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The West Dorset Magazine, March 25, 2022
Just the job (recruitment)
AWARD-WINNING: The Poundburybased team at Whitehead Ross accept their Wessex FM Digital Marketing Award in 2019. From left, MD Ian Ross, engagement manager Jo Thomson, Dorset Council’s Fiona King and social worker Cath Scott
Education providers celebrate decade By Miranda Robertson newsdesk@westdorsetmag.co.uk
A Poundbury firm focusing on education and social welfare is celebrating their ten-year anniversary next month – and opening a new office in Weymouth. Whitehead-Ross Education and Consulting (WREC) was founded in 2012 to deliver a variety of high-quality skillsrelated programmes and social services provision. Programmes include support for unemployed people to retrain and secure jobs, vocational training programmes, adult education and social services provision. The firm opened its Poundbury office in 2018 to fulfil a contract with Dorset Council, promoting foster care to meet a huge need in the area. They went on to offer after school courses for parents across West Dorset, offering them a chance to get creative with their children and have since undertaken a number of different contracts in this area.
TEAMWORK: The whole team get together
Managing director Ian Ross started the business part time alongside his role as an economics teacher. They had 14 staff at the time – there are now 84 based in Wales, Swindon, Brighton, Newquay, Worcester and Dorset. Over the past four years, provision in Dorset has expanded to include traineeships for 16-24-yearolds, adult community learning with short courses in support work in schools, team leading, health & safety in construction (CSCS), employability courses as well as family and parenting support programmes and skills for young people within
schools. Details of all courses can be found at wrecltd.co.uk WREC is now opening a new centre in Weymouth, which will include a dedicated traineeship facility, meeting rooms, adult community learning room and administration office. Ian said: “One of the most exciting programmes we are offering this year is the Malaga programme funded through Erasmus and Turing funding. The programme offers people a two-week work experience with a Spanish school or hospitality setting with accommodation, food and travel all fully funded. This is open to
anyone aged over 18.” He added: “One of the reasons for our successful growth has been down to the benefits of networking and partnerships. “Top tip – partner up and don’t go it alone. So much more can be achieved when working collaboratively.” Anyone who would like to go and see the new centre and join the 10 year anniversary celebration is invited to an open day on Tuesday, April 19 from 2pm at Whitehead-Ross Education & Consulting, 52 St Mary St, Weymouth. Also, as part of the firm’s 10 year celebrations they will be raising funds for Dorset Mind with a range of fundraising activities.
