North Wessex Training have helped more than 500 individuals across Wiltshire gain employment this year.

They say that over 150 of these were in the Salisbury area in the period from January to September.

"This has been our most successful year to date", said Managing Director Joy Townley.

She added:" It has been particularly pleasing bearing in mind the recent economic downturn. The professionalism and dedication of our advisors, combined with the range of programmes we are able to offer our clients has had fantastic results."

"I am so pleased we have been able to help so many people, some of whom have faced enormous challenges, and we look forward to continuing to support individuals back into the workplace in the future."

With a wide range of courses available, North Wessex Training is able to offer support and training on an individual or group basis.

They enable clients to gain the skills necessary to return to the workplace or change career, whatever their background.

Clients do not have to be on benefits to receive their help and they are able to respond to the needs of individuals under threat of redundancy.

Their principle aim is to recognise an individual’s potential, and give them the skills and experience necessary to ensure it is fully realised.

North Wessex Training is based in Devizes. It works closely with Job Centres and other like-minded bodies.

The body has good relationships with the private sector, offering a range of management and customer service focused courses to local companies.

The addition of new training centres in Trowbridge and Chippenham in 2008 and a new centre opening shortly in Calne illustrate NWT’s growth, and the company is now a significant player within the county’s employment training infrastructure.

Client progress:

Personal statement by Eamon Hughes further to Review Record and Exit Interview Eamon reports that he has gained various skills and has benefited in several ways from attending the Making Changes programme.

When Eamon first came to North Wessex Training he was ‘at a loss’. He was homeless, living rough and was jobless, whilst going through a divorce.

Eamon feels that the assistance and guidance he has received by various people at NWT has helped him to get back on his feet. Through the help he received he was able to obtain sheltered housing, and found a part-time job in cleaning, for 12 hours per week. This he later increased it this job to 15 hours per week, and now, recently, to 18 per week.

Eamon reports that he feels much more confident and able to pass on to others the advice he has received from NWT. His attitude to work has improved; he feels and is able to sustain various cleaning jobs and enjoys the responsibilities that come with the tasks of his job(s). Eamon has improved his maths and English skills level through intensive basic skills training at NWT.

Eamon confirms that he has improved his self-management skills to the extent that he now has built himself a routine of balancing his work and private life. With help from NWT and other parties he has been able to manage various significant incidents in his private life, recently (bereavement, divorce, homelessness, moving house, and, very recently, having been physical attacked/robbed in a public space).

Eamon has now increased his working hours to 18 per week and says he feels much more confident than he did before. He lives in a council-provided ‘move-on’ flat, and works for a cleaning company. The employer is happy with his experience and standard of work.