Locals find jobs, get free health checks and receive careers advice at successful training centre open events

March 4, 2025

Ely Jobcentre say ‘job market is buoyant’

Centre manager says ‘our doors are open for everyone – we have learners aged from nine to 90’…….

 

Almost 100 Fenland residents turned out for a jobs fair, wellbeing event and open day held at the North Cambridgeshire Training Centre (NCTC) in Chatteris.

Over 25 employers, training and supportive organisations supported these events that were aimed at giving a variety of opportunities to support people living in and around Chatteris and Cambridgeshire.

And according to centre manager at the NCTC, Louise Unwin, some people left the day with jobs.

Louise said: “85 people attended and some people walked out with jobs. It’s great to be able to have a positive impact like this by working with a community that we are so passionate about supporting. This was one of a number of community events that we host – and we would like to thank those who worked with us and the Ely Jobcentre for organising.”

Speaking more generally about the centre, Louise added: “Although we have been here for two and half years, many people think that we only teach apprenticeships, but that is not the case. We have learners aged from 9 to 90 and we offer everything from leisure courses, family learning to fully accredited qualifications. Our doors are open for everyone, and we are keen to encourage people to come along to see us and have a chat about the many options that we provide.”

Harjit Kaur, an Employer Advisor and Account Manager at Ely Jobcentre is delighted to be working with the community and the training centre. Harjit said: “The event was for Chatteris and the wider community so people could see what jobs and support is out there for them, with the aim of moving people closer to, or into sustained employment opportunities, volunteering or a training course or programme.

“We had information about employability, wellbeing, apprenticeships, volunteering and there was a number of companies offering jobs in various sectors.

“My message to the Chatteris community is that the job market is buoyant.”                       m/f

 

In terms of working with the Training Centre Harjit added: “It was great to host an event here in the heart of Chatteris (at the NCTC) that brought the community together. We have an ongoing relationship with the centre, and we look forward to doing the same again in the near future.”

Some of the companies who attended included Barclays, Busy Bees Recruitment LTD, British Armed Forces, EACH, Xport Resourcing, Aerotron, Netmatters, UW Warehouse Utilities, Bloomsbury Homecare, The Orchards and Greensleeves Care.

Mohman Rohman is a recruitment specialist for Greensleeves Care. He said: “We are continuously looking for talent to work for us. It’s important that people see us in the community, and it was good to get our name out there. We met potential employees of the future. My message to the local community in terms of searching for jobs is never stop looking.”

Volunteering was another key component of this event and Sarah Hall works for the Cambridge Council for Voluntary Service: She said: “We support the voluntary sector and I help local organisations and charities find volunteers – and I also work with the public to find them volunteering opportunities. The event was brilliant. I spoke to some people who were strongly interested in some of the many community opportunities that are out there.”

Another area of focus was on wellbeing and Roksana Oles works for an organisation called Healthy You. Roksana said: “We offered people health checks. Our service is free, and it was great reach out to as many people as possible, and show them that we are here for them and they are not in it by themselves.” (www.healthyyou.org.uk).

One of the attendees was Nathan Skinner, 35, from Chatteris. He had never been to the NCTC before. He said: “Everyone was nice and pleasant. I chatted to a few people and I’m going to an open day in April at a local firm.”

In terms of why people should check out the NCTC and find out about opportunities, Nathan added: “Come here and have a look. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.”