Job Ready Programme launches

Wigan Warriors College is working in partnership with Wigan Council to get local people into local jobs.

The Level 2 Gym Instructor Programme provides the skills, training and qualification for locals to meet the workforce requirements within Wigan Council and their various leisure facilities.

Course places are funded by the Club’s strategic education partner, Wigan and Leigh College, and in March this year 20 residents within Greater Manchester were accepted onto the programme – studying on the Level Certificate in Gym Instruction.

The 12-week course features a mix of blended learning, with candidates able to complete course work from home using the Competence Online Learning Application. There are also practical workshops and additional learning sessions based at Robin Park Arena – making full use of the fantastic education facilities and the Wigan Warriors High Performance Gym.

Whilst on the course, Wigan Council provides candidates with the opportunity to undertake a work placement within their BeWell leisure facilities, giving them the chance to put into practice what they study on the course. The Council also provide a guarantee to all candidates of a job interview upon successful completion of the programme.

One of the learners, Jenny Fisher, spoke of her experience on the Programme: “The gym facilities were second to none. It was great to have that opportunity to come to a place like Robin Park and to be able to do this course on the equipment that they’ve got. I’ve got such a passion for sport, so I found the course really interesting.”

Another course participant, Leanne Gaskell, said: “From start to finish it was absolutely amazing. The support that we had from the tutors and Wigan Warriors was amazing.”

Mike Ward, Adult Learning Coordinator at Wigan Warriors, said: “We tailor the course to be Job Ready so as well as completing the course we look at all the aspects that you’ll need in the working environment, working at different levels and making it inclusive for everyone and fun as we go.”

Councillor Chris Ready, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Neighbourhoods at Wigan Council, said: “This is a fabulous partnership giving local people the expertise, knowledge and training to get back into the workplace. I’d like to say a big well done to all our graduates and I’m sure they will go on to do fantastic things with their new skills.”

James Winterbottom, Director of Digital, Leisure and Wellbeing at Wigan Council, added: “Everyone has enjoyed the course, and everyone got along really well. There was a lot of intense work for 12 weeks. People have done really well to stick with it, packed a lot of information in and are now leaving with a qualification, a lot of experience and knowledge which will stand them in good stead for the future.”

After this successful first programme, more opportunities have been created with the commencement of Job Ready Programme 2 which started in July.

If you are a Greater Manchester resident and are interested in getting involved in the next Job Ready Course, you can get in touch and register your interest by contacting education@wiganwarriors.com.

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