Action plan to support talent.

Byline: KAREN McLAUCHLAN

TALENTED individuals hit by the recession are being encouraged to take advantage of a service set up to counter the effects of the downturn.

Regional development agency One North East has initially approved funding of pounds 1.4m to develop Talent Challenge, a project to keep talented individuals in the region.

It is focusing on those in priority or growth sectors, such as the process industry or manufacturing, who are redundant or face the possibility of redundancy or short-time working.

Talent Challenge is being carried out on behalf of the Skills and Employment Response Group (SERG), which comprises One North East, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Jobcentre Plus and Government Office for the North East and is part of the region's Real Help for Business and People campaign.

It gives funding for a bespoke support service as well as help with bursaries, higher skills training and placements with the region's universities and colleges.

Newcastle company Northern Recruitment Group (NRG) - which also has a base in Middlesbrough - is delivering the Talent Challenge pilot service, providing an assessment and personal development planning service for those at risk to help them identify their skills and experience and work with them to develop and implement action plans.

During the pilot phase, NRG aims to make detailed assessments and tailored personal development plans for up to 300 targeted individuals by the end of October 2010. It plans to be highly proactive in identifying individuals who could benefit from support and work with them at the risk stage before they are redundant.

NRG managing director Therese Liddle said: "We work closely with individuals to identify competencies and capabilities before developing an action plan with an ultimate aim of finding another job opportunity in the region if facing redundancy - or retaining a job if on short-time working."

Plans are already under way on the next phase of the service, to run until March 2012. Those interested can contact the NRG dedicated project team on 0845 481 0469 or send an email enquiry to [e-mail]