24 Jan Council opens pop-up skills and employment shop in Basildon
Whether you are looking to change your career and need to update your skills, are currently unemployed and looking for work or leaving full time education and need advice on career options – The Advice Store in Basildon Town Centre can help.
Basildon Council has more than 20 providers of skills, training and career advice already signed up to support the Advice Store, which is located in the old Party Fiesta shop by the new Basildon Market.
The pop-up shop, which recently opened has already provided a free CSCS training course for residents looking to work in the construction industry which was funded by the Construction Skills Fund. This was part of a successful £1m bid by South Essex local authorities, including Basildon, to support the training of local people for jobs in the construction industry by 2020.
Cllr Andrew Schrader, Chairman of the Economic Growth and Development Committee, said: “We have invested in The Advice Store because we are committed to creating opportunities for all by supporting our residents to make sure they are aware of the options available to them and how to make the most of them. This doesn’t just apply to young people – this shop is for anyone who is looking for help finding work or wants to gain new skills or retrain to enter more fulfilling, secure and better paid employment.
“Providing an accessible and welcoming drop-in space is really important to the success of The Advice Store and we hope it will become a real community asset. I would like to thank all the providers who have joined us and recognise that up to date and easy to understand career advice is crucial to helping people achieve their personal ambitions”.
Organisations who are working in the pop-up shop include the National Careers Service who give careers advice, Signpost who help people with employability skills, ITEC providing skills and training advice and Essex County Council providing advice on apprenticeships.
The Advice Store is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm for appointments, with walk-ins available between 9am and 1pm.
