News

Work Programme
Open Door Training will be delivering specialist support for four of the Contract Package Areas for the following Prime contractors: G4S, MaximusUK and the Rehab Group. We will be delivering our renowned Self Discovery support programme.

Press Release sent out by Portsmouth City Council 14th Jan 2012
Council supports youngsters with their journey into work

Council works with Jobcentre Plus to support youngsters on job seekers allowance with an employment support programme.

16 youngsters from Portsmouth have completed the High Expectations Sea Adventure Course in a bid to get into work.  

The course is a support and mentoring programme which has been funded by Jobcentre Plus and supported by Portsmouth City Council.

Eight of the youngsters aged between 18 and 19 have now found themselves in employment, with the remaining eight looking to be in employment in the near future.

The course offers a RYA Power Boat certificate and Sports First Aid qualification alongside the intensive job coaching expertise provided by Open Door Training Ltd.

The youngsters were recently congratulated by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth on completion of the programme.

Michael Snell, aged 18 said:
“I found the course helpful because I was shown how to rewrite my CV and am now enjoying my first job at Asda as a checkout operator. “I really enjoyed the power boat training which involved two days in the Solent and have gained a National Powerboat certificate, level two.  I had never considered this area of work, but it was really good.”

Andrew Jamison, aged 20 said: “The course was absolutely brilliant, the workers have been great and it has really improved my confidence.  My CV now looks much more professional and is such an improvement. “I am now working for Oden Services UK, which wasn’t something I planned to do, but I am enjoying it and am pleased to be back at work.”

Linda Taylor, employment initiatives manager at the council said: “It’s in our interest to provide young people with the support they need to secure a job.  I’m pleased that with the support from our partners, that the project has been the success it has.”

Feedback from a Self Discovery client in Gloucestreshire June 2012.
‘I would like to share my experience with open-door training. I have to admit I had some reservations to start with. As I had been on an employability course 3 weeks prior to attending Open-door training. I didn't see how Open-door could offer anything what's not already been covered. However I was pleasantly surprised.

As the 2 day course did not differ greatly in content. I felt the quality of the information was far better, more explanation and detailed. Another great assignment this course had was the mock group interviews. The group was asked if anyone wanted a private interview,(no one was forced) I really felt the constructive criticism after everyone interview was perfect. It got everyone involved and you could see that some people was really proud and it was a great accomplishment. real life building block for the ones what's never had an interview before.

The real bonus of this whole process has to be the aftercare with Kerry. And I call it after care because she really does care, I have yet to get a job or training from this course (some maybes still) BUT she will leave me with more than then I ever thought possible. She has gave me great ideas, tips and has even offered to help me with English, even after the 4 weeks. This is a lady goes above and beyond the call of duty. Many thanks Kerry and to your team'

Feedback from a Self Discovery client in Portsmouth Spring 2012.
‘The Open Door Self Discovery Programme was a huge help for me in my search for work. I got the chance to meet other people in the same situation as myself and work with them on lots of different tasks. Doing this gave me a huge confidence boost and plus I learnt lots of new skills such as how to prepare for interview, how to act in an interview and creating new business ideas which we then presented them to the rest of the team.

During the two day programme it gave me a much clearer idea of what I wanted to pursue as a career. I had a few ideas of what I wanted to do but throughout the programme I got to talk to other people and took their advice. I have now been offered an Apprenticeship at Queen Alexandra Hospital in the Oncology Unit. Without the help from Open Door and the programme, I don’t think I would be in the position I am today and I am very grateful for all the support they have given me.’

This is the content of an email sent to me on 10 May 2012. She is enjoying the work and is keeping me updated on a weekly basis. The Self Discovery programme works.

Recent email from client who attended the Self Discovery course in Southampton.
At the end of the 4 week support - a vital component of the Self Discovery Programme Michelle is now in work - 60% of the others are attending interviews. All were on long term JSA. The Programme Works. 30% of the clients who attended gained employment at the end of the 4 week support process.

"I just wanted to say how pleased I am with the excellent service that Kerry of Open Door Training is providing. Not only does she understand me on a personal level but her expertise and experience is, as her company is called, opening up a lot of doors for me. I've been able to open up to her about my bad experiences that I've had with work in the past and about my depression and she is really helping to boost my confidence and to push me forward and help motivate me. When you've been ill in the past, you need extra help from a company like this who can work with you and, have someone who understands you. You're also treated as an individual looking at your own specific needs, instead of just being classed as someone who's out of work.

The Open Door Course that they provide really does make you think about other areas of work you could try and they give you the confidence to go out and explore and put your ideas into practice.

I've attended many courses in the past through the Jobcentre and to be perfectly honest, not one of them has really helped and has given me the tools like Open Door has to be able to move forward in life and help me achieve my goals.

Many thanks to Open Door Training."

Michelle

Open Door Training featured in SEEDA's '40-70 Tomorrow's Workforce Report'.
Open Door Training are included in the report as the only Hampshire provider that covers the South East. Below is an extract from the final report.

