Fleur Sexton, managing director of PET-Xi Training, with Martin Reeves, chief executive of Coventry City Council
Martin Reeves has been on a fact-finding visit to PET-Xi Training and met adults at its headquarters at the Westwood Business Park taking part in the Microsoft Office Specialist programme which teaches and accredits highly-employable IT skills in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
The business has also recently secured a £210,000 contract from the West Midlands Combined Authority via the Government’s Department for Work and Pensions to run the Employment Support Pilot Scheme.
Staff will be holding job advice sessions and providing specialist support in Camp Hill, Nuneaton, to help low-paid workers achieve the skills needed to gain more highly-qualified, better-paid jobs.
Martin said their work to help young people and adults improve their skills and job prospects was “inspirational”.
He said: “I have followed PET-Xi Training’s progress for many years and with the work they have secured to help long-term jobseekers and disadvantaged people along with their on-going courses to support those Not in Education, Employment or Training, this is an incredible time for the business.
“The intensive training courses that they run for young people and adults to get back into work or training are inspirational.
“I wanted to meet some of the staff who deliver the courses and training because I think there needs to be more of this high-quality input.
“It is fantastic having a national exemplar organisation like this here in our city.
“Some of the adults I met are gaining key skills such as IT and interviewing and when you talk to them, it is obvious they appreciate the fact staff are investing in them and by investing in themselves, they are improving their employability.
“It is inspiring because people don’t always have access to education and employability courses which can sometimes be taken for granted and I could see how hard everyone was working to pass the course.
“PET-Xi Training is a business where staff are full of confidence and enthusiasm to change peoples’ lives but it is hard work and it was lovely to see some of those that are benefiting.”
Fleur Sexton, managing director of PET-Xi Training, said staff and those taking part in their courses had appreciated Martin taking the time to visit and talk to them about their futures.
“Education helps people within communities throughout Coventry and we want to equip people with the skills to help them realise their potential and to be successful. This is a fabulous time for Coventry and it is our priority to make sure that every part of our community benefits,” she said.
“This can sometimes involve overcoming barriers and the courses that we hold for adults, those in sixth form or revising for their GCSEs are focused on improving their skills or grades to follow their chosen career or training path.
“It is great Martin has such positive approach to skills and his power of having an optimistic approach to life is infectious.”
