The council’s free job, training, and recruitment service is seeking staff for a wide range of roles as local businesses create new positions amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Roles currently available through Croydon Works include supermarket retail jobs, health and social care assistants, security officers, driver and warehouse workers and construction jobs.
The service recently successfully placed a father and son into two newly-created roles at Waitrose Dotcom Fulfilment Centre in Coulsdon.
Last month, John Hersey and his son Callum completed Croydon Works’ and Jobs4All UK’s four-day warehouse employability pathways course, which taught participants about health and safety and how to be successful in the workplace.
But when the job offers they secured on completion of the course were rescinded due to coronavirus – which caused the company to cut their workforce – Croydon Works immediately put them forward for the Waitrose positions.
Callum, 19, said: “A week after I finished the course I received a call from Croydon Works, who told me about the warehouse operative roles available at the Waitrose fulfilment centre. A few days after I completed the application I was starting in the warehouse.”
Callum and John are now both working full time with Waitrose, picking customer orders ready for delivery, in roles created due to the unprecedented increase in demand for home delivery.
John, 52, added: “I’m working five nights a week with Waitrose and it is superb! Everyone is so helpful and happy to be there, it’s smashing and I can’t fault them at all. Croydon Works is an excellent service and I’d recommend them to anyone who’s out of work.”
“We know it’s a very challenging time for many who may have just lost their jobs, but this is a great example of how Croydon Works can support residents and quickly place them into new roles in spite of this difficult period. I’d encourage anyone looking for work or training opportunities to contact Croydon Works to see how they can help.
“There is also lots of information on our website on employment and training support that is available to anyone experiencing hardship or difficulties, and the site is regularly being updated.”
Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed, cabinet member for economy and jobs
For more information on job opportunities with Croydon Works see croydonworks.co.uk.
