Jobs and Training Economic Development Sainsbury's opened in August 2000 providing over 100 Castle Vale residents with employment. Castle Vale residents who underwent a joint HAT / Jaguar customised training program are now employed at Jaguar Cars. A third of the successful candidates were women. Baseline study research conducted in 1993/94 showed that unemployment on Castle Vale was above the city average. Equally, there were clear indications that educational attainment was low with 8% of residents going into further education compared to 55% elsewhere. In response, the HAT has from the start set out to create and preserve employment opportunities for residents and break the barriers between residents and employment. This has been achieved through a range of education and training programmes (including confidence building), as well as encouraging people to follow alternative pathways to new opportunities such as volunteering, the involvement in community initiatives, sport and the arts. Central to delivering these programmes has been the partnerships developed with employers, Castle Vale schools and other agencies to meet residents’ aspirational needs. Also, wherever possible, the HAT links training and employment opportunities that arise from the huge regeneration programme, eg. Construction training and Employment Programme.   Jobs and Training 1993 - 31st March 2005 Jobs created: 1,461 Assisted training places: 3,415 Castle Vale unemployment is down to 6.9% compared to the city's average of 7.4% (Oct '04)