28 October 2004 - It’s a gas at national training awards ceremony
Ambition:Energy, the Jobcentre Plus programme which trains unemployed people to work within the gas industry has scooped a national award.
The National Training awards recognise exceptional achievement made through training and development across the UK. Of the 23 finalists judged by the Yorkshire panel, only three, including the entry for Ambition:Energy, achieved the prestigious National Award.
The award was presented to Jobcentre Plus and its partner organisation Energy & Utility Skills, by Roger Black, athlete & TV presenter at a ceremony in Sheffield.
The Ambition:Energy partnership will now automatically be put forward for the nominations of Special National Training awards, which are presented for truly exceptional achievement from the elite group of national winners.
By the end of 2004, it is estimated there will be a shortfall of 34,000 CORGI registered installers across the country. Ambition:Energy addresses the skills gap by offering high quality training to people in order to achieve the required National Vocational Qualification.
Employer Services Director, Mark Grimshaw said: “I’m delighted that Jobcentre Plus has received this award. It is a real recognition for the success we have had in moving unemployed people into sustainable careers, which benefits the gas industry, the local community and the UK economy.”
Participants of the Ambition:Energy programme that successfully complete the course go directly into employment. To date the Ambition:Energy programme has successfully placed 1,473 people into work, 929 of which have been Gas Installers.
Notes for editors
- Following the success of the gas installer programme, Ambition:Energy now provides training in a range of occupations across the energy sector including gas network operations, gas meter exchange, BT ducting, water utilities, water leakage detection, pipefitting and steel erecting with the possibility of including electrical distribution workers in the future.
- The first course started in London in 2000, with the official launch of the Ambition:Energy programme taking place in June 2002. The programme is now run in locations nationwide, wherever there are employers seeking to recruit newly qualified engineers.
- Photographs of the award ceremony are available from DWP press office.
Press office 020 7238 0645/80749/80754
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk