A SUCCESSFUL CRF bid by Humber charity CatZero enables the organisation to offer support for individuals looking to work in entry level jobs in Grimsby, and businesses seeking employees for those roles.
The UK Community Renewal Fund (UKCRF) is a Government programme aiming to help communities across the country by supporting innovative new approaches to local business, employment and upskilling. UKCRF is the precursor to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which will replace the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
CatZero is one of a handful of Humber organisations to be successful with a bid for funds to support business and potential employees in the community. The charity was already bolstering plans to help people looking for work into entry level jobs, and the UKCRF funding has enabled staff to hit the ground running in early 2022.
CatZero programme manager Pete Tighe commented: “CatZero is now in the unique position of supporting families and individuals across the Humber region, and the UKCRF funding is very welcome as it enables us to further support people in need of our help locally.
“We have been in touch with several Humber businesses in the past months, each struggling to employee enough staff in entry level jobs. We will be supporting businesses by helping to fill these roles with interested participants from CatZero, who will also receive our help as they move into employment.
“There is no time limit on the support, either. We will work with participants in employment on any underlying issues, helping them to gain confidence and ‘hand-holding’ them throughout the initial weeks.”
It has been noted that staff working in higher level jobs often have the money and the incentive to move from region to region, therefore management level jobs are rarely difficult to fill. Recruiting for entry level jobs, on the other hand, can be notoriously hard.
Pete continued: “This pilot employability programme will enable CatZero to support local people and local business, which will in turn support the local economy.
“The opportunities for people are out there, we just have to support individuals and businesses to achieve their goals.”
To find out more about UKCRF, visit www.ukcrfnetwork.co.uk. If you are an individual or business needing assistance, contact Pete Tighe on 07773 895932. For more about CatZero, see www.catzero.org.