How to get support in your job search
View all local employability provisions
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A current apprentice?
If you are a current apprentice, you will continue to be supported by your college or training provider who are working with employers to ensure the workplace is safe.
If you are experiencing any issues, please contact your college or training provider in the first instance.
We are working on a more comprehensive offer with ESFA. More detail will be included when known.
There are currently several colleges and training providers delivering apprenticeships in Warwickshire.
View local Colleges and Training Providers
Should you have anymore questions, or your College/ Training Provider is not on the list, please do get in touch with WCC.
A Redundant apprentice?
If you are an apprentice and have been made redundant, or you believe you are at risk of redundancy, support is available. Your college or training provider will work with you to secure a new employer.
A new service that allows employers to share their vacancies with redundant apprentices has been launched by the Department for Education. The “vacancy sharing service” has been set up alongside a new online and telephone support service for apprentices who have lost their jobs during Covid-19 outbreak.
Apprenticeship vacancies can already be viewed via the government’s Find An Apprenticeship website, but the new service, which can be accessed by clicking here, will see the DfE “share your [employer] details with [redundant] apprentices who are interested in your opportunity, so they can contact you directly”, or by calling 0800 015 0400 to get free advice, find new opportunities, and access local and national support services offering financial, health and wellbeing, legal and careers advice.
Search for vacancies in your area
You can visit your local college website to access information about their apprenticeship opportunities or to explore alternative options. Find your local college
If you are over 18 and have been made redundant, support is available through your local job centre who will be able to offer one to one and online support to help you explore new apprenticeship, training or employment opportunities.
The National Careers Service will also support you with free advice and guidance:
If you are 16-18 you can discuss your options with a careers advisor accessible through prospects.
Visit North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College’s website to access information about their apprenticeship opportunities.
Access the websites of local Colleges and Training Providers where vacancies are often advertised.Getting in touch with Apprenticeship providers,even if they don’t currently have a vacancy you want, may increase your chances of continuing your apprenticeship elsewhere. Which is all linked with the ‘matching service’.
An Aspiring Apprentice?
The government has announced a range of incentives to help more companies create and employ more apprenticeships. Lots of colleges and training providers do a matching service so it’s well worth registering your interest with them.
As an apprentice you’ll combine earning and learning by working for an employer and studying for an industry relevant qualification (minimum 12 months).
If you are thinking about becoming an apprentice you can search for opportunities on the apprenticeship website.
It’s also a good idea to talk to your local college or training providers so they can tell you more about the employers they work with.
You can access employment with training from job sites:
Local provision from:
Support to find a job, including help with completing application forms, interview practice and detail of local vacancies is available locally at:
A Current Student?
If you are a current student at college, you will continue to receive teaching and support until the end of the summer term, and this will be via online delivery of distance learning. Tutors will be available for you to chat with on a one to one basis and if you are unsure of who to contact.
If you are due to return to sixth form at your current school, please contact them to find out more.
North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College
0330 058 3000
0300 456 0047
01789 266245
024 7693 2932
A New Student?
If you are due to start college in September, there will be:
- Online enrolment
- Support with learning on-site
- Opportunities to address gaps in technical or practical knowledge or experience
- Enhanced induction
- Information, advice and guidance support and taster sessions to help you make the right choice for your future career
If you are due to start sixth form at your current school or a new school, please contact them to find out more.
Colleges are putting extra support in place to help new and returning students to settle in, make friends and successfully progress with your studies. Most colleges have a dedicated Facebook page and would encourage young people to begin chatting to others prior to the start of term.
If you are due to begin a higher education course at your local college, plans are in place to support your transition and to alleviate any concerns or anxieties. Most colleges have a dedicated Facebook page and would encourage young people to begin chatting to others prior to the start of term. If you have questions around student finance, visit Student Finance.
Thinking about Study?
There are a huge range of college and sixth form courses to choose from. Visit your local college or sixth form for more information.
There are a range of free on-line courses available to develop your skills or explore new subjects:
All colleges hold open days and evenings (even virtually). It’s worth visiting your local college website to see when they are.
Opportunities for training and employment alongside support with skills and employability. By visiting the local College websites, you can view all of their opportunities by searching for training/courses that may suit you, and also a chance to ask any questions with contact information on the websites.
North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College
If you have any specific questions you can message the college through the website, or call 0330 058 3000
Looking at Training?
Age 16-24
4Steps to Progress – NEET and project delivered by Workpays
4 Steps to progress is designed to support an individual through a range of qualifications and provide them with skills, competency and knowledge to enable them to move onto a positive destination. This programme is for people age 16-24 years old who are not in education, employment or training
Age 15-24
Positive Futures – Pet-Xi
PET-Xi’s barrier breaking ‘Positive Futures’ programme has been developed to help15-24 year olds not currently in education, employment or training - or at risk of becoming so.
We provide a high level of personal attention, mentoring and motivational support. Through our personal mentoring approach and comprehensive programme, they have the opportunity to gain qualifications and employability skills with the overall aim of helping them to progress into a positive destination.
