Skills Providers

National Support and Support Across the Heart of the South West

Apprenticeships

Amazing Apprenticeships

Here to help educators, employers and students navigate the fast-changing world of apprenticeships and vocational education.

ASK Apprenticeships

Support for Schools to keep students informed and excited about apprenticeships

South West Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network

“The primary aim of the Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network is to support the delivery of a high quality apprenticeships programme. Specifically, AAN members through engagement with other employers and stakeholders, will promote how apprenticeships:

• Can help tackle skills gaps
• Enable the widening of access to skilled trades and professions
• Are relevant across all sectors, therefore helping to deliver more apprenticeship starts
• Enable progression routes.”

Careers Hub

Helping to transform careers education for young people in the Heart of the South West.

CSW Group

CSW, a not-for-profit social enterprise. They deliver a range of services nationally. They provide contracts that support businesses, young people and adults through key transition points. They deliver services that build aspiration and turn it into achievement, unlocking potential and developing individuals and organisations.
Support, resources and information available for Devon, Torbay, Cornwall and Plymouth.
For more information:

Digital Skills Partnership

The Heart of the South West Digital Skills Partnership was launched in June 2018, bringing together the public, private and third sector to tackle the digital skills divide in Somerset, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.

Learning through Trade Unions

Community

• English and maths
• Digital Skills
• Languages
• FE
• Apprenticeship Support
• Redundancy Support
• Skills Network
• Distance learning

Available to members.

UnionLearn

Unionlearn is the learning and skills organisation of the TUC, assisting unions in the delivery of learning opportunities for their members.

The website is comprehensive with a wide range of resources from upskilling to skills check, resources and their career zone.

Learn My Way

Learn My Way is a website of free online courses, built by Good Things Foundation to help people develop their digital skills.

Lloyds Bank Academy

“Launched by Lloyds Bank, the Academy is focused on helping you improve your skills. We’re here to help you get where you want to be. Whether that’s getting to grips with your computer, starting a new career – or taking your business to a whole new level.

You can learn online at a pace that suits you, or join a face-to-face class with an expert on hand to help. We’ve also gathered together the very best learning materials from our expert partners – and we’re there for you every step of the way.”

Free online learning For Life, for business, for charities including:

• Understanding the digital world
• Improving your CV
• Working with spreadsheets
• Creating engaging social media content
• Designing your business

Access their digital toolkit for helping someone learn basic digital skills

Visit their Eventbrite for webinars to help you back into work, for business, for developing skills and for charities

National Careers Service

The National Careers Service provide free personalised information, advice and guidance to help you get into work or progress in your career. We do this by helping you:

• Explore your career options
• Understand the local job market
• Develop or enhance your CV
• Search and apply for local jobs
• Identify local opportunities including volunteering
• Develop your interview skills
• Apply for training and online learning
• Build your confidence.

The National Careers Service website offers online tools such as skills assessments to match your skills to jobs that might suit you, as well as a careers advice section with advice on CVs and interview techniques and how to look for jobs.

The Skills Toolkit is a new online platform, giving you easy access to free, high quality digital and numeracy courses to help you build up your skills, progress in work and boost your job prospects. The platform offers a range of courses at all levels, from introductory to advanced and it’s open to everyone.

National Careers Service careers advisers can help you plan for your future, be more confident about your skills and more prepared to deal with changes you can’t predict.

To speak to a qualified careers adviser, call the helpline on 0800 100 900 open 10am-8pm 7 days a week or use our webchat service on their website: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk

National Careers Service – Skills Toolkit

The Skills Toolkit is a new online learning platform to help boost the nation’s skills while people are staying at home. Free courses are available through The Skills Toolkit. The new platform gives people access to free, high-quality digital and numeracy courses to help build up their skills, progress in work and boost their job prospects.

