and be an inspiration to us all in shaping and re-shaping our futures.’
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COMPETITIVENESS YOUNG ACHIEVER JADE BINGHAM
CONVERGENCE YOUNG ACHIEVER DEE WHITE
COMPETITIVENESS PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT CONRAD HUTCHINSON
CONVERGENCE PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT ARRON EDWARDS
NOMINATOR - HEDLEY HALL TRAINING
NOMINATOR - PENTREATH LIMITED
NOMINATOR - WORKING LINKS
NOMINATOR - FIFTEEN CORNWALL
Through her own experience of being a young mum, Jade wanted to become a midwife, and recognised that she would need to improve her own basic skills before being accepted onto a FE course. Having these ambitions gave her the motivation to tackle her lack of numeracy skills.
Dee’s life has been transformed in the past year, coming from a Young Women’s Centre and suffering from low self esteem and confidence. She has progressed through both Freestyle and E2E – enabling her to build and develop her personal and social skills through attending college, volunteering and embracing the opportunities on offer.
Conrad has shown determination and focus in his dream to retrain and start a career in community care and support. He set himself a target to re-skill and gain a portfolio of practical qualifications and experience to help him find work where he can assist and positively encourage and motivate others less fortunate.
Arron says more about Fifteen Cornwall than any number of words can. He arrived with personal issues and was going nowhere. Seventeen months later he graduated with a distinction, going to a great job on the Isles of Scilly.
Whilst on ESF provision with Pentreath Ltd Dee has demonstrated a keenness and determination to succeed and build a better future, starting an NVQ in Business Admin at Fifteen Cornwall. She is also continuing to work towards her AAT (Accountancy training) at Truro College.
Conrad has overcome many barriers, visibly improving his and his family’s lives and, most importantly, gives his time, energy, skills and humour back to the heart of the community through his YMCA work.
With the help of Hedley Hall Training she has overcome numerous personal challenges and upheaval and has completed her City and Guilds level 1 Numeracy and started level 2. She has applied for a course in midwifery, commencing in September this year.
AWARD CATEGORY - YOUNG ACHIEVER
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When he returned he was snapped up by Fifteen – already showing signs of becoming the training chef he’d like to be one day. Fifteen helped changed his attitude – he changed his life.
AWARD CATEGORY - PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT
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COMPETITIVENESS EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS BODY POSITIVE
CONVERGENCE EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS XTRAVERT
CONVERGENCE PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION SHAZ FRENCH
CONVERGENCE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THE HALL FOR CORNWALL
NOMINATOR - THE LEARNING CURVE
NOMINATOR - REAL IDEAS ORGANISATION
NOMINATOR - CORNWALL NEIGHBOURHOODS FOR CHANGE (CN4C)
NOMINATOR - TRURO AND PENWITH COLLEGE BUSINESS CENTRE
Body Positive Dorset is a registered charity that has been supporting people living with or affected by HIV since 1989. As part of the Community Grant Programme the project has taken on learners that were furthest away from work and trained them to become trainers that will not only benefit themselves but benefit their community. In the future it is hoped that their trainers will be delivering HIV Training across the entire SW region.
The Xtravert programme was designed to give fresh opportunities to a group of NEET youngsters within the Redruth area. The programme was hugely popular with a high attendance rate and not one drop out throughout the initial programme period. Xtravert is now being set up as a Social Enterprise Business, working independently on local community projects, to promote the achievements of the young people involved and, in turn, for them to demonstrate the benefits of giving youngsters opportunities.
Over the last 10 years, Shaz has battled to overcome numerous personal challenges, a lone parent with a lack of qualifications being just a few. Whilst on a CN4C Working with People course she was encouraged to apply for a Trainee Advisor role being advertised within CN4C.
The Hall for Cornwall wanted to improve their interdepartmental communication and internal and external customer service. A series of in-house training sessions for all staff was delivered through Truro and Penwith College Business Centre. Participation has made a huge difference to the business.
AWARD CATEGORY - EMPLOYMENT & SKILLS
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She was appointed to the post in January 2009. In the short time she has been with CN4C she has shown integrity and understanding of the Communities in which CN4C work. This together with an innate business sense has helped her gain two further promotions within the organisation.
It ensured each member of staff feels valued for their abilities within their role. It paved the way for a large number of staff to take NVQ qualifications. Customer satisfaction has increased as a result!
AWARD CATEGORY - PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
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COMPETITIVENESS EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR AUDITECHNIK
CONVERGENCE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR MASHFORDS
TUTOR/MENTOR OF THE YEAR CYNTHIA THOMAS
NOMINATOR - GLOUCESTER FIRST
NOMINATOR - CORNWALL MARINE NETWORK
NOMINATOR - CORNWALL SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS
Auditechnik a car repair and maintenance business had not previously been supported by ESF. Initial conversations with Gloucester First identified a number of training needs which were subsequently funded by the Programme.
Mashfords’ history of boat building and repairs dates back more than 80 years. However, during that period their human resources style remained virtually unchanged. Through Cornwall Marine Network’s training programme an impressive 80% of its workforce has now engaged in training.
The work that Cynthia has undertaken with participants on the Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs has far exceeded expectations and provided students with incredible guidance and support. She has inspired the participants helping and guiding them to set up their own businesses or seek employment as well as assisting with writing business plans. To date she has engaged with 250+ participants, 50 of whom are successfully self employed, many others having gained employment.
Feedback has shown impact to the business which includes improved productivity and performance, improved customer services levels and an improved working environment. Employees have become more confident and motivated, have improved decision making abilities and are embracing further opportunities for learning.
The training covered everything from maths and literacy, business administration, marine engineering and team leading. The training has been such a positive experience for both the Company and their staff that a specialist training room is being created and a member of staff is training as an in –house NVQ assessor.
SW ESF OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD CAROLYN WEBSTER
Carolyn’s partnership work is second to none. She has built an excellent reputation both within Cornwall and further afield across the South West and Nationally. She has been a key player in achieving positive results from innovative ideas for example Fifteen Cornwall and the Eden Project. Carolyn has been instrumental in raising the profile of ESF and Cornwall and how, by having a single pot of funding, the Cornwall Works model, organisations can make more effective use of the funding available. She is truly visionary, committed to excellence and gives her all to ensure the very best provision for those people in Cornwall who may need a little, and often considerably more, support to help them realise their potential in learning and work. Carolyn has also been a key partner in driving the delivery of ESF in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly since the start of Objective One status in 2000. She has very effectively managed a series of large DWP ESF contracts since then. The Jobcentre Plus Convergence ESF programmes have supported more than 4600 people, through a variety of activities, aimed at encouraging people into work or training – consistently achieving the status of managing the best performing DWP contract nationally.
AWARD CATEGORY - EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
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AWARD CATEGORY - TUTOR/MENTOR OF THE YEAR & OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT
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