15
FEBRUARY 2009 futures
futures
Creating expertise that's
unrivalled across world
RETRAINING
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
WEST CUMBRIA TRADES HALL CENTRE
For the Unemployed
39 Brow Top, Workington, CA14 2DP
ARE YOU UNEMPLOYED
AND LOOKING FOR WORK?
LET US HELP YOU!
We have new exciting 13 week courses to suit
everyone's needs.
Courses can cover the following and much much more:
Confidence / self esteem building, motivation techniques, Job
search, addressing barriers to training / employment, key and
skills for life, employer awareness and engagement.
Relaxed atmosphere, lunch, childcare and travel expenses paid.
A chance to gain up to �200 worth of vouchers!
Interested, please contact the Centre for further information
or to make an appointment at a community venue near you.
Alternatively, visit our website:
www.tradeshallworkington.org.uk
or email us:
enquiries@tradeshallworkington.org.uk
Tel: 01900 61874
C
OMPANIES in West Cumbria who
look to secure nuclear contracts
are well aware of the high
standards of safety and
environmental protection that are
necessary to be a successful contractor.
Local firm and significant Sellafield
contractor, Stobbarts Ltd, are a great
example of how that need flows through to
workforce training and development.
Around 50 per cent of the Stobbarts
workforce have now achieved the Level 2
NVQ in Nuclear Technology
Decommissioning.
It is believed to be the largest
commitment to the NVQ programme of
any Sellafield contractor and
demonstrates the company's trend for
corporate responsibility and tangible
investment in its people.
Ensuring the nuclear decommissioning
industry has a skilled workforce for the
challenges that lay ahead in dealing with
the UK's current nuclear legacy is crucial
to the success of the clean up mission.
Stobbarts wanted to make the most of
the opportunities that were appearing and
the NVQ qualification provides their staff
with enhanced skills and knowledge that
build on their experience and expertise in
the nuclear decommissioning
marketplace.
"The NVQ benefits me and the company
and gives us more chance of clinching
projects and contracts," said Pat Gilmore
from Stobbarts, a man who spends the
majority of his working life on the
Sellafield site.
The NVQ is another example of how
organisations across West Cumbria and
the industry are pulling together to make
a difference. Local training provider Gen
II worked closely with Stobbarts in
developing the training and funding of
which was underpinned by a 50 per cent
grant from the Construction Industry
Training Board.
As the NDA drives forward its skills
and capability strategy, it is hoped many
more firms will follow Stobbarts example
and help create in West Cumbria a pool of
expertise unrivalled across the world.
Gilly's stable profession gives
way to a career with horses
A
LMOST 22 years to the day since
joining Border TV, stalwart Gilly
Fraser left the station to take up a
new job with her first love �
horses. The 51-year-old presenter, a
well-known face for viewers of
Lookaround, left ITV on December 3 last
year� ahead of Border's planned closure.
But instead of looking for a new
television role, Gilly is seizing the
opportunity to do something different.
A self-confessed horse fanatic, she has
secured a part-time job with Paragon vets,
giving her the chance to work with
animals on a regular basis.
Gilly, who lives with husband Malcolm
Mason, of Abbeytown, has always loved
animals.
Originally from Aberdeen, she has
ridden horses since she was a child but it
wasn't until she came to Cumbria that she
was able to have one of her own.
Twenty-two years later and she now has
six.
But even that was not enough for Gilly
who contacted the Cumbrian vets to
discuss the possibility of retraining after
hearing Border TV was to merge.
They were keen to have her onboard
and, after completing a few days' work
experience, offered her the new position.
Gilly will have a dual-role, partly
assisting the veterinary team and partly
looking after the firm's marketing and
publicity.
"I love the area and have never
considered leaving," she said. "I hate
cities and busy places so moving to
somewhere like Manchester to progress
my career has never really appealed to
me. The life I am able to lead has always
been more important than any ambitions.
"Paragon are real go-ahead vets and
want to build up the equestrian arm of
the business. I'm looking forward to being
a part of that."
GILLY
FRASER:
Changing
career but
returning to
her first love
STOBBARTS
EMPLOYEE PAT
GILMORE: `The NVQ
benefits me and the
company and gives
us more chance of
clinching projects
and contracts'

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