Home working new talent trawl can create 360 jobs

Nov 19 2009 By Iain Laing, The Journal

A SCHEME to help North East companies which want to recruit home workers but cannot find people with the skills they need is hoped to help to create 360 jobs.

Regional development agency One North East is to pump £1.1m into a pilot project to train up potential staff and is looking for at least six companies which want to take on home workers.

Working from home is becoming increasingly popular as it can bring people into employment who want to work flexible hours, perhaps because they care for children, or who are disabled or live in a remote area.

Companies find it an economical way of growing their workforce as they need less to pay less for workspace and benefits. ONE believes that much of the pent up need for skilled staff lies in the call centre industry, where one in ten in the region are already employed.

But it also sees that the flexibility of home working may encourage graduates looking to enter a competitive jobs market to stay in the North East rather than move south.

Director of business and industry Ian Williams said: "The project focuses on up-skilling individuals within the region to address the skills gap companies wishing to recruit home workers face.

"The fund will help us to start to work towards the necessary higher level skilled operatives that the call and contact centres sector in particular demands, which will make the region especially attractive to businesses who are not currently based here.

"We will be in a unique position to use the evidence from the pilot to attract future investment."

The scheme will be able to give grants of up to £3,000 per person to companies looking to take on home workers.

Business Development Organisation Entrust will deliver the project on a "first come, first served" basis so interested businesses are encouraged to attend the launch event where a team will be available to discuss opportunities to get involved.

Dan Brophy, CEO of Entrust, said: "The call and contact centre sector is vital to the future growth of the region’s economy. We know from our ongoing dialogue with this key community that their people are without a doubt their most important asset. Bringing in new skills is integral to the survival and growth of these businesses.

"This unique pilot will fast-track opportunities for participating companies to explore home working and will open up new horizons for individuals who might be considering how home working could work for them."

The scheme will be launched next week in Newcastle.

:: For details contact Leanne Moseley at Entrust on 0191 244 4000 or email homeworkingfund@entrust.co.uk  to request an application pack.