January has been and gone! Time to beat the blues and embrace what 2023 has to offer! It’s the perfect time of year to be thinking about a fresh start and considering your options. You might want to think about a new career, consider a lifestyle change, or learn new skills by accessing education or training – and there are lots to choose from in Plymouth.
Below are some of the latest opportunities – including some great events that you can attend for free! If anything catches your eye, simply get in touch by emailing skillslaunchpad@plymouth.gov.uk, or texting Lorna on 07917 264736.
Upcoming events
National Apprenticeship Week 2023
Monday 6 to Friday 12 February will bring together both businesses and apprentices across the country, to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider community.
This year, the theme for National Apprenticeships week is “Skills for life”, reflecting on how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the knowledge and skills required for a rewarding career.
Apprenticeships are a fantastic way to earn while you learn, and they are not just for school leavers! Here at Skills Launchpad Plymouth we have plenty on offer to celebrate all things apprenticeships! Feel free to drop in across the week and say hi to one of our experienced Co-ordinators. They will be able to provide you with confidential, impartial advice. We will be fortunate enough to be joined by some fantastic training providers, who will be recruiting for current live vacancies. Click here to see how we are showcasing apprenticeships across the week.
Plymouth Print Social – Calling all creatives! Thursday 9 February
Following in the footsteps of Plymouth’s first print festival, Print in Action, Plymouth Print Social, aims to be a connecting platform for printmakers, collectives, organisations, spaces and suppliers. It’s an open space, no matter what stage of your creative journey. This social is going to bring together conversations from the first social, inviting new topics and nurturing discussions.
To find out more, click here
Coffee and Careers
This weekly drop-in session focuses on supporting those in the mid-point in their careers. This is a great opportunity to find out about:
· changing your career completely – even if you’re not sure about your next steps
· learning something new or upskilling yourself within your chosen career path
· getting back into the job market
· talking to someone about how to construct an attractive CV or understand how
to identify your existing transferable skills
· gaining the confidence to move forward in a new direction.
Whatever your situation, the team can offer the support and guidance you need.
When and where:
Every Monday, 10am-12noon, Skills Launchpad Plymouth in Barclays, city centre
Military Tuesday
Calling all military service leavers, veterans, those serving and their families with information – this weekly service is designed to connect you with the latest opportunities for skills, training, education, careers and jobs in Plymouth. Key delivery partners for this event include DWP Armed Forces Champions, Career Transition Partnership (CTP), and RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity, along with a number of other organisations. No need to book, just turn up.
When and where:
Every other Tuesday, 10am-4pm, Skills Launchpad Plymouth in Barclays, city centre
Building Plymouth Job Shop
Whether you are highly skilled and experienced, or thinking about a career change and looking to explore whether you could fit into the construction and built environment sector, your first stop should be the Building Plymouth Job Shop.
When and where:
Every Tuesday, 12-2pm, Skills Launchpad Plymouth in Barclays, city centre
Health and Care Job Shop
Whether you have a background in care or a feeling that you may be good at it, dropping into this weekly job shop is a great starting point.
When and where:
Every Thursday, 12-2pm, Skills Launchpad Plymouth in Barclays, city centre
Access pre-employability support
We work with some great organisations that support adults to prepare for work or changing careers, so if you would like some impartial careers advice and guidance, support with your CV, cover letters and/or interview prep, we can help.
National Careers Service
For help preparing for jobs, you may like to get started by booking a free appointment with the local National Careers Service team. Barbora works from Skills Launchpad Plymouth to provide face-to-face support for anyone 19+. She can help you to make decisions on learning, training and work at ALL stages of your career and best of all… it’s FREE!
Argyle’s SCORE programme
Looking to build your confidence and employability? Argyle Community Trust's SCORE programme is completely free and covers:
· emotional Intelligence
· resilience
· confidence building
· being the best you can be
· mental health awareness
· CV/cover letter writing
· interview skills
· applying for jobs.
There are also great perks to joining the programme such as:
· getting a free Argyle branded t-shirt
· free Argyle branded bag and stationery
· gaining a Level 1 Award in Behaviours, Attitudes and Attributes Required for Employment
· a free visit to Dartmoor Zoo
· a reduced membership fee to join Brickfields Sports Centre for two months.
