Meet Lee Thompson - Office Assistant at the Eco Innovation Centre

Lee Thompson was unemployed for over 6 months before successfully gaining the opportunity to be an Office Assistant at the Eco Innovation Centre. He started on the 19 March 2010.

The Eco Innovation Centre (EIC) is a business incubation, meeting and networking centre for businesses and organisations operating in the environment sector.

The EIC is an innovative facility for Peterborough which aims to stimulate business growth and environmental enterprise and is one of the latest in a network of innovation centres in the East of England. The EIC is a specialist centre to support the fast-growing Environmental Industries sector. This includes organisations working in cleantech, renewable energy and energy management, pollution control, water and waste management, sustainable construction and materials, sustainable transport and logistics, environmental consultancy and other environmental services.

“Before I started this role I was really nervous but also excited at being able to get back into work. I was very hopeful that I could gain the valuable experience needed to progress further in my chosen career path”

“Since I have been here I have enjoyed meeting and greeting the clients and tenants at the EIC, as I have been able to meet so many great people on a daily basis.”

“I have really enjoyed working with everyone here at EIC as they are all such fun and enjoyable people to be able to work with and have made me feel very welcome and like apart of their team.”

“Everyone involved in the Future Jobs Fund team have been great and have often helped me out with many issues along the way, with a special thanks to my Employee Manger Lucy Wilsher who has been a great help on many occasions.”

The Mayors Charity Event

Upcoming Events

Peterborough Women’s Enterprise Centre Workshop (ladies only)

You are invited to a fun and interactive, creative thinking workshop, exploring the benefits and overcoming the barriers to self employment.

You can find out how to use your transferable skills, strengths and experiences to generate business ideas or build on an existing idea.

DATE: September 8th 2010
TIME: 12.00 – 13.30
VENUE: Peterborough Women’s Enterprise Centre, 7 Bridge Street.

Please let me know if you would like to attend this workshop!

Why sit around waiting for someone else to give you a chance, come along and see if you could give yourself a job!




Mentoring and Jobs Searching Week

The Future Jobs Fund is hosting a WEEK LONG mentoring and job searching week dedicated to you at our FJF shop on Long Causeway in the City Centre.

We will have mentors at our shop who will be able to help and advise you on your future plans, or if you require any specific help with anything within their specialised area.

The week is also intended to help you with your job searching. We will have a wide variety of job vacancies for you to browse through and you can speak to the mentors present or to your Employee Manager for advice on proceeding with the application process.

DATE: September 20th – 24th, 2010
TIME: Drop in between 10am – 4pm
VENUE: Future Jobs Fund shop, Long Causeway.

All welcome!


Please contact Insiya.salam@peterborough.gov.uk for more details.

Peterborough Women’s Enterprise Centre supports young women in search of employment

Take a look at the Peterborough Women's Enterprise Centre's website for a news story on how they are supporting the Future Jobs Fund.

The article speaks of how Future Jobs Fund employees Chloe Harris, Charmaine Colley and Angie Di Cello have been working at the Centre over the past few months and the difference the employment has made to both the lives of the employers and the employees.

Click below to find out more:

http://www.pwec.org.uk/pwec-news/peterborough-women%e2%80%99s-enterprise-centre-supports-young-women-in-search-of-employment/

Bacar Si - Warm Homes Support Officer - PECT

I’d like to thank the FJF team , for the marvellous opportunity you guys gave me to work here at PECT. Working in a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere is very enjoyable. But the main thing was- Watching people loving what they do and being good at it- this has made me
realise that I needed to reach further and chase my dreams. At PECT I learnt the real meaning of “Loving you job”!
I’ve made life-time friends and in only a few months, I’ve learnt way more than I’ve learnt in 2 years of previous employment. I’m glad that the FJF exists and I can tell by my own experience that it’s a success.

I wish you all the best luck in helping other young people like me finding their path.

Meet Michelle Broadbent - Recycling Project Officer at the PCC

Michelle Broadbent is a Recycling Project Officer at the PCC has recently spent some time with the Catering team at City Services. Over the last few weeks she has been completing general administrative duties. To allow Michelle to get a real flavour for the Catering department they decided to assign her to a four day “Tudor Days” event at Peterborough Cathedral. This event is an educational trip that school children attend.

Here is Michelle’s account of the event; the week was from 5th – 9th July, I assisted the catering team at a Tudor event held at the Cathedral. To be able to do this I had to complete the ‘Basic Food Hygiene Certificate’ which lasts 3 years.

All the days generally went like this:

8am: I got picked up from the office by Lorraine and went to the school kitchen at Dogsthorpe Primary. We counted the food needed and boxed it up; we also counted and cooked the pasties ready to box up. I then washed all the boxes and the baking trays after the pasties had been cooked. Once all the food was cooked and packed we loaded it into the van ready to take to the Cathedral.

11am: I got changed into my wench outfit which consisted of a long black skirt, plain white top with a corset style top on top with poufy sleeves and a mop cap.

11.15am: We left to go to the cathedral and set up the food ready for the children to serve.

12-1.30pm: We filled up the Tudor jugs with juice and half filled all the goblets that are on the table. We then filled up plastic jugs and place them under the table ready for refills. We put bread rolls into baskets for the children to serve to the other children and the abbot. Once the children have got places the Abbot enters the room followed by a procession of lord and ladies (some of the children and dressed as lords and ladies, some as servers and the rest are in normal Tudor dress) After the bread rolls had been served we put the pasties into the baskets ready for the next course, then they had ginger biscuits and an apple each to finish.

1.30pm-2pm: Someone is pulled up for having an English Bible and/or teaching from an English Bible. They are then taken round the corner and “spanked” for punishment, the children look stunned when they hear the screams (its all pretend and to entertain the children of course). Next a play is performed showing the story of St. George; a few of the teachers from the schools take part and some of the children too. Then when we were finished we put the boxes back onto the van ready for the next day.

The whole week was very enjoyable and different. It was good to experience in a kitchen environment and from the catering side of the PCC. On the Friday, when the meal finished, me and Lorraine were called up to see the Abbot, we both thought we were going to be told off for having English Bibles. I was very much surprised and grateful when we were given a beautiful bouquet of flowers each with a butterfly in. I wouldn’t say no to doing this again.

Grainne Kiely - Support Worker at Axiom Housing

Grainne Kiely was unemployed for Six Months before gaining the opportunity as a Support worker at Axiom Housing. She started on13th April 2010.

“Before I started I was so happy that I was going to be able to start work again. To get a chance like this means a lot to me as it will give me the opportunity to gain many new experiences and skills in a job role that I would very much like to do in the future.”

“I help maintain the day-to-day running of the project at Fair View Court and I also ensure the provision of a supportive and structured environment which both encourages and enables residents to live as independently as possible helping them to build confidence and develop as responsible adults. I am also doing a club on a Tuesday evening where I sit with residents and go through different computer courses and help to teach them how to use them.”

“Whilst I have been at Fair View Court I have done a basic maths course and am hoping to do an ITQ qualification in the near future. I am also hoping to do a first aid and health and safety in the workplace course. But I have particularly enjoyed doing the training on safeguarding vulnerable adults.”

“I would like to thank everyone at Axiom for giving me this opportunity and helping me better my skills and qualifications. You have all been so great.”

“The Future Jobs Fund scheme is a great opportunity to get more experience within you desired job role. They can also offer many great courses throughout your time and are always willing to help.”