A LOCAL employment charity is providing skills training to help people into work at the prestigious kitchenware and homeware retailer, Lakeland.

Through its partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), charity Inspira has teamed up with Lakeland to provide a sector-based work academy programme (SWAP) of training to young people and those out of work in the area.

Lakeland, well-known for being experts in products for cooking, baking, cleaning and other innovative items for around the home, was founded over 50 years ago in the heart of the Lake District. From humble beginnings, this family-owned business is now a multinational, as well as multichannel, business with 65 stores nationwide across the UK.

The training programme, held over two days, is designed to support candidates to develop their employability skills and give them the confidence to perform well in job interviews. Focus will be placed on CV writing, filling in application forms and interview skills, as well as exploring the competencies and qualities required by Lakeland.

The course will culminate with job interviews with representatives from Lakeland, which is looking to recruit for jobs in its Kendal distribution centre to fill warehouse and customer service roles.

Julia Winder, Inspira Area Operations Manager, said: “It’s great to be supporting employers such as Lakeland to meet their recruitment needs and to help our clients get into work.”

Shane Byrne, the DWP Partnership Manager at Kendal Jobcentre, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Lakeland and Inspira through the DWP SWAP.

“This is a great way for employers to fill vacancies with skilled-up jobseekers.

“By working with Inspira, job seekers will be given pre-employment training and work experience, ending with a guaranteed interview with Lakeland. An important feature of SWAP is that the academy offers a flexible approach, and can be adapted to meet the needs of businesses.”

Lakeland and Inspira have worked together since 2017 to help local people into job roles.

Claire Fielding, Lakeland’s People Business Partner, said: “It is great to work with Inspira and the DWP in supporting local people into employment, and we are pleased to have had such a great working relationship for so many years.

“As a local business, it is hugely important to us that we create local employment opportunities, and with the assistance of the training provided by Inspira, it is good to be able to help people develop their interview and employability skills, which will hopefully result in successful employment.”

The training programme will be held at the South Lakes Foyer in Kendal on October 10 and 12. An enrollment event for the training courses will take place at Kendal Jobcentre on October 6.

For further information on any of Inspira’s employment support programmes in Kendal contact Inspira on 01229 824052, inspira.org.uk.