Upskill through training or education
It’s never too late to learn new skills. Whether your motivation is to get a job or start a hobby, Plymouth has lots of providers offering adult education - and the courses are quite often free.
Courses range from business and coding to hair and beauty, animal care, sport and fitness, cooking, and more. Some can even help you to access university-level study.
Training delivered in person
To get started take a look at short courses with Achievement Training, City College Plymouth, On Course South West, and South Devon College, as these are just a few of the providers delivering courses face-to-face throughout the year – including vital English and Maths lessons. You can also gain essential digital skills, support with money-saving and even try hands-on courses like carpentry for beginners. Shekinah also offers free drop-in courses weekly.
Training delivered online
A number of our partners offer free online courses, so why not gain a new qualification or skill from the comfort of your own home?
Courses range from computer essentials, professional development, and digital design and marketing; to business admin, specialist care courses, and interview skills.
Get started with the links below:
It’s not too late!
If you fancy booking onto something soon, but not sure what’s available, take a look at these opportunities with On Course Southwest and Achievement Training, they have February courses that you can book onto now!
Apply for jobs
There are many reasons why you might be looking for a new job at the moment, but the great news is that there are 3,000 jobs available, right now, in Plymouth.
For advice on where to apply and things to consider, click here.
Explore self-employment
Always dreamt of starting your own business? It can be both an exciting adventure and daunting, especially if you have additional barriers to overcome, such as disability or being long-term unemployed.
Outset offers start-up support to include and support everyone, working with people from a range of different backgrounds, and often with different needs. Check out their current webinar listing here.
We have added lots of information and links to support you in setting up your own business in our Resource Bank here.
A number of our local partners also have upcoming courses that can help you with starting your own business:
· the Prince’s Trust (for those under 31)
Apply for Apprenticeships
National Apprenticeship Week will give you insight to the fact that apprenticeships are real jobs with training. They start all year round and are not just for school leavers!
You learn, gain a nationally recognised qualification, and study from Level 2 right up to degree-level, depending on the role you are working towards.
If you are worried about the financial side of an Apprenticeship salary, you could be entitled to claim universal credit to top you up, so don’t rule it out as an option.
In the latest edition of Plymouth’s exclusive apprenticeship bulletin, there are more than 200 apprenticeship vacancies, so there are lots to choose from. Click here to see what’s available.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a fantastic way to test out different jobs to find out what you prefer, as well as helping you to gain experience and develop soft skills that are useful in all careers. You may also choose to volunteer as a way to give back and share your skills and experience with others.
There are lots of opportunities to volunteer in Plymouth, whether that’s supporting a one-day charity event as a marshall, being a phone friend to help combat loneliness and isolation for the elderly, or caring for animals. To explore and apply for local opportunities, click here for the One Plymouth website.
Access mental health support or boost your confidence
Wellness Through Nature - Opportunity for veterans at Dartmoor Zoo
Funded and supported in partnership with The Armed Forces Covenant Find Trust and Dartmoor Zoo, the Wellness Through Nature programme is running once a week for 12 weeks with a choice of days available. It's aimed at providing veterans with an opportunity to escape into nature, whatever their stage in life, to learn new skills, have fun, enjoy camaraderie, feel a sense of purpose and establish new friendships, in a unique outdoor setting.
Project areas and tasks included in the programme are:
· gardening and maintenance including building homes for wildlife
· animal enrichment including creating toys for the monkeys and big cats
· learning and development
· creativity in nature including painting and photography.
In addition to these fantastic projects, those taking part also get a free lunch voucher each day, a free 12-month zoo entry pass on completion and an invitation to a bi-annual celebratory event at the zoo.
To see how Dartmoor Zoo support wellbeing, click here
Devon Mind
Do you struggle with anxiety? If so, why not sign up to take part in a session to help with understanding anxiety and to learn tips and tools for managing anxiety with Devon Mind? Do you juggle raising a family and keeping up a home whilst suffering from depression? There is a range of short Zoom workshops on offer that can help you prioritise your mental health. Click here to see what’s coming up.
Qwell
Qwell is a free digital mental health and wellbeing service that is now available to adults in Plymouth. Delivered by mental health provider Kooth, Qwell aims to help people manage their own emotional health and wellbeing, offering everyone aged 18 or over anonymous and confidential support.
