Page 9

Welsh Recruitment Meets, Mark Loosemore - continued..

Welsh Recruitment: How important do you think it is to retrain to keep up with current technology and expertise?

Mark Loosemore: It is vital. Pitman Training is releasing new courses all the time to keep pace with technological and other business changes. Recent new courses include Office 2007 and Dreamweaver 8, and demand continues to grow.

Welsh Recruitment: What advice would you give someone returning to work?

Mark Loosemore: Don’t be shy! There are loads of excellent job opportunities in Wales for good people, particularly in the services sectors. You may need to be prepared to update your skills or re-train, but the rewards are there for those that do. In addition, employers are increasingly prepared to offer people flexible work arrangements that make it easier to maintain a work-life balance.

Welsh Recruitment: What advice would you give an older person thinking about retraining?

Mark Loosemore: Seek professional advice about what type of role you should re-train for. Our Centre supervisors are happy to help and we also have regular job club meetings. For most people, the two key factors are: what type of role would give you the most satisfaction, and what types of role are employers looking to fill? Once you have decided, have the confidence to go for it.

Welsh Recruitment: What training have you personally received and how useful did you find it?

Mark Loosemore: I had to attend a training course at Pitman Training head office before we were allowed to open the Cardiff centre. It gave me an insight into the many areas of the business and has proved invaluable. I also regularly attend leadership and management skills courses, and have picked up various tips. I need to do a keyboard skills course, and I hope to fit this in at Pitman Training soon!

Welsh Recruitment: How important do you think it is for jobseekers to add extra skills to their CV in order to stand out in the application process?

Mark Loosemore: Very important. Jobseekers have to put themselves in an employer’s shoes for every application they make. Never just churn out an application. An employer considers a range of key factors including how relevant are the candidate’s skills and experience for the role on offer. Don’t be deterred from adding extra skills through training on grounds of cost. There may be grant funding available for you, and our Centre Supervisors are always happy to advise.

Welsh Recruitment: So what does the future hold for the training industry and Pitman Training?

Mark Loosemore: It is an exciting growth period in the training industry, particularly in Wales. Gordon Brown has said he will be focussed on adult skills training at UK government level and the Welsh Assembly certainly seems committed to it. It is vital if we are to ensure that UK businesses compete and prosper in a fiercely competitive world. Pitman Training is a market-leading training provider and a widely-recognised brand, and I am sure we will continue to make available top quality training courses to our students, so we are very optimistic about the future for Pitman Training in Wales.

Welsh Recruitment: What do you think of Welsh Recruitment?

Mark Loosemore: Its impact has been terrific in a short period. It’s well produced and a good read! On the recruitment side, it has been a terrific means by which to marry up employers and recruitment agencies with jobseekers. On the training front, it is a rare source of decent editorial and information about training providers and their courses, and about the importance of training in order to find the right job.

For more information please contact:

www.pitman-training.com