Mother-of-two had given up hope of clinching another job

Danielle Granger, who has landed a job at the Thomas Drummond, after undertaking an employment course run in Fleetwood.

The 29 year old Fleetwood woman had been unemployed for over two years and her confidence was rock bottom.

But it’s all very different now for Danielle, who has been taken on in the catering section of the port’s Thomas Drummond pub, part the popular JD Wetherspoon chain.

Mum-of-two Danielle, of Macbeth Road, found work at the London Street pub after taking up a free employability course run by Wyre and Fylde Children’s Centres.

L- R Team leader Wyre & Fylde Tracey McNamara, Fleetwood Job Centre Work Coach Chris Wright, Danielle Granger and Wetherspoons kitchen manager Adam Cooper.

She said: “I had always worked in catering – cafes, fish and chip shops – but about two years ago I found that I was getting turned down for work.

“Even living on the Fylde coast and being in catering, it’s surprising how hard it can be. Everyone wants that kind of work and getting in there is not easy. After two years without a job my confidence was at rock bottom.

“So I asked about volunteering posts at the JobCentre and they told me about this 12 week course.

“After just eight weeks I got this job. It gave me the confidence to go into the job interview and nail it before I’d even finished the course – and they sorted out my CV too.”

Tracey McNamara, Team Leader for Wyre and Fylde Children’s Centres, leads and coordinates the new employability course, which she set up from scratch.

Tracey, who has run similar employability schemes in the past, said: “Danielle is the first person to find work from the course and landed her job in eight weeks.

“The idea is to work along with other agencies to develop confidence-building skills and to practice skills in online jobseeking and dealing with application forms, and actual interviews.

“Applying for a job is very different these days and most job applications are done online and can be daunting, but once you know how to approach them and fill the forms in, it opens up a lot of opportunities for job seekers.

“This employability scheme personally tailors future career and also volunteering options to the person involved, which makes it more effective.”

The scheme is run in partnership with Lancashire County Council, Ur Potential, JobCentre Plus, Lancashire Adult Learning, Blackpool and The Fylde College and Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Volunteers Centre.

Adam Cooper, the kitchen manager at the Thomas Drummond, said: “Danielle was very confidence at interview and that played a part in her getting the job.

“Since she came here she has been really hard-working and picks things up quickly.”