Participants in the programme can receive support with important areas like how to go about applying for a job, CV and cover-letter writing and perfecting their interview skills as well as help with building confidence and skills for work.
Age 19+
All young people (19-29 years) can access a range of full and part time courses in specific job-related training.
https://beta.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/covid-19-support/online-resources/
This will include access to training linked to the recruitment of jobs in key areas like care, construction and digital, where employers are recruiting in the region. Where training is linked directly to local jobs, trainees will still be able to access benefits.
Please keep checking this page as we will regularly update with training and employment opportunities.
Construction
We have specialist retraining in construction available through our construction gateway programme. To sign up for construction training, talk to your local job centre or contact the National Careers Service West Midlands on 0121 296 5550. You can find out more by visiting:
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/ or by calling 0800 100 900
Social Care
#SocialCare can mean several different things from cooking, cleaning, personal care, medication, companionship and DIY support.
Digital
If you are interested in a career in digital you can access information about roles and training:
https://beta.wmca.org.uk/what-we-do/power-up/
There are also coding bootcamps that are available.
For more information on these programmes;
Looking for a job?
The job centre has dedicated Work coaches (Youth Employability Coaches) focused on helping young people find work. You will need to be registered at the job centre to access this facility.
Building Better Opportunities Progress project will support with job hunting. Groundwork is working across Coventry and Warwickshire to deliver ‘Progress’, a tailored programme of coaching and support to help NEET young people access training and employment opportunities. Progress is targeted at those who are the furthest away from getting work, training or back into education. The programme provides up to 12 months of personalised, one-to-one support to young people who are most in need of a helping hand to get them on the path to a successful future.
Support to find a job, including help with completing application forms, interview practice and access to local vacancies.
Thinking about volunteering?
The National Volunteering Organisation gives loads of info about what it is like to volunteer, how to do it safely and where to find out about opportunities:
You can access live opportunities and this platform also allows you to build your CV from the skills you have gained volunteering:
https://uk.becollective.com/?ignoreRegionGuess=true
Specific volunteering opportunities include:
National Citizenship Service,designed specifically for 16 and 17 year olds. The NCS experience will give you a clearer picture of what you want from your future:
Prince’s Trust Team Programmes run a 12-week personal development programme for 16-25 year olds. It provides a chance to gain new skills, take a qualification and meet new people:
https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/get-job/boost-your-confidence
Coventry City of Culture (2021) and The Commonwealth Games (2022) will offer lots of volunteering opportunities. You can register your interest in becoming a volunteer for the Commonwealth games by visiting:
https://www.birmingham2022.com/get-involved/volunteering/
You can access live volunteering opportunities specifically in Warwickshire you can go to:
https://www.wcava.org.uk/volunteering
Looking at a work placement or internship?
Work placements are a great way to get a feel for a job or a company and also give your CV a boost. Movement to Work offer work experience with some leading large employers like BT, Marks and Spencers, The Army and many more:
https://www.mtwplacements.com/Search/page400/1/size400/12?page400=1&size400=12
Work experience placements
Warwickshire County Council offers multiple work experience opportunities across the organisation, including ICT, Legal Services, Marketing and Communications, Country Parks, and much more.The work experience programme is designed to offer each participant an opportunity to develop themselves as well as finding out more about the council and the type of work the it does.
Toolshed work and study programme now running in Warwickshire
Toolshed's work and study programme is for 16-24 year olds and consists of a work placement of the young person's choice and one-to-one tutoring for English, Maths, ICT & Employability.
Toolshed has an extensive database of employers and they work hard to find the most compatible placement approaching employers on the student's behalf. The programme is a year long, if a student is invited on to the programme they can start at any point in the year.
You can explore internships and work experience opportunities in Warwickshire.
For more information on Toolshed contact Alex by emailing alex.cooper@newmeaning.co.uk or by calling07873 840257.
Specific health opportunities can be found via the following link:
https://www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/work-experience/
https://www.swft.nhs.uk/join-us/careers/work-experience
Thinking of starting up your own business?
Prince’s Trust have helped thousands of young people start their own business. If you are thinking about setting up your own business, you can have a look at what support they can provide:
https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/support-starting-business
Specific support for starting your own business in Warwickshire- you can access this through Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub
Enquiries should be directed to contact@cwgrowthhub.co.uk or by calling 0300 060 3747.
A young person with special education needs or a disability?
You may be interested in finding out more information regarding your next steps. Your local college can provide advice and guidance. To find out your nearest college and for more information visit:
www.collegeswestmidlands.org.uk
Hereward College provides study programmes, learning experiences, and award winning work placement opportunities for young people (age 16-25) with complex disabilities and learning difficulties. We specialise in supporting day and residential learners who have a range of needs including autism, physical difficulties, profound and multiple learning difficulties, and complex disabilities.
A black, Asian or ethnic minority young person?
If you are looking for next steps, Youth Employment Uk offers support. You can access this by visiting:
https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/.
