Community Recruitment Event March 2026

They are back! In collaboration with the Department of Work and Pensions and the NHS, Wigan Council are excited to announce that our Community Recruitment Events are coming to a venue near you!

It takes a broad variety of skills to make a difference to the people of Wigan Borough. With exciting roles in health, care, leisure, the community and more, we hope we have something for everyone. Come and find out about our opportunities, whether that be paid or voluntary, in a relaxed and friendly environment. There will also be services on hand to assist with digital support and adult learning options.

There will be presentations running in the morning at 11:30 and afternoon at 4pm to find out more about free adult learning courses and technical support. Our Tech Mate volunteers will be available throughout the event offering digital support and can help you apply for jobs!

There will also be hourly workshops from the National Career Service on Effective Interview Skills as well as CV support, cover letters, job searches and more!

The events will be held at:

The Edge Wigan, Riveredge, Wigan WN3 5AB
Wednesday 11th March 2026

10:30 13:00 and 15:00 18:00

Quiet hour session 9:30 10:30
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Leigh Sports Stadium, Sale Way, Leigh WN7 4JY
Thursday 19th March 2026

10:30 13:00 and 15:00 18:00

Quiet hour session 9:30 10:30

The quiet sessions are designed to provide a calm environment for individuals who may find traditional recruitment events overwhelming. Whether you are neurodivergent or simply prefer a quieter setting, this session offers a space to engage comfortably.

To book on to the Quiet Hour, please complete this short form Quiet Hour at Community Recruitment Events | Instructions Wigan Council.

Please note, the numbers will be limited to those who have booked to ensure a quiet setting

For the other times in the day - Booking not required, just drop in!

If you want to have a look at the venues in advance, here are two short videos from The Edge and Leigh Sports Village showing the layout:

Wigan Community Recruitment Event

Leigh Sports Village Community Recruitment Event

We are pleased to announce our NHS partners will also be attending the events, here is an example of some of the roles we will be showcasing around Health and Care:

Wrightington, Wigan & Leigh - Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values ‘the WWL Way’. WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

Take a look below at some of the tables that will be at the events, and keep checking back as more are added!

Calisen - Calisen is a significant employer in Wigan, particularly known for its role in the smart energy sector. They aim to support the UK's transition to net zero by delivering smarter, greener energy solutions.

Calisen has made a major investment in Wigan by relocating around 300 staff to Mill One at the Cotton Works, a redeveloped heritage site. This move:

Reinforces their long-term commitment to the Wigan area

Includes a £1 million+ investment in sustainable office design

Positions them as the anchor tenant in a flagship regeneration project

Calisen promotes a culture based on:

Teamwork and collaboration

Safety and wellbeing

Integrity and fairness

Inclusivity and respect

Continuous improvement and sustainability

They also run the Calisen Smarter Energy Academy, offering in-house training to maintain high technical and safety standards.

Customer Support Want to make a difference to residents across Wigan Borough? Our incredible teams are the first point of contact for thousands of customers every year. Our Customer Support teams need compassionate, confident and solutionfocused people to help provide highquality advice, support and guidance. Whether you’re assisting with council services, empowering residents to use digital tools, helping people maximise income or offering facetoface support, every conversation makes a real difference. If you are positive, adaptable and passionate about helping people, we’d love to hear from you.

Techmates - TechMates is a digital mentor service run by our volunteers and council staff. The TechMates project gives volunteers the chance to be part of a cutting-edge digital project and receive bespoke training and support. The program enables volunteers to add something extraordinary and invaluable to their CV, learn new digital skills and take part in exciting learning opportunities. The program also offers the opportunity to help some of the most vulnerable members of our community to get online and feel part of the modern world. Volunteers will experience the reward that comes from inspiring people to realise their digital potential, skills and celebrate ‘light bulb’ moments with the people they support.

Children’s Residential Support Worker roles - Want to make a difference to Children and Young People in Wigan? Hear from our amazing staff working in Children’s Residential Homes across the borough. Across the Wigan borough we have 5 residential homes that need amazing people, who are kind, positive, accountable and courageous, to help us to provide love, care and safety for our children.

Shared Lives Shared Lives are currently looking for Shared Lives Carers for local people who need support due to age, disability or illness. Adults who need support are carefully matched with Shared Lives Carers with shared interests, or simply someone they get along well with.

