Boosting employability

A COLLECTION of unique businesses on one site is giving people the opportunity to retrain or gain work experience in a supportive and caring environment, writes REBECCA POOLE Pelican Trust, established in 1989, provides on-the-job training across its five commercial departments to teach people transferrable skills, such as health and safety, budgeting, stocktaking and administration work to increase employability.

“We have workshops within our building where people who are vulnerable, maybe with mental health issues or a learning difficulty, come to gain work experience. This gives them a grounding so that they can actually go out and find paid employment,” explained Stacey Gillott, Chief Executive Officer.

“If I go back in history, there used to be a therapeutical workshop at St John’s Hospital at Bracebridge Heath. When the hospital closed down, we needed to put something in the community so people could still have therapeutical work and a safe place to go to.”

The charity was formed under the name Lincoln Industrial Workshop Trust and its building on Crofton Road, Lincoln was acquired - it became Pelican Trust 19 years ago after a brand refresh to give the charity a warmer approach.

“We introduced the training and the education side about 18 years ago, so people could come here we could and give them skills so they could find employment.”

Pelican Trust is now a charity and social enterprise, but also a limited company as it trades with businesses throughout Lincolnshire and the UK.

People are supported through work experience, CV writing and job applications, with participation completely flexible to the learners.

Individuals are given the opportunity to plan their future and work towards nationally recognised qualifications through the services offered by The Trust, which include, commercial assembly, warehousing, joinery, printing, print finishing, print press and platemaking, engraving, business centre, administration Training, and job search.

“We’ve got a joinery department which is very popular. People can go in there and help manufacture things like benches, notice boards. We also make a lot of lab equipment, so they can help in there with trained supervisors,” said Stacey.

“It’s a fun place to be. We also have a couple of social events every year, so this year the learners have chosen to go to Skegness and go to the aquarium, we’ll all go out for lunch together, and just before Christmas we take everyone out for a three-course meal.”

The programme is for anybody who is long-term unemployed, those who live with a learning difficultly or physical disability, and those struggling with mental health.

Find out more at www.pelicantrust.org