How does it make any sense to make savings by closing down Furness Enterprise?
I read in the Westmorland Gazette that after 21 years of successful operation in helping thousands of people to find work in this area by assisting small businesses to set up in this area . . . .
At a time when we are all struggling to get to find jobs, the very organisation that we need to help small businesses stand up on their feet . . . . .
One that has worked so well in the past . . . . .
The Furness Enterprise is to . . . .
Be helped to work even harder?
No it is to . . . . . close.
No wonder Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said: “This is bad news for the many local businesses Furness Enterprise supports, and is a terrible sign of the way the out-of-touch Conservative-led government is turning its back on areas like this.”
There's an e-petition to sign if you wish
Dave Whitehead, in the comments below, points us to an alternative view on the action being taken above.
It would be good to get people's views on the performance of Furness Enterprise. This is where a good councillor who is familiar with this organisation and we could trust could advise us. Alternatively some good investigative journalism by a local reporter. - I'm all for emplying one.
What do you think?
Showing posts with label employment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label employment. Show all posts
Friday, 20 January 2012
Friday, 18 June 2010
A tribute to Phil Hopwood
who died of cancer at the very beginning of this year.
He was a friend that I greatly valued.
People's personality lives after them when they die and I am very aware of his potential approval at something I've just done.
Phil greatly valued well designed equipment often made at the turn of the century. He regularly obtained and returned to their efficient working condition tools and simple machines that others were throwing out.
Poking around a skip the other day I spotted a simple tree pruner, eight foot long and enabling me to cut branches thirteen feet above ground with out a ladder.
It was totally rusted and seized up.
No longer; it's been back in action minutes after the recovery process was instigated - well sixty of them actually.
Phil would have approved . Tree pruning here I come!
I'm convinced that as the world's resources become used up and sophisticated mechanical equippment becomes unaffordable we'll be reverting to well design and made tools from the 18th century. Hang on to your treddle sowing machine that is moderately easy to repair and doesn't require electricity.
I'd love to promote employment for young people to renovate clapped out machines and furniture. It happens plenty in India and other countries. Let's look forward to it happening here in Ulverston soon!
We can start with bikes; perhaps not that old but fifty years old will be a start!
He was a friend that I greatly valued.
People's personality lives after them when they die and I am very aware of his potential approval at something I've just done.
Phil greatly valued well designed equipment often made at the turn of the century. He regularly obtained and returned to their efficient working condition tools and simple machines that others were throwing out.
Poking around a skip the other day I spotted a simple tree pruner, eight foot long and enabling me to cut branches thirteen feet above ground with out a ladder.
It was totally rusted and seized up.
No longer; it's been back in action minutes after the recovery process was instigated - well sixty of them actually.
Phil would have approved . Tree pruning here I come!
I'm convinced that as the world's resources become used up and sophisticated mechanical equippment becomes unaffordable we'll be reverting to well design and made tools from the 18th century. Hang on to your treddle sowing machine that is moderately easy to repair and doesn't require electricity.
I'd love to promote employment for young people to renovate clapped out machines and furniture. It happens plenty in India and other countries. Let's look forward to it happening here in Ulverston soon!
We can start with bikes; perhaps not that old but fifty years old will be a start!
Sunday, 24 May 2009
Using foreign labour
Cartmel Grange Nursing HomeWhat are the working conditions in places like this?
I've come across some people, living in Ulverston, that work there.
Is the management totally above board?
61 places at £600 / wk is quite an income.
"Working permits and transport organised from the Far East in exchange for employment?" I ask myself.
Nice place for BNP members to send their parents?
This is another place I'll be poking my nose in, if elected!
Monday, 23 March 2009
GEN II - South Ulverston
I discovered this Furness Skills Centre as I went door-to-door in South Ulverston.
"What's down there" I said to myself. The area used to be The Elms - operated by Glaxo also for training! (I was taught how to speed read but never got the hang of this)
I got myself given a conducted tour to workshops giving training in electrics - both wiring and circuit electronics (there's a job there - designing personalised control circuits - play a recorded "Shut up" whenever the dog barks; turn the sprinklers on, play rule Britannia, and dig a hole to New Zealand whenever it rains)
Then they have a milling machine and two lathes but they don't reckon that there's a future up here becoming a toolmaker. I would disagree - these guys are the most sought after skilled craftsman in the UK and could help a small business set up with an injection molding business, manufacturing useless plastic gadgets that we could export to China.
Finally a welding and sheet metal shop. I was disappointed to hear that Gas welding was being dropped because this is the stuff of the small business with flexible tools.
Their good news was that they plan to relocate within two years to somewhere else in Ulverston where they hope to have bigger premises including high tech CAD and CAM. The former is the modern day equivalent to the drawing board, leading to skills that would suit somone working from home for a company in Tasmania. The latter makes many things by just being supplied with a computer drawing : trouble is that the computer is only as good as its programmer - for complex jobs a skilled toolmaker would be far more reliable.
So Councillors, make sure this training facility stays in Ulverston and if you live here get in there if you can.
Please add comments to put me straight on all this if you are knowledgeable.
"What's down there" I said to myself. The area used to be The Elms - operated by Glaxo also for training! (I was taught how to speed read but never got the hang of this)
I got myself given a conducted tour to workshops giving training in electrics - both wiring and circuit electronics (there's a job there - designing personalised control circuits - play a recorded "Shut up" whenever the dog barks; turn the sprinklers on, play rule Britannia, and dig a hole to New Zealand whenever it rains)
Then they have a milling machine and two lathes but they don't reckon that there's a future up here becoming a toolmaker. I would disagree - these guys are the most sought after skilled craftsman in the UK and could help a small business set up with an injection molding business, manufacturing useless plastic gadgets that we could export to China.
