Coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the Plymouth Blitz of 1941, this Remembrance Week, Skills Launchpad Plymouth, the city’s one-stop-shop for skills, training, education, careers and jobs, launched Military Tuesday.
Led by Plymouth City Council, in alignment with Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and working in city-wide partnership, Skills Launchpad Plymouth has been supporting both young people and adults alike to navigate their options during and coming out of the pandemic and is now expanding delivery to include a specific focus on support for military service leavers, veterans, those serving and their families.
The new weekly service, held in the physical Skills Launchpad space on the first floor of Barclays, Armada Way, will see key delivery partners DWP Armed Forces Champions, Career Transition Partnership (CTP), and RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity, in addition to other pop-up activities including the Building Plymouth job-shop, to support local people.
Cllr Mark Shayer, representing the Armed Forces Covenant said: “I am delighted to officially launch this fantastic new service located right in the heart of the city for our military family. A brilliant collaboration which for the first time will bring together all the support and impartial information, advice and guidance for skills and employment in one place.”
Paul Paskin, South West Armed Forces Champion Lead for DWP said: “The DWP Armed Forces Champions are looking forward to working in city-wide partnership to deliver a bespoke service to the Armed Forces Community. We are very privileged to be part of Military Tuesday at Skills Launchpad Plymouth and welcoming our veterans along to meet us.”
Kate Hughes, South West Regional Employment Advisor for RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity said: “Skills Launchpad Plymouth is a brilliant initiative and RFEA is proud to be an official partner. RFEA recognises the incredible attributes that veterans, and their families, bring to the workforce and we are very much looking forward to helping them take their next step on the career ladder, whatever that may be. Our Advisors understand the specific challenges that veterans and their families can face when entering the workforce, so we’ll be on hand to offer tailored support such as CV writing, interview technique, identifying businesses that value ex-Forces and much more, to help invest in the city’s workforce of the future.”
Jo Lucas, Employer Relationship Manager (South West) said: “The Career Transition Partnership has worked with the Plymouth City Council’s Skills team on previous successful initiatives so I am delighted to align with Skills Launchpad Plymouth. The launch of Military Tuesday in specific support of Armed Forces Service leavers, veterans and their families, in their transition to the civilian workforce is a great initiative. It will offer our military community the opportunity to engage with a one-stop-shop offering subject matter expertise and networking connections across all industry sectors, and therefore be in a position to fully understand the skills sought to become better equipped and able to move forward into meaningful employment. The CTP will continue to work very closely with Skills Launchpad Plymouth to promote employment and training opportunities to all military cohorts.”
David Podd, Barclays Plymouth City Leader, added: “Barclays continues to recognise the skills and experience of the military community through its Armed Forces Transition Employment & Resettlement (AFTER) Programme, providing UK colleagues with volunteering opportunities to share their skills and experience by providing mentoring and employability sessions to those leaving the military. As such, we are delighted to host and support this important local initiative in Plymouth.”
Anyone in Plymouth who has served in the Armed Forces is thinking about their steps after leaving, or have family members needing support are invited to sign up to become a member of Skills Launchpad Plymouth here or drop in to Barclays on a Tuesday between 10.00am and 4.00pm for face-to-face support.
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