Metal Carousel, perspective for the long-term unemployed, Delfzijl

"Just do it and do it right"

Every year, people who are at a distance from the labor market gain experience at metal companies and, if successful, receive a certificate for successful participation in the Metal Carousel. After the course they have a welding diploma and a good basis for a job in the metal industry. This work experience project was set up 6 years ago on the initiative of Jur Lommerts (director of Jansen & Heuning) together with Henk Slik (director of PMF Mechanical) and Reinier Brongers to interest the long-term unemployed in a position in metal technology.

In recent years, 56 people have successfully completed the project, a quarter of whom have moved to BBL training in metal work. Research at the Work service of the municipality of Groningen shows that at least 30 participants have not received benefits since their participation in the project.

Henk Slik, PMF Mechanical: "The formula for success" UWV Werkplein, the municipality of Groningen and the surrounding municipalities nominate candidates. The municipality of Groningen conduct the first selection interviews. When selecting, no conditions are set for (pre) education, training, age or gender, the candidate's will to learn a profession and to work in it is especially important. The Carrousel consists of a five-week welding course (Migmag2) at the MSO, the Metal and Shipbuilding Training Foundation, after which the participants do an internship in four different companies every four weeks. Last year the internships took place at Stork, Ferro Fix and Muelink and Grol in Groningen, Mark Climate Technology in Veendam, VB Trailerbouw in Bedum, GS Yard in Waterhuizen and PMF Mechanical in Delfzijl.

Henk Slik, director of PMF Mechanical in Delfzijl, is a board member of the Stichting Carrousel Noord that organizes the Carrousel. “The Carousel is in our humble opinion an apparently simple successful formula. Of course every trajectory has dropouts: the switch and sometimes also the match to the technology, as well as the will of the candidate and the requriements of the role do not always match. But there are mainly real successes. For example, 4 people now work at PMF who have followed this process. And something very special: one of our previous candidates was nominated this year for the Noorderpoort Annual Prize as the best student. We are very proud of that. ”

Hats off to the participants, companies and project team. Henk Slik welcomed the people involved in the Carousel. “Hats off to the candidates, who have all achieved their welding diploma. And of course many thanks to the 17 companies that offered an internship in recent years and made time and people available for the guidance. Special thanks for the project team: Leidy Fennema, account manager of the municipality of Groningen, Lilian de Man, job coach at the municipality, and Bert Brals, project manager. And of course thanks for the municipalities, Economic Affairs and the internship companies that make this financially possible. A great example of teamwork: just doing something and doing well. ”

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Metal Carousel, perspective for the long-term unemployed, Delfzijl

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