PDMS improves access to training and employment in Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire County Council has utilised PDMS’ SignedUp Skills platform to support their residents to access training and employment opportunities.   

Nottinghamshire Opportunities aims to be the go-to-place to explore local career opportunities and provides a platform for people to search for jobs, training courses, and apprenticeship opportunities. 

Funded by Nottinghamshire County Council in partnership with careers guidance service Futures, the portal will ultimately improve access to training and employment. 

Councillor Keith Girling, chairman of the county council’s Economic Development and Asset Management Committee, said the online portal would provide much-needed support for job seekers and employers:

“Our goal is to remove employability barriers and provide access to better and more rewarding jobs that allow individuals to progress in their careers and fulfil their potential. We have lived through some of the most challenging and difficult times in living memory because of the pandemic, which means the launch of a platform such as Nottinghamshire Opportunities is more important than ever as residents look to find employment or upskill. It will also be a very useful tool for employers in our county who are looking to recruit local talent to join their teams as they continue to recover from the impact of the various lockdowns in the past two years  

I’m really looking forward to seeing how Nottinghamshire Opportunities supports and links people to advice to help them build the right career path, whether they’re a student wanting an apprenticeship in a particular industry or have recently been made redundant and want to explore different job options – we’ll be here to support them every step of the way.” 

Nottingham Opportunities joins a host of other SignedUp Skills implementations around the country that are helping people access their local labour market. Head of SignedUp Skills Richard Graham said he was delighted to add Nottinghamshire to the list: 

“The SignedUp Skills platform gives Nottinghamshire one place to search for jobs, apprenticeships and courses and it displays the opportunities in the context of the local economy. I am excited to see the level of impact this intervention will have on local residents.” 

Futures CEO Paul Price-Hazlehurst said he was delighted his organisation was playing a ‘critical role’ in delivering a ‘fantastic’ initiative. He said: 

“Nottinghamshire Opportunities portal has everything you need to help build a career. Futures is delighted to part of this fantastic initiative by Nottinghamshire County Council. The landscape of careers, employment and skills provision is complex, but there’s lots of support out there for employers, young people, and jobseekers. Nottinghamshire Opportunities can really help overcome that complexity and we at Futures are delighted to be playing a critical role in the delivery of this new service.”  

The virtual hub also provides links to valuable resources such as a bespoke Skills Toolkit, which offers free digital courses to help individuals to progress in work and boost their job prospects, as well as support packs for people facing redundancy.  

You can find out more about our SignedUp Skills solution here.