Pathways into employment
Most children and young people will cope well with transition through each phase of their educational journey and will move successfully into paid employment as they reach adulthood.
For some young people, the journey is more difficult as they may face barriers which disrupt their learning and attendance in education. They may require additional help and support in order to enable them to achieve their goals and aspirations.
There is also help and support available for adults who may be looking to change careers, get back into work, or looking for new opportunities through volunteering.
The Stepping Stones to Employment Model may help you or the person that you are supporting to navigate your way through the different provision and services that are available in Swindon who can help you move closer to employment, education or training.
The model is split into 5 sections:
- Early Engagement
- Getting into Education
- Getting ready for Work
- Getting into Work
- Support to Stay in Work
It recognises that people are at different stages in their journey towards education, employment or training and provides information on the provision and services that are available to support you, wherever you are in that journey.
For those aged 16 or 17 years, please use this form to let us know whether you are in Education, Employment or Training (EET) or Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET): Notify SBC of your current EET status and if you need further support we will be in touch with you.
Youth Education, Employment and Training Hub
Swindon Borough Council are currently piloting a Youth Education, Employment and Training (YEET) Hub. This will provide a ‘one stop shop’ for young people who are not in education, employment or training or at risk of losing their employment, education or training provision. A number of partners are involved in this project including the Job Centre Plus (DWP), National Careers Service, Building Bridges, Supported Employment Service, Stonewater and local education and training providers and employers.
The official launch of the YEET Hub took place through our Learn Live event on Tuesday 20th October 2020. Don’t worry if you missed the event you can still view all of the content via the following link until October 2021: Swindon Youth Education, Employment and Training Hub
The YEET Hub provides a range of services, information and resources including face to face appointments (COVID permitting) and online support and information for anyone aged 16+ who is not in education, employment or training.
National Careers Service events and webinars
To provide some additional support to job seekers during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the National Careers Service are running a series of free events and webinars. For more information, including a link to register for the events, is available from National Careers Service events.
Redundancy support
To support those who may be affected by redundancy, Swindon Borough Council, Wiltshire Council and the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership are hosting a series of free webinars:
- How to manage your wellbeing during redundancy - 25 November 2020, 4pm -5pm
- Facing redundancy? Successfully finding a new job - 2 December 2020, 4pm -5pm
- Facing redundancy? Developing your skills to help find another job - 9 December 2020, 4pm -5pm
All events will be recorded and available online via the council websites.
Further information on redundancy support for individuals and businesses can be found on the Swindon Borough Council website.
Support and provision available
This section provides examples and information on the types of support and provision that are available to all young people to enable them to succeed in life and work. To see a full list of support and provision, please follow this link: Skills, training, employment and volunteering
Swindon Borough Council does not endorse provision by sharing it on the Local Offer – we provide this service for your information and to bring together information on different provision so it is more accessible.
Whilst much of the provision is free, there may some costs associated with some of the provision that is listed.
There are a range of options to support you into education, employment or training which are outlined below:
Early engagement
This provides a range of training and support for young people who are not currently in education, employment or training and need some extra support to get them ready for education or employment. This type of support is available from the following providers:
- Smash
- Building Bridges
- Get Ahead programme
- Penhill Community Cafe
- Natspec
- Pluss
- Inner Flame
- Stonewater - supported housing
- Prime Theatre
- Refugee Council - helping refugees into work guides
Getting into education
Entry level courses up to higher education level study programmes and courses in a wide range of subjects. This type of support is available from the following providers:
- Swindon Borough Council
- Cirencester College
- New College Swindon
- Green Labyrinth
- Horizons College
- Swindon and Wiltshire Careers Hub
- University and college Open Days directory
- Adult Community Learning
Getting ready for employment
A range of employability and work skills training, vocational qualifications, volunteering, work experience, work based training, traineeships and supported employment. This type of support is available from the following providers:
- Careerpilot
- New College Swindon
- Green Labyrinth
- Swindon Borough Council Supported Employment Service
- Disability Experts
- Key Performance Training
- Whitehead Ross Education and Consulting
- Volunteer Centre Swindon
- StedyChefs Learning Centre
Getting into employment
This includes apprenticeships, paid employment and self-employment. This type of support is available from the following providers:
- Amazing Apprenticeships
- New College Swindon
- Green Labyrinth
- Horizons College
- Swindon College
- The Platform Project
- Swindon Social Enterprise Network
- Swindon and Wiltshire Growth Hub
- Swindon Borough Council Supported Employment Service
- Starting out in your career
- jobhelp
- RAF careers mentoring programme
- Disabled Workers Co-operative
- Rapid Enterprise Development - self-employment guides
- Jobcentre Plus
Support to stay in work
A range of in-work support is available, including job coaching, access to work and upskilling/reskilling. This type of support is available from the following providers:
- Swindon Borough Council Supported Employment Service
- Individual application or by provider for supported internship
- Serco
You can also view the skills, training, employment and volunteering section of the service directory for details of other opportunities and support available.
Related content
- Raising the participation age for young people post 16 – information for parents, carers and young people
- National Careers Service
- Apprenticeship stories - local apprentices share why they chose the apprenticeship route
- Apprenticeships and supported internships
- Find a traineeship
- Disabled Students' Allowances
- Access to Work