University set to launch new Job Club in Corby

A new job club for Corby is being launched in March by The University of Northampton – designed to increase confidence levels, get people back to work and boost the local economy.

This launch comes hot on the heels of a research project conducted by The University of Northampton's Business School, which examined the role of job clubs around the UK and assessed the value they offered communities.

Although several job clubs were being run by individual companies, the research identified a gap for a more rounded provision for Corby, so the University decided to pilot a mini job club at Corby library every Thursday - which helped people search for jobs, write CVs and covering letters, consider self employment and access coaching and one to one support.

This pilot club was a huge success and The University of Northampton is now preparing to launch an all new Job Club, which will be officially opened by the Mayor of Corby, Cllr Ann Brown, on 4 March. The club will run on alternate Fridays and be held at 38 Corporation in Corby town centre, running from 11am to 1pm.

Janice Watkins, Project Leader for Enterprise Coaching - a programme delivered by the University's Business School and funded by the European Regional Development Fund - explained:

"We are delighted to be offering this new club to the people of Corby. The coalition government is actively encouraging these job clubs, and our all-new Corby club is a wonderful example of people and organisations working together for the good of a community. So many people are offering their support and expertise and a big thank you to Land Securities, who run Corby town centre and have given us a unit free of charge to base our club in.

"Job clubs can be a life line, somewhere where people can go on a regular basis for a chat, information and support in a relaxed atmosphere where people are not judged but welcomed and wanted."

Run by volunteers from various organisations, the Job Club will include:

• Free access to a local Job Bulletin board and newspaper recruitment pages
• Internet access and use of computers (courtesy of Corby Library)
• Training and adult education options
• Advice on changing careers
• CV writing skills and interview technique advice
• Information on starting your own business, redundancy and tackling debt
• Benefits advice and enterprise coaching.