Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) works alongside Jobcentre Plus to provide for the needs of those currently serving and who have previously served in the Armed Forces.
Cheshire West and Chester Work Zones
We have four Work Zones operating across the borough aimed at supporting adults back into work. We are keen to provide support to any ex-services personnel who are looking for a new job and can provide 1-to-1 employment mentoring, access to a wide and varied skills curriculum, help with your CV, job search and interview techniques.
We will help you identify all your strengths, skills and aspirations and ensure that any support needs you may have are addressed. Within your forces career, you will have developed many skills and talents that many civilian employers are keen to utilise and we also recognise that your particular experiences in the armed forces need understanding and acknowledgement as part of the whole support process. Our aim is to work with you through the whole journey to employment and beyond, if needed to ensure you get the right job for you and have the support needed to sustain it going forward.
We can also help you with other issues that may be preventing you getting that job such as:
- Benefits advice
- Childcare advice
- Debt advice
- Health support
Please let us know you are ex-armed forces when you register with us.
We have Work Zones in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich and Winsford.
The Work zone has really helped me to gain the confidence to regularly apply for jobs and at last, I am out there and working! Thank you for all your help.
Adam (length of time 3+ years, time spent with Work Zone – 3 months) Kitchen Porter
The Work Zone made me feel more confident. Having a discussion with the Employment Mentor around interview skills gave me an insight into what it would be like to have an interview as it was so long since I had had one. When I went to the real interview, I was not nervous and using the STAR theory to structure my answers really wowed them! It also helped discussing what I should wear at the interview as I didn’t really know what would be expected.
The support I received from Work Zone was outstanding!
KS (unemployed 2 years, time spent with Work Zone – 2 weeks) Administrative role
Job Centre Plus
The Department for Work and Pensions has employed an Armed Forces Champion in all Jobcentre Plus districts. These champions are responsible for ensuring the needs of the service community are reflected by the employment offered by Jobcentre Plus.
Jobcentre Plus for the Armed Forces focuses on:
- Service leavers.
- Serving personnel currently within their resettlement period.
- Spouses/civil partners of currently serving and ex-service personnel.
The main Jobcentre Plus office is:
Chantry House
City Road
Chester
United Kingdom
CH1 3AQ
With local offices in Northwich, Winsford, Ellesmere Port and Neston.
REME Engineering Apprentice Training
REME Engineering Apprentice Training (REAT) is aimed at Army Reservists who are young adults with no professional civilian qualifications, but a desire to pursue a vocational career in the motor industry, general engineering and in the REME Reserves.