FREE skills workshops aimed at providing a real boost to those seeking employment are being offered in West Devon this month.

They are being held in Tavistock and Okehampton and are being delivered by the Yelverton-based Works Skills Consortium, in partnership with Tavistock Children's Centre, Job Centre Plus and Devon County Council.

There are two three-hour workshops being held in each town.

One will concentrate on team skills and include the five core skills which employers look for — teamwork, problem solving, customer service, communication and self-management.

The other workshop will concentrate on self-employment and will include exercises on how to begin trading, how to make a success of a venture, and what is involved if you choose this option. Those who are interested can attend both workshops if they wish.

John Giblin, of the Work Skills Consortium, said: 'There are a significant number of people in West Devon who are finding it really, really tough to find work, partly because of the remoteness of the area and the lack of public transport and partly because of the competition for the limited jobs that are available.

'That is why we are delivering these workshops at the heart of communities close to where those who will benefit most live.

'We want to get the message out to the community to give our "action learning" approach to obtaining critical work skills a go, and see how they feel after attending.

'Our goal is to help light the blue touch paper for people, because doing nothing isn't an option when you want to better yourself.'

John said the workshops were being being staged thanks to a small grant from Devon County Council.

They were aimed at people aged 19 and over, although under 18-year-olds were welcome to apply for a place.

If the take-up was good and the workshops proved successful, funding may be obtained to run full ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management) programmes, leading to qualifications highly regarded by employers.

John said he hoped that unemployed people, or those in a job and currently looking for another job, would give the workshops a go, as a taster of further extended ILM courses and also to help them become more employable; or confident enough to start a business of their own.

He said: 'We believe everyone is capable of achieving success in these programmes, they just may not know it yet.'

The team skills workshops will take place in the Alexander Centre in Tavistock on November 27, between 12.30pm and 3.30pm, and in the Ockment Centre in Okehampton on November 28, between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.

The 'start your own enterprise' workshops will take place in the Alexander Centre on November 29 between 1pm and 4pm and in the Ockment Centre in Okehampton on November 30, between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.

If you are interested in either of these contact John on 01822 854882, 07944 860126 or register your interest by visiting http://www.workskillsconsortium.co.uk">www.workskillsconsortium.co.uk and click on the link for the free taster workshops.