This safe online space, helps adults to access therapeutic activities, with a peer support community, self-help articles and forums and discussion boards moderated by qualified practitioners. Users can also keep an online journal and monitor their wellbeing via an interactive goal tracker. This will be accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is also a one-on-one live text chat and messaging counselling service with a team of qualified practitioners. See for yourself, click here.
Art, Craft and Laughter
Life can sometimes be overwhelming and having a space to be able to go, take a timeout and breathe might just be what you need.
Art, craft and laughter are offering mental health, wellbeing art and craft groups.
Search ‘Art, craft and laughter’ on Facebook or Instagram.
For more information on accessing mental health support in Plymouth, click here.
Shekinah
There is so much to get involved at with Shekinah. Drop in and see them at 24 Stonehouse Street to find out more about their short courses:
· Thinking about Thinking
· Doing the Right Thing
· Decision-making: Are we rational?
· Watercolour Painting
· Still Life Drawing
· Grow your own Food
· Crochet
· Spoken Word
· Foraging
· Non Western Philosophies
To find out more about their Learning Exchange Programme, click here
Theatre Royal - Our Space
Our Space is a creative programme for anyone looking to build confidence whilst learning theatre skills in a fun and supportive environment. Our Space works with those with lived experience of homelessness, mental health issues, substance misuse, offending, or people who feel socially isolated for other reasons.
Those taking part have access to:
· drama for confidence workshops
· opportunities to see shows
· transport to and from workshops
· refreshments
· volunteering and training opportunities
· social opportunities.
Who? Anyone aged 25+
When? Ongoing
POP Community Groups
Have you heard of POP? Their purpose is to build strong grassroots organisations, charities and social enterprises by supporting them to work together and take a lead role in creating change – and they run groups, workshops and activities that you can get involved in.
Groups for men:
· activities for 50+ men
· exercise groups
· mental health support
Groups for women:
· art and crafts
· writing
· exercise
· dance
Craft groups:
· knitting
· art
· crafts
Other interests:
· gardening
· photography
· model building
· games
To view upcoming events, click here
Gifted Women
Women across the UK can be caught up in a cycle of addiction, homelessness and crime, with a lack of opportunities and often a complex history of trauma and abuse at the foundation. Even when working hard to break the cycle, women can struggle to find work and support to reach their full potential.
Gifted Women works to help women break this cycle, recognising meaningful employment, training and further education as key factors in lasting change.
Through weekly group work sessions, learn about all aspects of employability, from recruitment to resilience in the workplace and everything in between. With a significant focus on life skills, confidence building, exploring passions and ambitions and discovering the value you have to offer.
Get in touch to find out more about this programme.
Opportunities in construction
The construction industry is booming. Whether you are highly skilled and experienced, or thinking about a career change and looking to explore where you fit in, your first stop should be the Building Plymouth Job Shop. Based in Barclays, Armada Way, the Job Shop is open to anyone, just drop in on a Tuesday between 12-2pm.
You may also like to look at upcoming short courses and accreditations for new and experienced tradespeople with:
New to construction?
Why not check outGreenlight Training or CTSW’s two-week pre-employment courses? Both will give you a great opportunity to develop your skills and get a feel for what you enjoy.
Alternatively, the Sherford Training Programme can help you gain a week’s onsite training and experience, and the chance to gain your CSCS card.
Opportunities in health and care
There has never been a more important time for the health and social care sector, and there continues to be a shortage of workers, particularly in the home care sector.
Whether you have a background in care or a feeling that you may be good at it, there are lots of ways to find out more.
· People of all ages can drop into our Health and Social Care Job Shop, every Thursday between 12-2pm in Barclays, Armada Way.
· The Health and Social Care Skills Accelerator Programme (HASSAP) offers free and flexible courses from entry-level to level 5 which are delivered in Plymouth by City College and On Course South West. Choose from online and face-to-face courses including Understanding Autism, Medication Training, Safeguarding Vulnerable People and Counselling Skills.
· Check out the Council’s Home Care Assistant campaign here and register your interest for a call back.
Find out more…
For information about any of our partner programmes, simply e-mail skillslaunchpad@plymouth.gov.uk, or click here to sign up as a member.
