Bath and North East Somerset residents who want to get back to work or change career can now get tailored advice on training and upskilling from a new employment and skills pod.

The service is part of the Community Wellbeing Hub and aims to support people who have been made redundant due to Covid-19, or those who are short or long term unemployed, to seek and attain work.

The Employment and Skills Pod has been set up by Bath & North East Somerset Council and its partners to help people identify the type of job they could do, refer them to training opportunities and gain work experience via an initial two-week placement.

The programme helps give jobseekers the structure, direction and practical tools they need to progress towards securing new employment.

The pod is open on Mondays and Wednesdays when advisors are available to provide one-to-one assessments. These hours will be extending later in the year. The advisors can be reached via the main Community Wellbeing Hub number, 0300 247 0050, or for more information visit www.achieveinbathnes.co.uk/employment-and-skills-pod

The panel of advisors are from the council's partners including Clean Slate, Future Bright, Bath College Adult Community Learning, West of England Works, DHI, Youth Connect and Citizens Advice BANES.

Councillor Richard Samuel, cabinet member for Resources and deputy Leader, said: "Unemployment can have long-term impacts on people and their families, with young people particularly vulnerable due to their lack of experience in work. It's important that we support residents wanting to get back into work by helping them to strengthen and extend their existing skills. The Employment and Skills Pod provides residents with targeted help."

Find out more about the job and training course support available in B&NES at www.achieveinbathnes.co.uk/