By Keighley & Ilkley MP Robbie Moore TUESDAY (June 1) marks the start of Volunteers’ Week, a week where the nation gets together to celebrate the wonder of volunteering which so many people up and down the UK do day in day out – out of the goodness of their hearts. This year’s celebrations will be more compelling than ever after we have seen a nation get together and volunteering numbers explode during the Covid pandemic. Since being elected as your MP I have had the pleasure of meeting many fantastic volunteer groups up and down the Keighley and Ilkley constituency, from the Aire Valley Against Incineration campaign group to Keighley Dementia Friendly which were both among my first official meetings as your MP.
BUSINESSES across Keighley are being urged to join a pioneering project which links industry with potential employees. Meet an Employer ‘webinars’ give firms the chance to outline their work to students and jobseekers and answer questions. Following the success of the ten held so far, more are planned. The webinars can be viewed by students from across Luminate Education Group – which includes Keighley College – as well as jobseekers in Harrogate and York. Behind the initiative is Harrogate College’s Holly Hansen-Maughan. Support is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions. “I started the webinars last September as a response to lockdown and there being less opportunities for people to engage,” said Holly.
It has been recognised for its role in boosting education and skills across Keighley and beyond. A glowing endorsement of its “great work” has been given by Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson. And tribute is paid locally to the Bradford Road campus by Keighley’s MP, Robbie Moore. He has spoken of the importance of plans to launch a ‘skills hub’ in the town – which would bring together businesses and education providers like the college to help deliver the talents needed in manufacturing, engineering and technology. Keighley College principal, Steve Kelly, said he was delighted that the college’s work was being recognised both locally and nationally.