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Skills Providers

Information and resources for Job searching in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay.

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.

amazingapprenticeships.com

ASK Apprenticeships

Support for Schools to keep students informed and excited about apprenticeships

amazingapprenticeships.com/request-support/

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.”
www.southwestaan.com

Careers Hub

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

Careers Hub

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:

cswgroup.co.uk Facebook Twitter

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.

Digital Skills Partnership

Learning through Trade Unions

Community

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

Available to members.

community-tu.org/our-services/community-learn/

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.

www.unionlearn.org.uk

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.

www.goodthingsfoundation.org/learn-my-way

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

www.lloydsbankacademy.co.uk

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:

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.

National Retraining Scheme

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

uklearns.pearson.com

Prospects UK

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

www.prospects.ac.uk

Seetec Pluss

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.

Seetec Pluss

Contact

Phone: 0800 334 5525

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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…
Seetec Pluss

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 Skills Support

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.”

Serco redundancy Support

Special Education Needs and Disabilities

UCAS

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

www.ucas.com

Devon

Adult Education

Learn Devon

Learn Devon provides adult and community learning courses on behalf of Devon County Council.

www.learndevon.co.uk

Colleges

Bicton College

Bicton College has a diverse range of courses for all ages in locations across the South West.

www.bicton.ac.uk

Exeter College

“Exeter College provides tertiary education for around 10,000 – 12,000 students. The college was established in 1970 as the first tertiary college in the UK, bringing together the former grammar schools’ sixth forms and Exeter Technical College.

Today, the college is forging a path as a college of the future, offering learners a variety of ways into industry or further study. The college offers A-Levels, BTECs, Apprenticeships and, from 2020, the government’s brand new T Levels; a technical-based qualification that prepares students for industry with practical skills and knowledge.”

exe-coll.ac.uk

Petroc College

“Rated as the best college in the country 2018*, Petroc is committed to driving forward educational success in further and higher education. We are extremely passionate about raising the aspirations, knowledge and skills of individuals, communities and businesses in Devon and beyond.”

*Ranked no 1 in NICDEX league table, published by FE Week

www.petroc.ac.uk

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.”

www.southdevon.ac.uk

Devon and Cornwall Training Providers Network

“The Devon & Cornwall Training Providers Network exists to promote high-quality training, including work-based learning, and workforce development within the counties of Devon and Cornwall. It is dedicated to further raising the standards, aspirations and professionalism of the work-based learning and workforce development sector.

“It provides a forum for advice, information and support to its members. Through collaboration, it seeks to improve access and participation and meets the needs of learners and employers, whilst contributing to the economic and social well-being of the area”.

trainingprovider.com/

University of Exeter

“At the University of Exeter, we combine teaching excellence and high levels of student satisfaction with world-class research at our campuses in Exeter and Cornwall. We are a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive universities. Our success is built on a strong partnership with our students and a clear focus on high performance.”

www.exeter.ac.uk

Young Devon

Young Devon is the largest young people’s charity in the South West. Our mission is to make Devon a better place for all young people. Each year we work with over 2,000 young people, building quality relationships to help them thrive.”

www.youngdevon.org

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.

www.oncoursesouthwest.co.uk

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.”

www.cityplym.ac.uk

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.

www.plymouthart.ac.uk

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.

Skills Launchpad Plymouth

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.”

www.plymouth.ac.uk/

Somerset

Adult Education

Somerset Skills and Learning

Somerset Skills & Learning makes positive changes to people’s lives, through learning. We work across Somerset, providing adult education, apprenticeships and traineeships. As well as offering skills, qualifications, professional training and development, we also invest heavily in community projects to help disadvantaged groups to improve their lives through learning. Visit our website for more information www.sslcourses.co.uk

Delivery sites

We have our own centres in Taunton (Head Office), Bridgwater, Yeovil, Frome and Wells, using other venues as and when necessary throughout Somerset.

0330 332 7997

There is also a contact form and webchat function available on their website.

www.sslcourses.co.uk

Colleges

Bridgwater and Taunton College

At Bridgwater & Tanton College (BTC), we believe in the ability of each of our students to fulfil their potential to become the best they can be. We have campuses at Bridgwater, Taunton and Cannington, offering a broader, more diverse range of subjects and qualifications than ever before.

Courses combine real-world experience with academic rigour and fantastic employability. Our staff know their disciplines inside out, and many are able to offer a professional perspective on their teaching as a result of working in related industries.

Students from BTC progress into a wide a diverse range of destinations, from Oxbridge to America, from Nuclear Apprenticeships to Madame Tussauds there really are no barriers.

At the forefront of education, we have the National College for Nuclear, are part of the South West Institute of Technology and are one of the few colleges nationally to offer the three new T Levels. In addition, University Centre Somerset is part of BTC, where students can come and study a wide range of degrees and higher-level apprenticeships from Land-based Studies through to Nursing.

At BTC, it isn’t all work and no play. We have a wide range of extra-curricular activities, from sports to performing arts or the Honours Academy.

“Our primary aim of our courses is to give you every opportunity to flourish, educationally and socially. That way, students will have the best preparation for whatever comes next.”

School Leavers
Apprenticeships
Adult Learning
Degrees
Distance Learning

Bridgwater and Taunton College

Richard Huish College

“At Richard Huish College you can start your studies at a level to suit your current situation, from Level 2 vocational courses through to a degree level apprenticeship, we have a course to suit you.

Huish is more than a Sixth Form College. Rated as outstanding by Ofsted, it is a place where you can expand your horizons and develop your future among like-minded people. Huish provides exceptional education and training through the delivery of a holistic academic and vocational curriculum to over 2000 students across Somerset and North Devon.”

www.huish.ac.uk

Strode College

“We are an Ofsted Outstanding College located in Street, Somerset, offering a wide range of high-quality education and training to the local community. Our Sixth Form has an outstanding reputation nationally for the exceptional progress that our students make. Their outstanding progress and achievements mean they are well prepared for future success, and we are incredibly proud of what our students go on to do after Strode College. In fact, we are one of the best performing Colleges nationally for delivering outstanding student progress.”

www.strode-college.ac.uk

Yeovil College

“Yeovil College has been serving the community in and around Yeovil for more than 130 years.

The College was first formed in 1887 when Somerset County Council began formally organising Science and Art classes in Yeovil. In 1947, the first Principal was appointed to lead Yeovil Technical College and when secondary education in the Yeovil Borough was reorganised in 1974, Yeovil College became one of the early tertiary colleges to be formed in England.

Today, Yeovil College remains passionate about its role as a key provider of education and training in South Somerset and North and West Dorset. It remains committed to its role as a tertiary college for the whole community and currently supports around 5000 full and part-time students.”

www.yeovil.ac.uk

Skill Up Somerset

Apprenticeship and Skills Advisory Service support the business and residents of Somerset – offering free, impartial advice and guidance.

skillupsomerset.org.uk

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.”

wwww.southdevon.ac.uk