Providers include:

• Cisco Networking Academy
• Future Learn
• Good Things Foundations
• Learn my Way
• Make it Click
• Google Digital Garage
• Lloyds Bank
• OpenLearn

Keep an eye out for their virtual jobs fairs on Facebook and Twitter #SouthWestJobs #jobshour

National Retraining Scheme

The National Retraining Scheme will help prepare adults for future changes to the economy, including those brought about by automation, and help them move into better jobs.

Not in Education Employment or Training (NEETs)

Pearsons UK Learn

UK Learns provides access to some of the world’s best quality, certified courses that employers value. At a time you may need it most, many are free of charge, some for a limited period. You’ll find unparalleled depth and breadth – with new courses and functionality added every day.” – Pearsons UK Learns website

Prospects UK

Prospects for graduate jobs, postgraduate study, advice about work experience, internship opportunities and graduate careers.

Seetec Pluss

Seetec Pluss inspires thousands of people every year to find work, build a career, and develop their confidence and skills. We also work with thousands of employers, matching the skills of our job seekers to the needs of their business.

Our teams deliver a range of free employability programmes. From rapid-response to longer-term holistic employment services, we’ve something for everyone and are determined to ensure that no-one is left behind in their aspiration to find work.

Contact

Phone: 0800 334 5525

Preparing for work

Seetec Pluss supports thousands of people each year to find work, develop their confidence and skills, and achieve a career.

You will have your own personal Change Coach who will help you identify your goals, put together a tailored back-to-work plan and agree on the steps you need to take to find employment.

We can help you to:

• Kickstart your new career – identify transferable skills, create a winning CV, prepare for interviews and apply for jobs
• Learn the right skills – access a wide range of qualifications and training courses including care, customer service, admin and so much more
• Build confidence – support to feel good, improve wellbeing and overcome any barriers
• Meet the right employers – introductions to employers of all types and sizes
• Be prepared – support to overcome any hurdles such as equipment, travel or interview clothes.

We’re here every step of the way to help you reach your true potential.

Apprenticeships / traineeships

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to change your career direction, apprenticeships are open to people of all ages who want to get ahead. With on-the-job as well as off-the-job training, apprenticeships provide ready-made career paths with plenty of opportunities to progress.

All our apprenticeships are recognised within their industries. You’ll build competence in your chosen profession – on top of earning money and valuable work experience. You’ll be well on your way to achieving your career goals while others are only just beginning.

Our apprenticeships include

• Professional services: Business Administration, Customer Support, Credit Control, Team Leader and more…
• Aviation and logistics: Freight forwarding, Aviation Operations, Warehousing, Supply Chain and more…
• Digital, media and communications: Digital Marketing, Public Relations, Broadcast production and more…
• STEM: IT, engineering, software development and much more…

Employer recruitment services

Recruiting for recovery. Our fast, free all-inclusive service helps employers find great staff who are pre-screened, skilled and ready to work in a post-Covid world:

• People – We’ll source the right people for each business in the long-term
• Prepare – We’ll develop and prepare candidates to meet business needs
• Recruit – We can help with recruitment and selection, including sifting CVs, screening candidates, co-ordinating interviews and onboarding
• Upskill – We can access funding for workforce development, apprenticeships and traineeships
• Support – We offer specialist advice on retention, health and wellbeing at work.

Serco (SSW)

With economic outlook changing at pace, you may be looking to upskill your workforce to avoid unemployment.

“Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) is a funded training programme developed to upskill employees within small and medium-sized businesses in the Heart of the South West LEP area; Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay. They provide recognised accredited qualifications and bespoke training courses to enhance your employees’ skills, increase the competitiveness of your business and boost the local economy. SSW is co-financed by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the European Social Fund.

Skills Support for the Workforce is all about progress. They can help you progress your career, education and business.”

Serco also provides skills support for redundancy.

“Funded, tailored training to support individuals and businesses

Skills Support for Redundancy (SSR) is an initiative designed to support employers and individuals affected by redundancy. SSR is a tailored service to meet your needs, offering a wide range of training support. A dedicated Partnership Coordinator will work with you to identify the best sources of support and training to help you achieve your goals.

