Queensgate Shopping Centre

Take a Step to free dance lessons in Peterborough As dancing takes the nation – and the TV schedules – by storm, shoppers in Peterborough are being given the chance to learn some new moves at a free dancing workshop. With Dancing on Ice back on our screens and new talent shows Got to Dance and So You Think You Can Dance? inspiring would-be waltzers and hopeful hip-hoppers to take to the dancefloor, The Big Skill – Take a Step roadshow is coming to the Queensgate shopping centre in the city to offer some timely advice. Professional dancers will take to the floor on Thursday 21 January 2010 to showcase the skills which have led them to the jobs they love. Shoppers will then have the chance to step out themselves to learn some simple dance moves. And it’s not just aspiring dancers who could benefit from learning a new skill: the message from The Big Skill is that it’s never too late to learn something new. Over a third (39%) of Cambridgeshire residents said when surveyed* that they would be prompted to learn a new skill to get a job, with 54% saying they would undertake training to earn more money. And the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has launched the Take a Step campaign to encourage people to take the step towards fulfilling their ambitions and dreams by learning a new skill. Representatives from the Careers Advice Service, nextstep and local training providers will be on hand at the events to talk to people about the skills they’d love to learn and advise them of the support and opportunities open to them. “The roadshows are designed to break down the barriers around learning new skills,” said Graham Brough, Area Director, LSC Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. “We want to remind people that learning can be fun and that there’s an enormous sense of achievement from learning something new. Whether you’re looking to find work, improve your career, change jobs or simply want a fresh challenge, learning new skills is a great way to take steps towards a new you in 2010.” The Take a Step campaign builds on the success of The Big Skill Awards which were held last year by the LSC in the East of England to recognise and reward people who had improved their lives, or the lives of others, through learning. The new campaign aims to direct those who were inspired by award winners’ stories to the help and support they need to return to learning themselves. *The online survey was conducted by YouGov