December is fast approaching, and you may be thinking about your future and what the New Year could have in store for you. To help you explore your options, below are some of the latest opportunities to support you into training and employment. There are also some great events that you can attend for FREE!
If anything catches your eye, please get in touch by emailing skillslaunchpad@plymouth.gov.uk, or texting Lorna on 07917 264736.
Upcoming events
City College Plymouth's Careers Open Day
This Careers Open Day aims to give you the clear directions you need to reach your dream career - and it's open to everyone. Whether you are looking to explore ways to access higher education, part-time courses, or even university-level qualifications, this is a great chance to see what's on offer for yourself.
When: Saturday 5 November
Where: Kings Road, Devonport
Time: 10am-1pm
Lifelong Learning Taster Day
To celebrate how learning can transform people's lives for the better, this Lifelong Learning Week we are hosting a free taster day, with sessions covering a range of opportunities including budgeting, creative writing, cyber security, graffiti art and health related activities.
Working in collaboration with providers to deliver these taster activities including On Course South West, Barclays, Bluescreen IT, Shekinah and Plymouth’s Health and Care Skills Partnership, the Skills Launchpad Plymouth team will be on hand to provide 1:1 information, advice and guidance.
When: Monday 7 November
Where: First Floor, Barclays, City Centre
Time: 10am-3pm
Military Month
Calling all veterans, serving members of HM armed forces and families, there’s so much support available in Plymouth throughout November. This month-long campaign, led by Plymouth’s Armed Forces Covenant, supported by Plymouth City Council and Skills Launchpad Plymouth, aims to raise awareness of the skills, training and employment opportunities (amongst other city-wide services) available for service leavers, veterans, those serving, and their families.
Here at Skills Launchpad Plymouth, we have some special plans for Military Month! In addition to launching an online resource section dedicated to the military community (check it out here), we also have events coming up.
When: Tuesday 16, 23, 30 November
Where: First Floor, Barclays, City Centre
Time: 10-2pm
Keep a keen eye on our News and Events page for further information regarding upcoming Military Month plans!
Armed Forces Community Outreach Hubs
This November, a collaboration of Military charities from across Plymouth are leading the charge on opening Armed Forces Community Outreach hubs to veterans, serving members of H.M Forces, and their families, with the offer of accessing free support, whilst also having a brew and the social element should they so wish. When and where: Thursday 10 November, 3-7pm, Chaddlewood Farm Community Centre
Wednesday 16 November, 9am-7pm, Plymouth Veterans and Family Hub, Ernest English House
Wednesday 30 November, 4-8pm, Four Greens Community Hub
Achievement Training Open Day
This open event is a perfect opportunity to see how Achievement Training can help you or someone you know in their next steps. You will be able to find out more about vocational courses, short courses, traineeships, apprenticeships and more!
When: Thursday 24 November
Time: 6-8pm
To find out more, call 01752 202266, or click here for further information.
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
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 are 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.
Green Thinkers – Real Ideas
Interested in working outdoors? Have an interest in caring for parks, nature reserves and green spaces?
Green Thinkers with the Real Ideas Organisation is a great programme, where 16 to 30-year-olds can learn about working with green spaces, through a range of learning activities and hands on work experience.
With the chance to learn about the benefits of green spaces for the community and the planet, how to transform disused spaces, and tree first aid, you will finish the programme with a better understanding of the industry and the skills to secure a job that’s right for you!
To find out more call 0330 223 4158 or email yes@realideas.org
Shekinah – Focus Employability course
Are you looking for supportive environment to explore work options, gain confidence with job applications, CV writing and interview skills? Shekinah’s Focus Employability course will be just the support you need!
If you are interested, please call 01752 203480.
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, South Devon College, and Eat That Frog, 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 use 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:
SMART Skills – fully funded courses
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.
Real Ideas – Start up Business Support offers support for new and established organisations to do better business. They run a regular programme of activity for businesses looking to develop their ideas and learn from one another. To find out more click 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
Apprenticeships are real jobs with training. They start all year round and are not just for school leavers!
Apprenticeships are a great way to earn while 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.
If you would like to learn more about apprenticeship options and discuss them in further detail, feel free to pop into Skills Launchpad Plymouth at Barclays or alternatively, access information on the latest Apprenticeships here.
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. Alternatively, click here for more links via the Plymouth Online Directory.
Access mental health support or boost your confidence
Shekinah – Revive
Personal development programme for those wanting to look at their self-belief, confidence, mental wellbeing, as well as explore the roots of behaviours. A chance to begin resolving past issues and make plans for the future in a safe and informal environment. Run by fully trained counsellors.
To express an interest, please call 07435784818 or 01752 203480.
Shekinah – Develop
An opportunity to look at the way you handle stress and anger, explore your relationships and understand anxiety and depression. A chance to improve your daily resilience through increasing your self-awareness and ‘re-wiring’ your brain.
To express an interest, please call 07435784810, or 01752 203480.
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.
Soul Singers
Soul Singers is a Plymouth based Community Interest company that organises singing group sessions, dedicated to having fun, making friends and promoting the mental benefits to having a sing song! With mum singing sessions and Toddler sing along, Soul Singers is all about having fun and positive mental health.
To find out more, click here.
Routeways - Routes to Grow
The Routes to Grow project addresses the issues of loneliness and isolation. Their site is open on a Tuesday and Friday from 10am- 3pm. Gardening, creative activities and socialising with others is what this is all about! Free refreshments available all day. For further information, call 01752 300700 or click here.
Andy’s Man Club
In mid-2016, nine men met in a small room in the Yorkshire town of Halifax with a simple aim of talking through their issues and helping each other deal with their mental health. All in attendance were agreed there was a magic in that room that had to be shared. Fast forward six years, and ANDYSMANCLUB now has groups at almost 100 locations across three counties of the UK. Their aim is to eliminate the stigma around mental health, and create judgement free, confidential spaces where men can talk freely about issues that they are struggling with. For further information 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
Mindful Art Club
The Mindful Art Club offers community groups and wellbeing courses, supporting mental health through creativity and social connection. Sessions offer guided mindfulness, mindful drawing, and a chance to chat and relax. At the end of each session, there is the chance to talk about your art work, and how you are feeling.
Where: Rees Centre Wellbeing Hub, Plympton, PL72PS
When: Every Thursday
Time: 2.30pm - 3pm
Each session costs £15, and last for 90 minutes. All materials included. To book your place, please click here.
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:
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.
Find out more
For information about any of our partner programmes, e-mail skillslaunchpad@plymouth.gov.uk, or click here to sign up as a member.
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