Angus College

College Success Recognised with lead Euro Role.

Angus College is leading a 400k euro European Project designed to help potential workers learn the social or ”soft” skills required to be an effective employee. The project involves research, development of training materials into 6 languages and includes representatives from Germany, Sweden, Greece, Romania, Italy and the Netherlands who are working in education, the private training sector and labour market employees. The lead role is in recognition of the success of the College’s Skill Zone team, which helps local youngsters develop soft skills including building confidence and self esteem and effective time management which all contribute to sustainability in the workplace.

Project Manager, Mina Welsh says “to many, this sort of attitude to work might seem obvious, but to people unused to the workplace the kind of discipline required can be daunting and the project materials will offer support and guidance to make the most of these opportunities.”

Called the Network for Soft Skills Innovation for Employment or Nessie, the project will be targeting the unemployed and those who have recently returned to work. The aim is to improve their attitude and motivation and to help them gain the necessary skills to communicate effectively.

Part of the project is to develop an online training package which can be supported in the workplace with either a mentor or a trainer. Mina Welsh says “ we will be bringing employers from all across Europe into the discussion too, to ensure that we are responding to their needs and will adapt the training accordingly.”

The project will continue from now until September 2014 when it will conclude with a dissemination event in Brussels.