futures
futures FEBRUARY 2009
14 RETRAINING
How Paul got life back on track
Energus begins to take
shape on the horizon
W
HEN Paul Lee was prosecuted
for fraud he thought he would
struggle to get his life back on
track and return to normality.
But when the consequences of
his actions sunk in he was determined to
change and with the help of the team at
the Trades Hall Centre he turned his life
around.
"The Job Centre was my first port of
call. I'd been involved in crime so when I
was caught I knew it was time to change,"
Paul said.
"It's not like I wasn't educated; I had
qualifications to my name so the Job
Centre referred me to a course at the
Trades Hall Centre.
"It was an access to employability skills
course which helped me focus on what I
wanted and taught me life skills that
would eventually make me employable.
"I went one day a week for six weeks.
That was four years ago and I've never
looked back since."
Paul soon began volunteering and spent
time at the Citizens Advice Bureau and
Allerdale Disability Association.
He also offered his services at local
drug and alcohol support charity, Rising
Sun Trust where he was eventually
employed as an information officer.
Paul , 42, said: "It was down to the
support from the team at the Trades Hall
Centre which lead me to changing my life
around.
"They gave me reassurance that I was
capable of achieving because I doubted
myself. I was so full of aggression when I
first went to them but the support and the
course changed me. It kick started my life
again.
"Four years down the line and the
support from the Trades Hall team has
never stopped.
"If ever I need them for something,
they're there. All I have to do is call them
or drop in the centre.
"It's encouragement and assistance that
continues for long after you've completed
your course.
"I'm now the manager at the Rising Sun
Trust and I'm due to start a diploma
course soon. Life's very different now."
Paul said the Trades Hall Centre course
works for anyone no matter what their
level of education or skills.
"I think the reason why I achieved so
much was due to the nature and
dedication of the staff at the Trades Hall.
No matter what your qualifications are or
what you think you're capable of, they
support and encourage you all the way,"
Paul added. PAUL LEE
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
E
NERGUS is fast taking shape at
Lillyhall and those early artist's
impressions can now be seen in a
new light as the fabric of the
building takes place. With an
official opening being planned for the
summer, everyone is busy not just
finishing and kitting-out the building, but
designing and delivering the services
Energus will provide.
Energus will be much more than a
training centre � although that of course
will be at its heart � the centre will
provide a range of training, education and
business support services as well as being
a much needed West Cumbrian venue for
conferences and management events.
Energus is key to the development of an
integrated nuclear and energy skills
package for West Cumbria, a major
project within the Energy Coast Vision
and the north west flagship to deliver
training and courses for the National
Skills Academy for Nuclear (NSAN).
Indeed the experience in developing
Energus will be put to good use in the
development of the Dalton Cumbria
Research Facility at Westlakes Science
and Technology Park.
Partnerships are already being forged
with the University of Cumbria who will
also use the Energus facility to deliver
courses.
Working alongside the NDA, Lakes
College and Lancaster University,
Energus and the University of Cumbria
are creating an integrated campus of
education, learning and business support
at Lillyhall.
Andrew King, chief executive of
Energus, said: "Energus will be an iconic,
world-class facility benchmarked against
best practice across the world.
"2008 saw us really get to grips with
construction but 2009 is all about
beginning to deliver those much-needed
training and business services."
In addition to the work with the
University and NSAN, Energus will
deliver apprentice training through an
NDA funded scheme.
Recruitment is now under way and
another sign of the skills agenda coming
to life.
With 5,500m� of floor space including
engineering and construction workshops,
training and meeting rooms and a state of
the art lecture theatre, Energus is a
welcome addition to both the local
economy and skyline.
LAUNCH SET FOR SUMMER
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: An artist's impression of Lillyhall's Energus building

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