Summer is over and the countdown to Christmas is on its way. Whether you’re an education leaver, someone who is taking some time to deal with a challenging situation, or the past 18-months has simply taken its toll, there are so many opportunities available right now that can help you move forward.
Our Youth Hub Coordinator, Jo has prepared a list of all the upcoming opportunities in Plymouth, to help you consider your options. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, simply get in touch by emailing skillslaunchpad@plymouth.gov.uk, or text Jo on 07876396982.
1. Youth Hub Skills Sessions
Understanding that each journey into further training or employment is unique, we have put together eight free sessions that anyone aged 16-24 can come along to at our physical Launchpad space in Barclays (Plymouth City Centre).
Each week will have a different focus:
30 September: Managing your time and first days at work
7 October: Problem Solving
14 October: Working with colleagues
21 October: Job search skills and transferable skills
28 October: Interview skills
4 November: Job application skills and CV expectations
11 November: Developing assertiveness
Booking is advised, as spaces are limited – get in touch for details..
Who? 16-24 year-olds
When? Thursdays, 10am - 12noon, Barclays in the City Centre
2. College Courses
It’s not too late to start a vocational course at a local college. Achievement Training, City College Plymouth and Discovery College, are all still accepting people onto one or two-year courses. Courses range from childcare, health and social care, to sport, public services, business, hair and beauty, science, engineering, construction and more.
Who? 16-19 year-olds
When? Start dates available up until 15 October
3. Young Devon Skills Courses
Work-based Learning
Develop functional and work-based skills during this 12-week full-time course. You will learn more about your chosen career area, preparing for work, gain employability skills and take part in mock interviews and work on your CV. You will also earn a Level 1 qualification and can be supported with your Level 2 English and maths if required.
Who? Anyone aged 16-25
When? From Monday 27 September
Independent Life Skills
Develop life-based skills during this 12-week full-time course. You will learn more about community laws, independent living, environmental issues and personal health. You will also earn an Entry Level 3 qualification.
Who? Anyone aged 16-25
When? From Thursday 30 September
4. Discovery College
Based in Honicknowle, Discovery College has a six-week-long pre-employability course that could be perfect for you – especially as you also get to spend one day a week at Lopwell Barn on the Moors!
See what it’s like to study in a smaller college environment, whilst improving your employability skills. This course will help you to land a job or place in further/higher education.
Who? Anyone aged 16-19
When? 27 September - 10 December
5. Devon Mind
Do you struggle with anxiety? If so, why not take part in a session to help with understanding anxiety and to learn tips and tools for managing anxiety
Each session is around 80 minutes and will be run on Zoom to a small group, which includes a facilitator from Devon Mind explaining anxiety and some short online activities. Interaction is optional and can be done anonymously. There is also no pressure to turn your camera on and unmute yourself if you do not feel comfortable doing so.
Who? Anyone aged 16-24
When? Monday 27 September / Wednesday 29 September, 11am-12.20pm
6. Focus Training
Skills Bootcamp in Electrical Skills
This 12-week bootcamp will help you stand out to employers recruiting electrical installation apprentices. Designed in response to common employer concerns, specifically; being able to work safely on site, presenting appropriate behaviours and having an awareness of common tools, equipment, wiring methods and of the wiring regulations, you can rest assured that by signing up you will be fully prepared for your next interview with an employer.
Who? Anyone aged 19+
When? Monday to Thursday from 27 September
7. Shekinah
If you are aged 18+ there is so much to choose from with Shekinah this autumn. Venues do vary, see below for details.
Wellbeing and vocational courses
When? Monday to Thursday, 9.30am-2pm
Where? 24 Stonehouse Street, PL1 3PE
Green Shoots
When? Monday to Wednesday, 10am-2pm
Where? Hamoaze House, Mount Wise, PL1 4JQ
RE:COMPUTE, Essential Digital Skills Course
When? Wednesdays, 12.30pm-4pm
Where? 24 Stonehouse Street, PL1 3PE
RE:FOCUS, Employability Course
When? Wednesdays, 9.30am-2.30pm
Where? 24 Stonehouse Street, PL1 3PE
RE:CREATE, Art Course
When? Thursday and Fridays, 9.30am-2.30pm
Where? 24 Stonehouse Street, PL1 3PE
RE:SKILL, Maths and English Courses
When? Fridays, 9.30am-12.30pm
Where? 24 Stonehouse Street, PL1 3PE
8. Springboard
Destination Hospitality
If you have recently left education or are unemployed and interested in a career in the hospitality industry, start your career with Springboard’s dynamic four-week training programme, ‘Destination Hospitality’.
During this virtual programme, you will gain insight into jobs in the industry, develop your employability skills, as well as gaining qualifications in customer service, food safety, become a personal licence holder. All you need is access to a laptop/PC and/or smartphone.
Who? Anyone aged 16-30 and ready to work in the hospitality, leisure and tourism sector
When? Tuesday to Friday from 28 September
Accolade Wines – VINSPIRE
This four-week digital training programme will support you to access opportunities in the wine industry across the UK. You will gain an Award for Personal License Holders and Level 1: Wine Qualification from the WSET, along with knowledge and skills that will help you to gain employment in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries.
Who? Anyone aged 18+ who is unemployed or under-employed and interested in developing wine knowledge
When? 11 October - 5 November
9. Real Ideas Organisation
Green Thinkers This new six-week programme is a great chance to take part in practical activities and group work to learn about working with green spaces. You just need to commit to two days a week between 10am – 3pm, and you will gain industry insight and care for Plymouth’s green spaces, help to create new green spaces for future generations to enjoy and help increase the quality of our lives in the community.
With the skills you learn during this six-week programme, you could also apply for the Kickstart placements with Plymouth City Council’s Natural Grid Team.
