Skills Launchpad Plymouth celebrates four years of support from Barclays

Skills Launchpad Plymouth has recognised four years of generous in-kind support from Barclays Bank in the city centre, as the service moves to a new location.  

Since 2021, Barclays Plymouth has hosted the service within its city centre branch, providing a welcoming and accessible space for residents to receive impartial face-to-face support with employment, training, and education.  

This unique collaboration between the private and public sectors has helped thousands of individuals across Plymouth to access new opportunities and overcome barriers to progress into employment. 

Visiting the branch to celebrate the success of this partnership, Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “A huge thank you to Barclays for their generous support of Skills Launchpad Plymouth, which has really enabled our team to deliver better outcomes for residents. 

“Over the last four years, more than 4,000 local people have benefited from in-person help which has allowed them to move forward with the exciting employment and training opportunities available in the city. This fantastic support and city-wide partnership working has been crucial in making this happen.” 

Skills Launchpad Plymouth has now moved to a new Plymouth City Council skills and employment hub on the first floor of Cobourg House in Mayflower Street, where the service will be co-located with Careers Plymouth, On Course South West and the Connect to Work programme.  

Launched during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Skills Launchpad Plymouth has grown into a nationally recognised model for integrated skills delivery. It has received accolades from the Local Government Association and The MJ Awards for its innovative, city-wide multi-agency approach to creating a single, accessible skills system. 

The success of Skills Launchpad Plymouth is built on strong partnerships, joining together over 80 public, private and voluntary sector services including with Barclays Plymouth and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Together, these organisations have proven the power of collaboration in tackling local challenges and improving lives. 

David Podd, Branch Manager Vice President at Barclays Plymouth, said: “Over the past four years it has been a privilege to host Skills Launchpad Plymouth in our Armada Way branch and to work alongside Plymouth City Council in supporting thousands of local people with careers advice, skills development and employment opportunities.  

“This partnership has shown the difference that can be made when business and local government come together with a shared ambition to help communities thrive. While the service is now moving on to its next chapter, we remain deeply committed to Plymouth and to continuing our work to help people of all ages build confidence, develop skills and achieve their goals.” 

Lynne McBain, DWP Plymouth Partnerships Manager, said: “On behalf of Jobcentre Plus and the DWP I would like to thank David Podd and his team at Barclays Bank for their generosity in hosting the Plymouth Youth Hub and DWP funded Sector Coordinators across Construction, Health and Social Care, Early Years, and the Visitor Economy over the past four years.  

“Offering space at Barclays Bank free of charge was instrumental in enabling us to establish and deliver Youth Hub Services in Plymouth during the critical coronavirus pandemic years and beyond, and to focus on key sectors across the city.”