Finally a welding and sheet metal shop. I was disappointed to hear that Gas welding was being dropped because this is the stuff of the small business with flexible tools.
Their good news was that they plan to relocate within two years to somewhere else in Ulverston where they hope to have bigger premises including high tech CAD and CAM. The former is the modern day equivalent to the drawing board, leading to skills that would suit somone working from home for a company in Tasmania. The latter makes many things by just being supplied with a computer drawing : trouble is that the computer is only as good as its programmer - for complex jobs a skilled toolmaker would be far more reliable.
So Councillors, make sure this training facility stays in Ulverston and if you live here get in there if you can.
Please add comments to put me straight on all this if you are knowledgeable.
Saturday, 14 March 2009
Workers beware!
As businesses become increasingly more stretched, we can expect that some will take advantage of their employees.
This was happening, I heard, at the Swan, Newby Bridge, a while ago. Pressure was put on staff to work shifts they didn't want to.
At the Barrow Aldi store, I'm hearing a report of what sounds like dodgy work practices.
A young friend of mine was threatened because the bus he travelled up to Ambleside was arriving late causing him problems - the alternative was to set off an hour earlier.
An Asian well trained nurse has been given 24hrs notice by a care home with the excuse that she was using the phone for private calls.
This agro between employers and their staff is self defeating in the long term. Basically it's on the same level as Bankers who make off with millions - Greed.
People are important - both the bosses and the staff need to help each other out through difficult times. Straight talking is fine but lets treat each other with respect.
Workers will be frightened of losing their jobs if they complain.
Bullying could be going on behind closed doors.
We will rely on whistle blowers more and more.
Here would be a place that you could raise your concerns!
This was happening, I heard, at the Swan, Newby Bridge, a while ago. Pressure was put on staff to work shifts they didn't want to.
At the Barrow Aldi store, I'm hearing a report of what sounds like dodgy work practices.
A young friend of mine was threatened because the bus he travelled up to Ambleside was arriving late causing him problems - the alternative was to set off an hour earlier.
An Asian well trained nurse has been given 24hrs notice by a care home with the excuse that she was using the phone for private calls.
This agro between employers and their staff is self defeating in the long term. Basically it's on the same level as Bankers who make off with millions - Greed.
People are important - both the bosses and the staff need to help each other out through difficult times. Straight talking is fine but lets treat each other with respect.
Workers will be frightened of losing their jobs if they complain.
Bullying could be going on behind closed doors.
We will rely on whistle blowers more and more.
Here would be a place that you could raise your concerns!
Monday, 9 March 2009
Work for young people
As the credit crunch begins to bite, more and more people will be fighting for opportunities to work.
We have a dilemma.
Some older people will need to supplement pensions, but more seriously from a social viewpoint:
Young people will need work.
Older people have developed the confidence in themselves from their life of work.
Young people have not.
We need to use every opportunity to create work for these people who have been led to believe that their education will lead to satisfying work.
We need to adjust our thinking to include at least part-time work with good human contact that will be an encouragement and source of self confidence for young people.
If we don't we have a source of destructive energy that will overwhelm us. Alternatively some will turn to drugs with even greater problems.
Older people, we need to come up with ideas to work with this age group and benefit from their enthusiasm for life. Maybe some kind of voluntary work for old and young working together as a stop gap ?
Those of us with business experience could perhaps encourage and work alongside young people to gain the confidence to work part-time for themselves or with others.
Any ideas?
We have a dilemma.
Some older people will need to supplement pensions, but more seriously from a social viewpoint:
Young people will need work.
Older people have developed the confidence in themselves from their life of work.
Young people have not.
We need to use every opportunity to create work for these people who have been led to believe that their education will lead to satisfying work.
We need to adjust our thinking to include at least part-time work with good human contact that will be an encouragement and source of self confidence for young people.
If we don't we have a source of destructive energy that will overwhelm us. Alternatively some will turn to drugs with even greater problems.
Older people, we need to come up with ideas to work with this age group and benefit from their enthusiasm for life. Maybe some kind of voluntary work for old and young working together as a stop gap ?
Those of us with business experience could perhaps encourage and work alongside young people to gain the confidence to work part-time for themselves or with others.
Any ideas?
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Tourism disappointment
The news that the North East is getting a big influx of tourists is a Wake-up Call to Ulverston.
They are benefiting from overseas visitors thanks to the weak pound and a steady effort in promoting their area over the last five years.
By contrast our Town Council and Jayne Kendall have really let us down with a poor web site from a tourism point of view.
Thanks to Jayne we have great events here but we are sadly lacking in the skill to promote them over the Internet.
The Town Council's web site was a great disappointment from a tourism point of view, though good at informing us about the workings of the council itself.
GoUlverston, though an excellent service for local people, informing about businesses in the town, is not primarily aimed at promoting Ulverston abroad.The Town is really missing out and the empty shops reflect this.
The sad state of our streets does little to help, with the local Councillors not standing up to the County to get better service.
Ralph Spours, chairman of the Ulverston Traders Association, is out of touch, making a statement just a week ago that:
“Ulverston has become a thriving little town with the small shops and businesses."
He leads a divided group of shopkeepers.
The town is sadly showing signs of dying on its feet.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)