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The End or a New Opportunity - You Choose
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"A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success" - Bo Bennet 1972 - American Author
Although unemployment in the UK is at a 12 year high with more layoffs and redundancies in the pipeline, the recession will eventually end as confidence returns to the financial markets.
It probably doesn't feel like it now, but for some individuals this recession could really be a blessing in disguise.
If you have been made redundant or are under threat of redundancy, on a shutdown or reduced hours, there are steps you can choose to take that will help improve your future employment prospects.
Whether being made redundant is an unwelcome experience for you, or it presents new freedom and opportunity, you'll want to look closely at your options. With the current climate in particular, redundancy poses a particular challenge and it's important to play your cards right.
Each person's needs at this point are individual. Perhaps you've never really enjoyed your job and are now considering a complete change to something you would find enjoyable and fulfilling. It could be that you've had a great career so far, but now feel you want to change your direction. Or perhaps your industry is saturated and you're at a loss as to what to do next.
With seven million adults having maths skills below those of an average 11 year old, and 5.2 million adults who would still fail GCSE English, the chances are your qualifications are either out of date, or in need of improvement.
Once the recession ends, employers will be looking to recruit once again. They will be looking for those people with good qualifications and those who have taken the time to improve their skills.
For jobseekers there is a government funded training programme available to help improve maths, English and IT skills.
For employers, funding is available under Train to Gain that will provide staff training and is available to people in work looking to improve their skills, including those on shutdown or reduced hours but still employed.
Qualifications are also available to employees, and include Skills for Life training to improve their maths and English skills, an ITQ programme leading to the Level 2 Certificate, and a Team Leading programme.
Improving your maths, English and IT skills is useful if you are thinking about setting up your own business.
In fact, this may be the right time to set up a new venture, as many successful businesses have been launched on the back of a recession. There is growing evidence that it is happening again, as budding entrepreneurs grasp the opportunity and use their redundancy payoffs to set up new and innovative business ventures.
For example, specialist consultancy Franchise Development Services (FDS) says that over 2000 people have registered for further franchising information on its websites since the end of November 2008. Professor Roy Seaman founder and chairman of FDS said:
" .... a recession is actually the ideal time to set up your own business, especially a franchise one...it's a reassuring fact that very few franchisors go out of business."
Don't sit at home or at work wondering what to do next. Even if you do not want to start your own business, improving your skills is a positive step towards achieving your goals.
Solomon Training Ltd, based in Percy Street in Rodbourne, Swindon, is a private accredited training provider and we deliver learning programmes to the local community and staff training programmes to various business sectors in the SW & SE.
We can equip you with the necessary qualifications that can help you change your life.
Redundancy need not be the end - you choose.
Call us now on: 01793 610710 for more information.
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