A DISTRICT councillor is set to pilot a new scheme to help unemployed people gain work, after being alarmed at the ‘poorly filled in’ applications handed in to her company.
Coun Melanie Baker said she became really concerned at the apparent lack of understanding at seeing some of the job requests to her Malvern cleaning firm Tulip, and raised the issue to the council’s worklessness group.
“Some of the forms were just terrible, some had coffee rings and even children’s scribbling on. As a business we don’t have time to go through each candidate’s background in great detail.
“I’m worried we’re missing out on really good candidates for jobs because they are unable to fill in forms.
“I want to know what’s there in Malvern to assess people.
“I think there are lots of groups out there but my concern is people who need them don’t know they are there.”
Coun Baker’s new scheme has been backed by Festival Housing and is designed to signpost those who need literacy support to services that can help.
“Every time someone requests an application form it will come with a leaflet that says: ‘If you are going to have problems with this form contact this number’.
“That means that person is getting help and support and hopefully we won’t be missing out on good people.”
She added if the scheme proved successful at Tulip it could be rolled out to other firms throughout Malvern which could potentially help a lot of people throughout the district.
“Employment and getting people with disabilities into work is very important to me. I am very passionate about it.
“As employers we must do everything we possibly can to help people into employment and stay in employment, it enables people to become self empowered.
“If this can only help one person get into work it’s a job worth doing.”
