Improving Prospects for members facing redundancy
Members of Prospect have had the opportunity to attend one of a series of regional workshops to support them through career transition and the knowledge that they were to be made redundant.
The CareerPlus workshops, funded through the Union Learnig Fund and facilitated by an Open University Careers Advisor and Prospect Project Worker, Pauline Tee, offered members the tools and techniques to navigate through a period of career transition. The workshops covered the identification of skills and self- awareness, intelligent job searching and effective networking techniques. The sessions, which covered CV writing and preparation for interviews, were practical, inspiring and supportive for those skilled professionals in sectors which have been affected massively by the Government's spending cuts and the effects of the recession.
The workshops in the Midlands region were held in Birmingham and Leicester in March and May. 27 members, from a wide variety of sectors, took part from workplaces such as Audit Commission, Forensic Science Service, Qinetic and Natural England. One of the delegate's objectives was to identify their short term goals, which the ULF Project Worker Team undertook to follow up after 3 months to ascertain individual achievements and provide on- going support. With materials and signposting to organisations for further advice and information promoted at the workshops there is a wealth of information to help members through a difficult time. Feedback from the delegates was very positive and seen as a real bonus in their union supporting them in a very practical way.
The aim of supporting members with practical career advice and guidance is assist members back into employment and/or education and demonstrate the very great need for unity through difficult times. CareerPlus workshops have been held across the regions and will continue until early 2012. Additional sustainable support will be available for members via Prospect website with a range of complementary CareerPlus materials including a number of subject specific podcasts.
