EMMA's dreams of becoming a childcare worker lay in tatters not long ago.

The 17-year-old left school without qualifications. Due to her father's and grandmother's recent deaths and her prolonged stays in hospital, she had missed a lot of time off school.

But when Lifetime Careers stepped into the breach, Emma Hall, from Great Lever, managed to achieve her greatest ambition and became a nursery assistant.

She now works at Cherished Children, a nursery in Chadwick Street, Bolton, where the manager is Linda Tuppen.

Linda said the nursery became so busy that she decided to employ Emma on a permanent basis when she was there on work experience.

Asthma

Four days a week Emma puts into practice what she learns about during her one day at college, studying for an NVQ level two in childcare.

"She's smashing", said Linda, whose two-and-a half year old son, James, "loves Emma".

"Children like her. She gets on with the staff and fitted into the environment."

Emma, who has had to cope with asthma, jaundice and anaemia, and whose mother also suffers from ill health, is pleased with her post.

"I've been through a lot," she admits, "but I've always wanted to do this this job. I love it here."

Lifetime Careers, the Rathbone Community Industry charity and Bolton and Bury Chamber have all been very helpful in supporting her, said Emma.

Gail Airey, senior careers adviser with Lifetime Careers, said Emma was on the Directions scheme, operated by Rathbone CI and supported by Bolton and Bury Chamber. It aims to help young people who lack confidence who could benefit from "job sampling". Time to make the right move? LOOKING for a job as an HGV driver?

Then look no further than the Millennium Jobs Challenge.

This week the search is on for a man or woman who holds a clean, current HGV2 licence for household removal work.

The candidate is expected to have removal experience.

The work will mainly be locally, but could involve some overnight stays for which nightout expenses will be paid.

The hours are from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with overtime available.

The company is Moving Group, based at Brownlow Business Centre, Darley Street, Bolton.

If you are interested in this vacancy, phone 0845 6060234, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm and Saturday morning from 9am to 1pm.

Please don't phone the employer directly. David sold on music firm job A COMPANY owner's desperate search for the perfect sales recruit has been brought to a successful end, thanks to the Millennium Jobs Challenge.

Only last month Mike Bowling was looking to fill a vacancy at his company, Giraffe Products, in Horwich.

Now, thanks to the BEN's new initiative, he has been matched up with David Slater, a 56-year-old from Pendle Court in Bolton.

The firm, on Fowler Industrial Estate, Chorley New Road, are said to be only one of two companies in the country which makes musical instrument stands and accessories.

Giraffe Products supplies more than 200 different product lines, including stands for most instruments from keyboards to guitars, drum and piano stools, and a full range of disco equipment.

If YOU are an employer looking to fill a vacancy, please phone the Millennium Jobs Challenge line on 01204 516301. Lorraine's not packing up Lorraine Harris: Found a new job in three weeks WITH a grown-up family, three weeks at home on the dole was long enough for 49-year-old Lorraine Harris.

As soon as she finished her job as a packer of baby clothes, she set out to find a new job.

Once again, she found work as a packer, of all kinds of clothes and shoes, at Barnvale Processing Ltd at Clyde Mill, Stewart Street. Lorraine, from Peabody Street, Bolton, is enjoying her new job - which could be made permanent.

Office manager Andrea Peatfield said the company is a "halfway house" between clothing manufacturers and retail outlets.

It's a long-established firm, she said, with 20 employees.

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