NGT

Long-term jobless get a break at Banjo's.

Posted on Tuesday, 21 September 2010 | Permalink

FOUR long-term unemployed people - including one who was unemployed for 784 weeks - have found full-time employment with Banjo’s bakeries after completing a pre-employment training program.

The program, funded under the Federal Government’s Australian apprenticeships access program and offered by NGT Training, an O Group company, in partnership with Banjo’s and WorkPlus, ran over six weeks incorporating 190 hours of training and 10 work placement shifts.

Graduates of the NGT program have all the skills required to be considered for employment at Banjo’s and a partial qualification in certificate III in food processing (retail baking-combined).

Thirty-one-year-old Alan Hodgetts, unemployed for 784 weeks, successfully completed the course and is now working in the Shoreline Banjo’s franchise.
 
“The people I work with are great and I just love the work.” Alan said.

Shoreline Banjo’s franchisee Adam Peppiatt, who has employed three of the program’s graduates, said he could not be happier with his new employee.

According to NGT’s state manager Training Greg Faull, the company advertised the course via employment service providers and Centrelink and received 65 applicants.

Training covered introduction to retail, food safety, kitchen hand and baking operations and introduction to OH&S. They also received first aid and customer service training.

Banjo’s chief executive officer Jon Lister said he was pleased that Banjo’s was in a position to offer four permanent positions. “The joint approach to training and providing real work experience in partnership with NGT Training has obviously benefited the participants,” he said.

“And Banjo’s will also benefit as we now have a new group of potential employees who not only meet our requirements but can start work in any one of our bakeries today.

“It is an excellent outcome.”