Training centre plan to help workers

An education and training centre helping people to find work could be built on a Kidderminster industrial estate, if plans are given the green light.

Beacon Employment, which is located on the Riverside Business Centre in Worcester Road, Stourport, wants to move to larger and more modern premises to meet the growing demand for its services. It employs 19 full-time and nine part-time workers and is looking to move on to more suitable premises in Frederick Road on the Hoo Farm Industrial Estate.

The charity specialises in training in literacy and numeracy, IT skills, writing CVs and job applications as well as interview practice and finding work experience and work placements.

There are also plans to run trade workshops such as brick-laying, plastering, plumbing, welding, carpentry and car maintenance from the proposed new education centre.

The firm has submitted plans to Wyre Forest District Council, which will be considered at a meeting tomorrow.

Planning officials have recommended delegated approval for a change of use for the premises in Frederick Road from light industrial to educational and training.

The plans include kitchen facilities and training rooms on the ground-floor as well as a small enclosed workshop and tool store.

There will be further training rooms on first-floor as well as offices.

They are backing the scheme because of the positive impact they believe the training facilities will have on the local economy.

Beacon Employment helps more than 500 people at its sites in Stourport, Bromsgrove, Malvern, Evesham, Dudley and Bridgnorth.

It was founded in 1992 and has been operating in Stourport since 1999.