Skills Launchpad Plymouth
Sector Specific Recruitment Solutions
Benefits
Set up in response to employer needs there are various sector specific recruitment solutions available across the city and regionally. It is recommended that employers check with providers to find out what Bootcamps are being delivered and the timetable of future camps/dates. Across the city solutions include:
Skills Bootcamps which offer free, flexible courses of up to 16 weeks. Participants are offered a job interview once they have successfully completed the course which is a fast track route to closing your skills gap through recruitment. It’s free to use Skills Bootcamps to recruit new employees. Bootcamps are ideal for existing and new staff to attend to upskill and improve their knowledge in specific areas relating to their jobs. If you use Skills Bootcamps to train existing employees you may be able to access funding for up to 90% of the training costs.
Sector based work Academy (SWAP) are programmes that prepare those receiving unemployment benefits to apply for jobs in a different area of work using a combination of pre-employment training. Placements are designed to help meet employers' immediate and future recruitment needs to recruit a workforce with the right skills to sustain and grow their business.
There is no direct cost to an employer for running a SWAP as training and administration costs are covered by government funding. For info, participants/ trainees remain on benefits while on a SWAP placement. The government will pay any travel and childcare costs whilst benefit claimants are on the scheme.
Your business could benefit from offering SWAP placements for the following reasons:
this is a flexible programme that can be tailored to meet employer recruitment needs
employers can recruit staff with the right training and skills from the outset, developed through fully funded pre-employment training
an opportunity to provide work experience placements for potential employees to ensure they are suited to that type of role and your company
work experience placements allow developmental opportunities for existing employees, for example by working on their mentoring, supervisory and coaching skills
reduces the risks within the overall process of recruiting new employees
an opportunity for positive publicity to show how like-minded businesses are working together to meet their social responsibilities.
Did you know?
Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) can help employers develop a skilled and job-ready workforce.
A sector-based work academy has three main components. Employers can develop their own programmes, aligned to their businesses and will need to provide:
pre-employment training – matched to the needs of your business sector and job role (this can be arranged at no cost through a training provider)
safe, meaningful, and high-quality work experience placement – which is a great opportunity for your business to identify talent and for the individual to cement their knowledge and understanding of the required role
a guaranteed job interview or meaningful written feedback if an applicant is unsuccessful in applying for the vacancy (so that they can use their experience to improve future applications).
How it works in the City
Jobcentre Plus can support employers to use Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), which are designed to help fill vacancies by preparing jobseekers with the skills and experience needed for specific roles. SWAPs combine pre-employment training, workplace experience and a guaranteed interview for participants, helping employers connect with motivated, job-ready candidates.
Your local Jobcentre Plus team can discuss whether a SWAP could support your recruitment needs and help you develop a programme tailored to your sector and vacancies. For more information, email plymouth.eateam@dwp.gov.uk or submit an enquiry through the online enquiry form.
Local Sector Skills Partnerships
Across Plymouth, Sector Skills Partnerships can help businesses address recruitment, workforce development and skills challenges.
Building Plymouth
For more than a decade, Building Plymouth has brought together employers, training providers and stakeholders from across the construction and built environment sector. With a shared vision to close skills gaps and skills shortages by attracting and developing the workforce local employers need, the partnership now includes more than 70 members and champions careers, training and employment opportunities across the sector.
Building Plymouth helps employers connect with local talent, promote careers in construction, support workforce development, and engage with sector-specific recruitment and training opportunities, including construction careers events, Job Shops and training initiatives.
For more information, visit Building Plymouth or email hello@buildingplymouth.co.uk.
Caring Plymouth
Making Plymouth a great place to grow up and grow old is one of the city's key priorities, and Caring Plymouth works with employers, education providers and partners to develop workforce solutions across the health and social care sector.
The partnership supports recruitment, retention, skills development and careers promotion, helping employers connect with local talent and training opportunities while ensuring the city has the workforce needed to deliver high-quality care and support.
To find out more or get involved, email caringplymouth@plymouth.gov.uk.
Welcoming Plymouth
Welcoming Plymouth, working closely with Destination Plymouth, brings together employers, education providers and partners from across Plymouth's hospitality, retail, leisure, tourism and visitor economy sectors to support recruitment, workforce development and careers promotion.
The partnership helps employers connect with local talent, showcase opportunities within the visitor economy and engage with initiatives designed to attract, develop and retain a skilled workforce.
Through collaboration across the city, Welcoming Plymouth champions careers that help make Plymouth a vibrant, welcoming destination for residents and visitors alike, while supporting employers to access the people and skills needed for growth.
To find out more, email SkillsLaunchpad@plymouth.gov.uk.
The current pace of change for all businesses is unprecedented with new technologies, trends, mediums, materials and techniques meaning employers are needing digital capabilities within their workforce now more than ever. This has an impact on each and every company, the people they employ and future workforces, regardless of the sector. Employer-led training opportunities for individuals to upskill or acquire new skill sets in the digital sector has the potential for even greater positive impact for employers in the current challenging climate.
Digital Skills Bootcamp
The Digital Skills Bootcamp programme, funded through the National Skills Fund, includes different Digital and Technical Skills Bootcamps that have been designed to help local people advance or pivot their skills into growing sectors.
Employers can work with providers to develop a Digital Skills Bootcamp tailored to your business. Bootcamps can also provide you with trained candidates and help you recruit directly from the programmes. All training local organisations below would welcome employer input.
Details of all Skills Bootcamp providers and can be found here.
Find out more
Connecting to Bootcamp participants
The various sector led Skills Bootcamps delivered across the South West can support your recruitment and skills needs by connecting you with the learners/participants. Bootcamps can also provide you with trained candidates and help you recruit directly from the programmes.
For further information please contact the training providers local to you (Skills Bootcamp providers and can be found here) to discuss your needs as an employer, to check availability, and see what is running.