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Give people a chance to help themselves
Page 20
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I WRITE REGARDING the article headlined 'In the dole-drums' (CM 13 November).
As a former HGV driver myself, and with substantial experience of both temporary and agency work,I can sympathise and empathise with Scott McMenemy and his plight in trying to find long-term employment in the haulage industry.
However.Imust take issue with some of his comments. He says that reading the two stories "Off the dole: into the cab" (CM 23 October) and "First NETT HGV driver passes(CM 31 July) dismayed him and distressed him as he read about "A lbanian refugees. benefit scroungers and ex-offenders" being offered HGV training for free.
have read both articles thoroughly and can find no reference whatsoever to "benefit scroungers" or"ex-offenders" in either of them. 1 cannot speak for NortecTraining but feel sure that neither of those terms is relevant to its trainees.just as they are not to those at NETT Our training has put refugees into employment as drivers: is it not better that they are earning a living, paying their way and contributing to our economy? The Home Secretary thinks so and has commended us for our work with people who are willing and able to work, but need the appropriate level of training to help them achieve their goal of self-reliance.
NETT training programmes are available only because of European funding aimed at restructuring the economy of South Yorkshire.Years of industrial decline are being reversed by a strategic approach to developing new skills in our communities: and that.quite rightly, includes our black and ethnic minorities.
As Mr McMenemy points out: "This is an industry that is suffering severe shortages of drivers". Mr McMenemy is a perfect example of the quandary the industry finds itself in at the moment. Here we have a man with desire, ambition and experience wanting to progress his career -something that he deserves great credit for -and yet he cannot find the opening or opportunity with which to realise his ambitions.At the same time, we have an industry crying out for people just like him, which is a situation that simply beggars belief.
In South Yorkshire we have people willing to reduce the current shortfall and with NETT training they are beginning to do that. Our training is aimed at the long-term unemployed but they are not "benefit scroungers"; they come to us desperately seeking the skills and experience they need to become self-reliant; just like Mr McMenemy and, like him, all they ask for in life is for a chance to prove they can stand on their own two feet and get on the road to a successful career.
Hakim Wals Director NETT Sheffield