More than 60 Sutton jobseekers have been presented an award after passing an extensive new training course designed to prepare them for healthcare careers.

The course is provided free of charge by Sutton-based recruitment and staff development company Synergy Personnel Solutions to those on Jobseekers Allowance. Upon completion, students receive a Level 1 Award in Introduction to Health, Social Care and Children’s and Young people’s Settings.

Richard Clifton, Councillor for Sutton South, along with guest speaker Paul Cawthorne, Director of Sutton Chamber of Commerce, presented awards to the first 60 graduates earlier this month at the Ivory Lounge, Sutton.

Cawthorne said the Chamber was honoured to be a part of the ceremony and that it was encouraging to see initiatives helping the unemployed in Surrey.

“It was an excellent event and it was a delight to see so many people receiving awards for their effort and dedication over the past year.

“It’s fantastic to see Synergy Personnel are offering free training for those that are looking to get into work, especially within the Health and Social Care sector.”

Synergy Personnel has accepted more than 150 applications to its intensive courses since their introduction, and hopes the celebratory event will give the students a well-earned sense of achievement.

Edward Drescher, Training Manager for Synergy Personnel Solutions, said: “We wanted to give the students some recognition for all their hard work and give them some encouragement to pursue their future endeavours.

“People who are employed are more likely to be able to afford new courses, but those that are unemployed may not. They can get stuck in a hole and not be able to get out of it very easily, so our aim is to give them this opportunity and incentive to develop and gain a recognised qualification.

“We really wanted to raise awareness of the course to let people who are on Jobseekers Allowance know that there are options available out there for free which can boost their skills and widen their career opportunities.”

The programme also supports students after they have passed the course by helping them find work placements, temporary work through its agency, or permanent positions in residential and nursing homes.

Work placements are mainly carried out around Sutton, Croydon, Woking, Reigate, London, Basingstoke and Hampshire, with courses being held in Sutton, Kennington and Southall.

Courses are taught by Registered General Nurses qualified in teaching and assessing, and aim to give the unemployed a chance to learn about a new sector in which they may not have any experience.

Synergy Personnel is hoping to run the same course starting in September, with the possibility of offering an introductory course in retail.

Based on information supplied by Kelly Alford.