Council training scheme fuels prospects for duo (From Wiltshire Times)

Council training scheme fuels prospects for duo

10:00pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News

A council-backed job training scheme has secured two west Wiltshire residents jobs at an energy advice company.

Project Achieve, run by the Severn Wye Energy Agency with Wiltshire Council, helps the long-term unemployed and students by training them to provide energy advice to the public.

Gary Hardman, from Melksham, and Jason Laws, from Southwick, have completed the training programme and are now employed by Severn Wye Energy Agency to offer free energy advice home visits in the Trowbridge and Melksham area.

Applicants were selected through Job Centre Plus in Trowbridge and training took place at Wiltshire College Trowbridge for 11 days in July. The new advisers can give advice on making savings on energy bills, with the aim of saving households an average of 10 per cent on annual fuel costs.

Fleur de Rhe Philipe cabinet member for economic development, said: “This has been a fabulous project to be involved with. Not only has it helped local people by giving them training and a job opportunity, the advice residents will receive from them will be extremely beneficial and hopefully save them some money and make them more environmentally aware.”

Gary Hardman who lives in Melksham, said: “I found the training really informative and I gained a lot of knowledge.

“I had never thought of working in this area but I am finding it really exciting and I have already found loads of ways to save in my own home. I am getting a lot of job satisfaction from being able to help people in this way.”

The home energy advice visits are aimed at people who have difficulty paying fuel bills in the Trowbridge and Melksham areas. To find out more or to book a visit with an adviser, call 0800 500 3076 or email achieve@swea.co.uk.