'Costs and benefits
This cost per placement is understood to be comparable with mainstream welfare to work programmes and only around 10% of these clients are participating in other programmes, reflecting the lack of alternatives for higher skilled workers.
It is not possible to say what proportion of these clients would have got back into work without Open Door’s support but the qualitative evidence suggests that this support both increased and speeded the return rate. More fundamentally, the mixture of motivation, confidence building and practical job finding activity will have prevented some of the clients from falling permanently out of the labour market.

Lessons from the project
Projects for higher skilled workers tend to have fewer participants engaged in other programmes, since many of these mainstream support services are primarily designed for lower skilled people. Open Door estimates that only about 10% of its clients participate in other programmes. Sub-contracting to organisations like Open Door appears to offer a cost effective approach to supporting a group of clients for whom there is generally little alternative support. This is relevant to the new Merlin Standard governing DWP supply chain management.'

Work with unemployed migrant workers

In November 2010 Open Door devised and delivered training and follow on support for unemployed migrant workers living in Portsmouth. Work funded by Migration Impact Fund

Comments from the clients include: These are quotes from their evaluation forms - their spelling and punctuation.

"I discovered myself more about my strengths and weakness. Get lots of more useful information. I have met new people and I enjoyed it." Helen from China

"The SWOT work made me realise that I can do more different thinks." Igbal from Sudan

"It is just like opening my eyes because the training totally changed my thinking towards me and getting job. The training was life changing." Kiflu from Ethiopia

"am thinking differently. Changing the weak point to strong point, instead of saying my English language needs to be improved, now I can say speak two languages or my second language is... I think this is the right gate to enter to know the market of jobs and how things go in UK." Mohamed from Egypt

At the end of their support programme all of them achieved a measurable outcome - with 90% of those eligible to work in the UK finding employment.

From: Kiflu
Sent: 07 December 2010 23:02
To: Kerry Dedman
Subject: THe door is openinig

Hello kerry what you teached me starts to work . I start searching job intensively following your training .I distributed my CV were ever I see any vacancy and knocked every door of agencies with dedication from portsmouth to southampton .finally one agency in choshem gives me opportunity to sit for test and I passed that test then after they send me to the organization in Havent and I am working there starting from Monday . Presently I am working day shift 8 hours per day after tow weeks I will be transfered to night shift .The night shift has tow advantage for me .one pay is good the other is easy for transportation.

Many thanks for kerry because your training teaches me how can I sale my self.

Past contracts

LSC - 'Hardest to help'
Providing support across Hampshire and the IOW. This contract has been very successful and output into employment has been very good. This has allowed the continued Executive support across the County as this support has been given to people aged over 50.

Support in south Hampshire for redundant executives
Portsmouth City Council recently funded Open Door Training to deliver our well respected executive support programme. The feedback has been superb. The common consensus has been that those who took part are now more positive about their futures. As well as the support we also look at how the wider Open Door network of several hundred global members can be of use to the new 'recruits'. Contact has already been made.

Comments include
"A refreshing and enlightening view of selling oneself in the current difficult job market" PL
"Up beat positive approach, informative and relevant." NH
"Knowledgeable and professional trainers from Open Door" MD
"Solid content of the work materials" GF
"Well done for a job perfectly delivered" CC

Motivational pre employment support for lone parents in West London
Open Door Training ran two very successful Discovery event courses in Hammersmith and Hounslow. These were done on behalf of A4e Ltd. These three day training courses are innovative and exciting and provide the valuable support necessary to get people on benefits back into the workplace. The clients in London were all lone parents.

Clients taking part in the motivational pre employment support programme in West London.

Dear Kerry
I would like to thank both you and David at Open Door Training for the guidance and support you have given me which, undoubtedly, was key in enabling me to be successful in finding employment.
As a single parent that had been unemployed for a very long time I found the Discovery event you ran invaluable in giving me the confidence and motivation I'd been lacking. I found your professional, positive, common-sense approach very inspirational.
Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the additional advice and support you have given me since the event, not least the time you took in helping me fill in a job application. The interview I attended as a result was my first in many years and I truly believe it was a result of the help you have given me that I was successful in gaining the position.
I am due to start work in the New Year and I couldn't have done it without you.
Kind regards,
Jane Harrold

Open Door was providing support for lone parents wishing to return to employment operating in Portsmouth and the iow.

Open Door was also providing support for people of executive/managerial level. This work was very successful with clients taking advantage of the Open Door network of contacts. Clients had the support both from Kerry and her team of highly qualified management consultants who were here to help.

Open Door Training was very successful with the New Beginnings Post Employment Support [JCP/ESF] contract. This contract was for the South East. Open Door Training was responsible for Hampshire and the IOW. The contract was so successful that ODT not only reached its agreed target number but surpassed it! The contract allowed Open Door Training to provide crucial one to one support to clients who returned to employment after having been on health benefits . Some comments from past clients can be read on our Success Stories Section.

Open Door Training was providing pre-employment support for a Programme Centre in the heart of Portsmouth. When Open Door finished working with clients, they managed to get 80% of them either into employment, second interview stage or on accredited training courses that enhanced their job prospects. Comments from satisfied clients are on the Successes section.

Sussex Downs College
Provided help with Essential Skills support and mentoring for clients attending 'Train to Gain' and 'On your Marks' LSC/ESF programmes.