Care to join us Support Worker roles - We're looking for enthusiastic, caring and friendly individuals to join our care teams. You’ll either work directly for the council or for our trusted partners who provide care services. You’ll be part of buzzy, busy teams caring for and supporting people to live their happiest life possible.

As part of Care to Join us, they will be joined by local providers:

Local Kitchen, Transport and Road Safety (LTRS) Service - Are you passionate about supporting your local community? Wigan Councils Local Kitchen, Transport and Road Safety (LTRS) Service is recruiting for a variety of rewarding roles that help people of all ages feel safe, supported, and well cared for. Join Local Kitchen to prepare and serve nutritious meals to pupils across the borough, or become a Home to School Passenger Assistant, ensuring children travel to and from school safely and positively. Support adults with additional needs as a Driver or Passenger Assistant in Adult Social Care Transport, helping them access vital services with dignity and comfort. Or play a key role in road safety as part of our School Crossing Patrol, guiding children and families safely across roads each day. Whether you're experienced or just starting out, there’s a place for you to make a real impact.

The Early Learning and Childcare Team will attend all these exciting Recruitment Events, they will be sharing: -

All the local Nursery and Childcare vacancies across the borough.

How you could become a Nursery Worker, work in a Pre School, work in a Before and After School Club, be a Play Work Assistant or even a Nursery Manager.

Outline the Career Pathway you could take and where this could lead you detailing all the training, Apprenticeships and qualifications you could enrol in.

How you can develop your career in this area of work (maybe you already have childcare qualifications).

The details of our Step into Childcare/Safari Days taster sessions in nurseries, how you can experience first-hand what it’s really like to be working in those settings and how fun and rewarding it can be.

How to become a Childminder and work in your home, looking after children so much more than babysitting!

PLUS

Our experts will also be on hand to answer all your questions about the new and existing Childcare and Nursery Entitlements, to make sure you are getting what you are entitled to.

Employment Pathways & Apprenticeships - The Employment Pathways & Apprenticeship team work closely with teams and services across the Council to develop and co-ordinate a range of programmes that identify and support our future workforce. There are lots of different programmes and apprenticeship opportunities being delivered across the Council and we can support you to find the right opportunity, depending on your needs.

Whether work experience, college placements, student internships or looking for an apprenticeship opportunity, come and have a chat about how to get involved.

WorkWell Workwell offers support to individuals who are facing health-related work barriers. Whether you’re currently employed, recently unemployed, or self-employed, we can help you:

Connect with community resources: Access a network of support services within the Wigan Borough community.

Address health challenges: Get support to overcome health barriers that may be affecting your employment.

Access personalised support: Work closely with an experienced work and health coach.

Improve your overall wellbeing: Enhance your mental and physical health while pursing your employment goals.

WorkWell is open to individuals living in Wigan Borough, or registered with a local GP, who are:

Employed or self-employed, and experiencing mental health challenges or musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions that may affect their ability to do their job.

Employed or self-employed, and at risk of unemployment due to poor health.

Recently unemployed, and whose unemployment was significantly impacted by health issues.

Living with neurodiverse conditions and facing challenges in work.

Invest in Wigan Team - Do you have an idea for a great business, or have you recently started trading?

Then come and talk to Wigan Councils’ Invest in Wigan Team. Our Business Growth and Investment Officers are perfectly placed to support your business aspirations become a reality, providing pre and post business support, guidance and advice.

With our network of contacts within the Council and within external partner organisations (including The Business Growth Company, Inventya and Build a Business), we can make some quick connections and put you in touch with the right people.

Aspiring Futures is the employment and skills service for young people aged 16-19 (up to 25 for those with an EHCP) in Wigan borough. Support is offered to those who are not in employment, education or training, including:

• Careers advice and guidance
• Support with applications to college, study programmes, apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships
• Job searching, job applications, CVs and interview preparation
• Help with referrals to specialist services, agencies and training

Adult Learning and Skills

Wigan Council’s Adult Learning and Skills team offers a range of accessible, high-quality courses for residents aged 19 and over. Whether individuals are looking to gain new skills, return to education, or take the next step in their career, the courses are designed to support personal growth, improve job prospects, and build stronger communities.

