EDGE signposts job seekers in and around Huntingdon to suitable roles and training, and works with local businesses to find applicants for their vacancies.
How does EDGE work?
EDGE has evolved from the Enterprise Zone (EZ) Skills Group, a partnership formed by a mix of local authorities and central government, education providers, businesses, and other local organisations.
The members include:
- Groundwork East
- Huntingdonshire Regional College
- Huntingdonshire District Council
- Urban&Civic plc
- Cambridgeshire County Council
- DWP Jobcentre plus
- Local Enterprise Partnership (Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough)
- Skills Funding Agency
What do the partners offer the local community?
Through EDGE, Groundwork and other partners work to:
- Support the recruitment needs of businesses, for both public sector and private sector providers – from Jobcentre Plus and local colleges through to specialist recruitment agencies.
- Groundwork offers 1:1 support for local jobseekers to access advice around employment and training through our information, advice and guidance (IAG) service, run from the EDGE shop in Huntingdon.
- Help local people into employment on their doorstep, Groundwork operates as a jobs broker for Urban&Civic’s contractors, working from the EDGE shop.
- Develop relevant training, including upskilling, work experience, local work placements and apprenticeship schemes, to support business recruitment and work with schools to prepare the next generation of the local workforce
- Groundwork runs a number of employability and training schemes to help people gain the skills they require to get into employment, including Green Team and Green Skills.
- Raise economic awareness of students and provide information on potential career opportunities in growth sectors (and the necessary qualifications/training required).
- Assist education providers to ensure young people leave school with basic ‘work-ready’ skills, so future employers have confidence in their ability to enter the workplace.
- Facilitate joint events, business seminars and careers fairs.