This page is produced by Andy Shallice – Area Co-ordinator for Burngreave Area Panel.
The Council has a long-standing commitment to encourage people from working-class neighbourhoods to apply for jobs – and especially from those who are less visible in the workforce (like disabled people and the black and minority ethnic communities). So how does this look for people in Burngreave?
One way of checking how successful local regeneration programmes might be is to see whether more local residents have moved into work.
This week (Wednesday 21st June 2006) there are 60 jobs advertised on the Council’s website (www.sheffield.gov.uk – click on jobs on top right). They range from trainee horticulturist; librarian; environmental health technician; cook; night care assistant; fitness co-ordinator; receptionist at Sheaf Training; architects – to drivers and passenger escorts. Council jobs are also advertised in The Star, other newspapers and their vacancy bulletin. Residents who don’t have access to theses resources can receive weekly, Council vacancy lists by post from the local jobs agency on Spital Hill.
Kevin Greaves lives in Burngreave and works as a driver for Transport Services; why does the work suit him?
“It gets me out of the house and I love driving. It entails starting at the yard at Staniforth Road at seven, Tinsley to Shiregreen to Burngreave to Broomhall to Sharrow and on to Silverdale; and then back in the afternoon. Picking up children who are physically disabled and then dropping them off after school. I love it; getting on with the kids – it’s very rewarding”.
Janet Cleary lives off Scott Road and has worked as a passenger escort for nearly three years.
“I used to be a dinner lady but I thought I could do much more for children with special needs than standing in a playground. The hours suit me much better. Every day’s different – you never get up thinking ‘Oh – work’; I really enjoy the time with the children and the driver, playing pretend games on the bus with the children, making them laugh. If you want to do this job, I think you have to enjoy children, and want to be able to help them. You need patience – so it’s not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea.”
Janet starts just before 8am and is dropped off in town by 9.30am. She leaves home again at about 2pm and returns at 4.30pm – “I get real satisfaction from this job.”
Drivers are paid £6.55p an hour for 20 hours – term time only. Escorts are paid £6.02p an hour for a minimum 10 hours per week. You’ll have to complete a medical, a driving assessment and a CRB check (working with children). If you apply now – via 203 7758 – you could be starting in September/October.
There are some good examples of local residents getting jobs with the Council and other major employers. Sheffield Homes have successfully employed local residents as new customer services staff. Transport & Commercial Services employs about 200 drivers and 200 escorts who transport children from home to school – like Kevin and Janet.
The Council is looking at how to promote itself as one of the major local employers and also the many benefits it offers – flexible working, a good pension scheme and a commitment to personal and professional development. One of the ways we’ll be doing this is with an exhibition vehicle at the Abbeyfield Festival – displaying current job vacancies and offering advice on the types of jobs that the Council has and how to apply for them. Another approach is through using the Council’s influence with construction companies; last year Construction JobMatch took on more people from Burngreave than any other neighbourhood.