Co-financed by the Education & Skills Funding Agency and European Social Fund, this service is delivered by Serco.”

Special Education Needs and Disabilities

UCAS

UCAS is an independent charity providing information, advice, and admissions services to inspire and facilitate educational progression.

Plymouth

Adult Education

On Course South West

Plymouth City Council is proud to offer a range of courses to support adult learners to reach their goals with their adult learner service, On Course South West.

Colleges

City College Plymouth

“We’ve been helping students to get the skills and qualifications they need since 1887! We’re now one of the leading providers of vocational, professional and technical training in the South West.

We can offer you:

• 100s of courses to choose from
• tutors that have real experience in the industry they’re teaching
• nationally recognised qualifications
• hands-on experience
• great facilities, from our multi-million-pound Regional Centre of Excellence for STEM, to a day spa and restaurant
• help with funding
• the support you need, from childcare to careers advice
• and a lot more …

We work with employers to make sure you get the skills, knowledge and training you need to succeed in your chosen career. From hospitality and catering to performing arts, we can help make your dream a reality.”

• School leavers
• Adult Learning
• University-level
• Apprenticeships
• Employers

Plymouth College of Art

“Founded in 1856, Plymouth College of Art is an art school run by artists and designers for artists and designers.
We are home to a dynamic, cross-disciplinary community of makers and thinkers for whom making is as important as reading and writing, and where the purpose of learning is inseparable from that of living your life. A place for making things, and making things happen. For making a difference.”

Undergraduate, postgraduate, pre-degree, young arts (9-18yrs), and short courses and masterclasses.

Skills Launchpad Plymouth

Skills Launchpad Plymouth – Plymouth city’s new FREE one-stop skills response service

Working in city-wide partnership, Skills Launchpad Plymouth offers a virtual one-stop-shop FREE skills service to help our people equip themselves with the skills and confidence they will need to play a part in our city’s future, supporting those who are facing redundancy through the new Adult Hub, and offering targeted support for our young people through the new Youth Hub.

University of Plymouth

“The University of Plymouth is renowned for high quality, internationally-leading education, research and innovation.

With a mission to Advance Knowledge and Transform Lives, Plymouth is a *top 50 research university with clusters of world-class research across a wide range of disciplines including marine science and engineering, medicine, cybersecurity and psychology. A three-time winner of the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education, most recently in 2020 in respect of its pioneering research on microplastics pollution in the oceans and its impact on the environment and changing behaviour, the University of Plymouth continues to grow in stature and reputation.

It has a strong track record for teaching and learning excellence and has one of the highest numbers of National Teaching Fellows of any UK university. With over 19,000 students, and a further 9,500 studying for a Plymouth degree at partner institutions in the UK and around the world, and over 135,000 alumni pursuing their chosen careers globally, it has a growing global presence.”

• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Postgraduate research degree

Torbay

South Devon College

“Here at the College, everything we do is built around you as a student. We will help you make the most of your time with us and progress to the next stage of your life, whether that is further or higher study or employment. Our passion for learning is unwavering and we pride ourselves in delivering an excellent experience for you through your personalised programmes of study. We offer a wide range of courses and qualifications for students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities, and which are designed to help you develop your skills, knowledge and confidence and progress into employment in your chosen career or to higher education.

Our mission is to ‘Inspire the community through learning for all’, which is why we are committed to providing exceptional, free and impartial advice and guidance through our award-winning Helpzone team. You can contact our team or drop into any of our campus locations to find out more information about the courses available to you, and see what the next step in your career or education could be.

Our wide-ranging provision means that you will always be able to find the right route for you, and all here on your doorstep in South Devon. We offer excellent qualifications in professional and technical vocational diplomas at all levels, a huge range of apprenticeships, university degrees, English and maths support, part-time adult qualifications and bespoke professional training.”

• 16-18
• Adult Learning
• Employers
• High School
• University