EMPLOYMENT is a hot topic at the moment and Midlands-based Bright Assessing, which specialises in delivering online assessor, verifier and teacher training to the highest standards achievable, is doing more than most to help people of all ages back into work.

Last year alone Bright trained 1,800 people and of these, 97 per cent have started a new career in assessing, verifying or training – a job success rate well above the national average. Bright is sponsoring the Worcester News Jobs and Careers Fair at the Guildhall on Thursday, March 14, and representatives will be on hand to answer questions and give more detail about NVQ assessing or verifying, which can offer the opportunity to earn up to £50,000 (full-time earnings) per year. Krissy Charles-Jones, Bright chief executive, said: “About 22,000 new assessors and verifiers qualify each year and as the number of apprentices increases, the demand for assessors and verifiers inevitably increases too.

“In fact, many training providers and colleges are turning down NVQ candidates because there is a lack of suitably qualified NVQ assessors. “With a continued growth in Government-funded apprenticeships and vocational training, demand for assessors is expected to continue growing too. “Rising unemployment, the extension of school leaving age to 18 and increased university tuition fees will also help to drive demand in coming years.” One of Bright’s most successful programmes is Back to Work, a six-week programme which enables unemployed people to become qualified assessors and follow a career in assessing – because they receive 100 per cent funding for the programme. Almost 80 per cent of people who have completed the programme have since found a job and stopped claiming benefits, and plans to extend the scheme over the next 12 months are opening doors for jobseekers across the UK. Ms Charles-Jones said: “Bright differs from many of our competitors because we have invested time to develop partnerships with national recruitment companies and employers so that we can help our trainees to successfully find work in their new career once they have completed their qualifications. “For more details come along to the Jobs Fair or contact Bright Assessing on 0845 1162585.

Other exhibitors already confirmed include Advanced Childcare, Kidderminster College, British Army, E-Response Recruitment, Children’s Family Trust, St Basil’s, Association for Care Training, Sanctuary Housing, University of Worcester, Pathways Care, Happy Child Training, Inclusion Care, BUPA Care Services, Kanes Foods, Eclipse Home Care, Warwickshire College and Job Centre Plus. There is still time to secure your space at the event. To find out more about exhibiting at the fair, call Richard Hencher on 01905 742355. The fair will be open from 10am until 4pm. Admission is free. To view video footage from previous events, visit worcesternews.co.uk/jc.