Who? Anyone aged 18-25 years old
When? 30 September - 11 November
10. City College Plymouth
Prince’s Trust Team Programme
Did you know that there’s a Prince’s Trust team based at the College and that they run the FREE Prince’s Trust 12-week Teams programme?
This personal development programme will develop your skills, land you a qualification and you can meet new people, all whilst making a positive difference in a community project, going on a residential trip, taking part in work experience and generally having the time of your life!
Don’t want to commit to 12 weeks straight away? The College also has pre-employability courses starting every week.
Who? Anyone aged 16-24
When? 4 October
11. Eat That Frog
It’s My Life - your Health & Wellbeing programme
This programme will give you the ideas and support to take control of aspects of your life that may be keeping you down or holding you back. From self-image and confidence to relationships, motivation, employability and more, this course has it all.
Who? Anyone aged 19+
When? 4 October - 24 November, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9.30am - 2.30pm or
5 October - 25 November, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9.30am - 2.30pm
Career Choices
If you’ve lost your job or lost your way, this course can help you to explore your options, revamp your CV, apply for jobs, brush up on your interview skills and get help finding local opportunities for employment, training, work experience or volunteering.
Who? Anyone aged 19+ and claiming benefits
When? 25 October - 5 November, 9.30am - 2.30pm
12. Prince’s Trust
Get Into Construction
Looking for working in construction? The Prince's Trust is offering a FREE taster day and programme in Sherford, to help you get into the construction industry! You'll be able to work towards gaining a CSCS card and Level 1 Health and Safety in Construction qualification. Travel expenses are paid and lunch is also provided.
Who? 18-30 year-olds
When? Taster day 12 October. Programme 18 - 22 October.
13. Vistry Partners Skills Academy
Vistry Partnerships is one of the UK's largest National Homebuilders. In association with Train4All Construction & Engineering Academy and Swatpro, they are offering a FREE eight-week programme to get you into construction.
Based at North Prospect, during this course you will get your CITB CSC Green Card, Level 1 Health and Safety Award, Level 1 Construction Skills – Labouring, Level 1 Employability Skills - Work Preparation, support with your maths, English and digital skills (if required), AND take part in work experience on the construction site.
Who? Anyone aged 16+
When? From 3 November to 23 December
14. Groundworks South
Empowering Enterprise
Looking for support with health and wellbeing, your finances, and budgeting? This fantastic programme offers one to one mentoring, careers advice, support with CV building and job searching and access to volunteering and social action projects.
This programme is the perfect chance to build your confidence, access training and education, and prepare for an Apprenticeship or getting a job.
Who? 18-24 year-olds who aren’t in employment or training
When? Various autumn start dates are available
15. Bluescreen IT
Experience works
This tailored employability and mentoring programme, helps young people get into work, training or education; or supports them to stick with school or college if they are having difficulties. Through social action and workplace learning, you will develop essential life and workplace skills, along with IT fundamentals and cyber safety which will be taught with both theory and practical based activities.
Who? 15–24-year-olds (eligibility does apply)
When? Flexible training days on either a Monday, Thursday or Friday, 10am - 2pm
16. Greenlight Training
Pre-employment courses
Greenlight Training work with a variety of construction companies, and during this two-week course, you will learn fundamental skills in carpentry, bricklaying, plastering, painting and decorating, floor laying, groundworks, roofing, dry lining and plant, so you are ready to apply for apprenticeships.
In addition to understanding each of the trades, you will gain a Level 1 Award in Trade Multi Skills, Health & Safety and Personal Finance, as these core skills are identified as key requirements for entry into employment.
Who? 19-24-year-olds
When? Various - two start dates a month
Trade assessments
Think you’ve got what it takes to start an apprenticeship in construction? Greenlight is running trade assessments every week to help education-leavers progress into apprenticeship programmes or further training.
Who? 16-18-year-olds
When? Every Wednesday
17. Military Preparation College
Thinking about a career in the armed forces? Enjoy being active and keen to work on your fitness levels? Gain a BTEC Level 2 in Work Skills that could transfer to any future career, and take part in daily physical education, fitness assessments, adventure training, low-level tactics and more with MPC. They will also help you progress into further education or enter the services.
Who? Anyone aged 16-19
When? Four days a week, 9am-4pm – you can join all year round
18. Plymouth Training
Traineeship
This flexible 10-week Traineeship is designed around you and your interests. The programme will see you taking part in a placement activity in your chosen sector, work readiness sessions, wellbeing activities and support with obtaining a Level 1 in English and maths.
Who? Anyone aged 19 to 24-years old
When? Applications welcome all year round
19. Apprenticeships
Apprenticeships are real jobs with training, and they start all year round. You can 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.
In the latest edition of Plymouth’s exclusive apprenticeship bulletin, there are more than 270 apprenticeship vacancies, so there are lots to choose from. As apprenticeships are like jobs, it’s always a good idea to apply for multiple opportunities.
Our next apprenticeship bulletin will be released the first week of October, but click here to see what was advertised in August, or alternatively click here to search on the Find an Apprenticeship website.
Who? Anyone aged 16+ (there’s no upper age limit)
When? All year
20. Kickstarts
If you’re a young person on Universal Credit, the Kickstart Scheme provides funding for local employers to create new jobs. Kickstart job roles will ensure you are employed for a minimum of 25 hours per week for at least six months.
There are currently more than 100 Kickstart vacancies available in Plymouth, with many opportunities offering the chance to work remotely from home. Kickstart roles are available across multiple job areas, including sport and leisure, hospitality, teaching, administration, construction, digital industries, and more.
If you’re eligible, please get in touch to find out more.
Who? 16-24 year-olds in receipt of Universal Credit
When? June - December
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.