Face your fears and find a job

Published by webmaster for Ellesmere Port & Neston Borough Council in Communities

HANDLING large spiders and chopping through blocks of wood with their hands are all in a day’s work for students on a life-coaching course in Ellesmere Port.

These are just two of the challenges lined up for those taking part in The Success Programme, part of Ellesmere Port and Neston Borough Council’s Local Employment Charter.

The three-year-old course uses neuro-linguistic programming - based on the idea that the mind can be programmed like a computer through the use of language, images and sounds.

By building students’ confidence and motivation, the course helps them think and behave more positively and equips them to be more successful in job-hunting and life in general.

Free places were offered to residents of Stanlow, Wolverham, Westminster Central and Grange wards, and twin courses running between 18 and 29 September were filled to capacity.

During the courses the 40 students are encouraged to achieve things they never thought were possible - which is where spider and snake-handling and karate skills come in.

US-based wholesale chain Costco, opening in November at Chester Gates, Dunkirk, was so impressed with the course outline and its previous successes it guaranteed interviews to all who finished the 30-hour programme. A store representative will join students on their final day to talk about Costco.

The new warehouse will provide 130 new jobs as diverse as cake decorators, membership assistants, tyre fitters, butchers and opticians.

Lisa Conway, the borough’s Principal Officer for Employment and Lifelong Learning said: “We’ve been delighted to work with Costco to organise recruitment open days and have welcomed its input on this Success Programme.

“We want local people to have the best chance of taking up some of the excellent jobs on offer at the new warehouse.”

More than 900 people attended the Costco recruitment open day earlier this month at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall.

For more information on Costco’s vacancies please contact the Jobcentres in Ellesmere Port or Chester.

END

Press release issued September 13th 2006