In addition to the general course offer:

• Maths
• English
• IT Skills/Digital Skills
• Health and Social Care
• Beauty/Nails
• Teaching Assistant/Childcare

The team also offer introductory and non-qualification sessions in community venues and offer additional support for residents:

• In Work Progression

Are you in low-paid, low-skilled, or insecure work and looking to progress? If you're over 18, employed or self-employed, and living or working in Greater Manchester, our free In Work Progression service can help!

We offer personalised 1:1 support to help you gain new skills, increase your hours, or move into a better job. From CV help and job applications to training advice and career planning, we’re here to support your next step.

• ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

Do you speak English as a second language? The ESOL Advice Service will be attending all the Recruitment Events, so come and visit our stand!

• Do you need to improve your English before you can find a job?
• Is it difficult for you to speak English with your colleagues at work?
• Is your level of English stopping you get a better job?

The ESOL Coordinator for Wigan Council will be available to schedule you in for an ESOL assessment, and give advice on how to improve your English, and find an ESOL course to suit your needs.

• Alleviating Barriers

If you would like free, impartial advice and support to find free adult learning courses, training for a new job or volunteering opportunities then you can speak to our team. They can help you to find information on improving your skills and find courses and sessions suitable for you.

We will also have tables with vacancies, employers include:

NJ Cleaning

• 8 Vacancies (may have more by the time of the event)
• 4 x Cleaning Operatives, 1 x AM Multi Site Cleaner, 2 x PM Multi Site Cleaner & 1 x Split Shift Multi Site Cleaner.
• Interested in both times & both sites.
• Key Requirements: Driving License, Own Transport & Able to obtain an EDBS (NJ Cleaning will support with this).

The Army

• RLC Chef An RLC (Royal Logistic Corps) Chef in the British Army plans, prepares, and serves meals for soldiers in diverse environments, from barracks to field kitchens, controlling food hygiene and rations, and also supports major events, gaining qualifications and potentially deploying worldwide, all while being crucial for morale and operational readiness, often adapting to challenging conditions and bizarre ingredients to feed troops effectively. Chef - Reserve
• AGC (SPS) Administrative Clerk An AGC (SPS) Administrative Clerk in the British Army, part of the Adjutant General's Corps Staff and Personnel Support, provides essential personnel, pay, and admin support for soldiers, managing records on systems like JPA, handling pay/allowances, assisting with training admin, and coordinating personnel movements for regular and Army Reserve units, essentially managing the 'people' side of the Army's functions.
• Crewman (Recce Soldier) Crewman (Recce Soldier) (Reconnaissance) Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) gathers vital intelligence on enemy positions and terrain ahead of friendly forces, often operating from fast, light armoured vehicles like the Jackal using stealth, speed, and specialized equipment to scout, identify threats, and relay info for tactical decisions, sometimes dismounting to fight on foot as well.
• RAMC Medic RAMC medic (Royal Army Medical Corps) provides frontline emergency care, treats injuries, maintains soldier health, manages medical supplies, and offers routine care in hospitals, acting as a vital part of the British Army Medical Service by deploying globally for operations, training, and disaster relief, from immediate first aid to specialist support.
• A Reserve Officer in the Queen's Own Yeomanry (QOY) commands soldiers in a light cavalry reconnaissance regiment, balancing their military career with their civilian life.

As a reserve officer with the QOY, key responsibilities include:

• Command and Leadership: You will lead a troop or squadron of soldiers, managing their welfare, conduct, and discipline. This involves planning and delivering training and ensuring the effective administration of all personnel under your command.
• Reconnaissance and Intelligence Gathering: The QOY's primary role is light armoured reconnaissance. This means operating ahead of other friendly forces to gather intelligence on the enemy and the environment, using high-tech equipment, thermal imaging, and digital communication systems.

Hella Event

Hella Event will have 10-12 vacancies for the role of Security Officer. The candidate must hold a current SIA license. They will be working events across the UK. They provide transport to and from their place of work along with accommodation, this maybe in the form of hotels or camping, equipment provided if required. No experience necessary as training will be provided.

Plus...

Wigan Athletic - Wigan (AM Only)

JJH Building Contractors

Care Love Learn

Age UK (AM only)

Allied Infrastucture (AM only)

Plus volunteering opportunities tables...

For more information contact The Resourcing Team at: jobadverts@wigan.gov.uk