http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/news/local-news/teamwork-gives-customer-service-skills-1-4418128

Sponsored byTeamwork gives customer service skills

Published on Monday 9 April 2012 01:00

THIRTEEN unemployed people are now back in work after Haggerston Castle joined forces with employability skills expert Northumberland College.

The group of learners, who had been unemployed for varying lengths of time, are now employed in a range of roles at the north Northumberland holiday park, including bar staff, restaurant workers, front-of-house representatives, grounds people and retail staff, after successfully completing the Level 1 Award in customer service.

The Ashington-based college, which is backing our Keep Northumberland Working campaign, delivered the customer service, job application and interview skills training over six days.

The course covered the principles of customer service, identifying different types of customer, the effects good and bad customer service can have on a company and evaluating customer service.

Lisa Mood, employability skills manager at the college, said: “I’m delighted that the college and Haggerston Castle have been able to work together and provide sustainable jobs for the people of Berwick and Alnwick, some of whom have been unemployed for a number of years.

“All of our vocational and employability courses are designed with the employers’ input to ensure that their ethos and expectations are embedded into the course content. This allows us to provide a bespoke training package that enhances the chances of unemployed people gaining sustainable jobs and provides the employer with a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce.”

The Employability Skills Tutors who delivered the course, said: “We had an amazing time delivering the customer service programme and seeing the learners develop and achieve. It was fantastic to see the range of people so happy and motivated to be back in employment.”

Northumberland College works in partnership with Job Centre Plus, welfare to work providers and employers.

For more information about courses available at Northumberland College, visit advice.centre

Paul ChampionStrategic Project Manager

Mobile: 07540 704920

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