Support for executives during the recession
Senior professionals whose jobs have been affected by the recession will be helped by Richmond Council and its partners in the new year, when a new round of seminars are taking place to give them advice.
The executive seminars will include advice from the Financial Services Authority, headhunters, business start-up consultants and careers advisors.
The January seminars follow the success of those held during September which were fully booked.
Cllr Geoff Acton, Richmond Council’s Business Champion said: “We know the recession is having an impact on every areas of society, but this downturn has affected senior professionals harder than anything we have seen before.
"Accountants, senior managers and lawyers who lose their jobs, or are put at risk, have the same concerns about mortgages and bills as anyone else who suddenly faces a huge cut in their income. The Council has a duty to help everyone and we know these seminars are useful, that was proved in September, so we want to make more help available again.
"This is just one part of our recession support. We are also trying to assist small businesses and we will be giving advice to people on dealing with rent arrears, fuel poverty and improving their employability. We have also won government funding to create jobs at the Council for out-of-work young people. Help is also here for people in less senior posts who are also facing redundancy."
The executive sessions will show participants how to analyse where they are now, where they want to be, and how to get there. People will be encouraged to consider their motivations and to think if what they have achieved to date could be transferred to other fields. There will be advice on writing CVs for those with considerable experience but who have not had to define it for the job market for many years, interview preparation and maximising networking skills.
Mary White, a people development executive from Kew, who attended the first seminars, said: “I went to the seminars not knowing what to expect but it was all very welcoming, and we had very high calibre speakers on everything from tax to headhunting.
"The blend of skills and knowledge at the seminars has provided a platform for everyone who attended, as well as a support network."
The seminars are free and are limited to 30 places on a first come, first served basis and will take place on 13, 20 and 27 January. Those taking part are expected to commit to attend all three of the daytime sessions. If demand exceeds supply, names will be added to a waiting list.
To find out more, email your name, address, phone number, profession and CV to business@richmond.gov.uk
The council’s updated webpages have a host of information on surviving redundancy and getting through the recession at www.richmond.gov.uk/credit_crunch_and_recession
