This page provides resources and information for professionals working with young people and their families, including the Operational Stepping Stones to Employment model and careers information, advice and guidance resources that will help you to feel more confident in your Education, Employment and Training (EET) practice.
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, and 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.
Career Pilot - careers information and tools for 11-19 year olds
Amazing Apprenticeships - extensive range of resources, including information on Traineeships, Intermediate and Higher Degree Level Apprenticeships
Lifepilot - a one-stop career website for adults (19+) with information and tools to help adults progress in life and work through higher education level study
GOV.UK website - includes information on education and learning, student finance, finding a job and more
This page provides lots of information, advice and resources on how you can improve your employability skills, knowledge and experience. From useful websites to supported employment services, information on traineeships and short courses there’s lots of useful advice here.
Employability and work skills training
New College Swindon - Adult Learning Centre - offer regular Maths, English and IT courses. The centre also offers a great choice of employability and Community Learning courses with a weekly Job Club.
Phoenix Enterprises - provide support, training and employment opportunities for adults experiencing short or long term mental health problems
Youth Employment UK - their Skills and Careers Hub provides 14-24 year olds with free resources, advice and guidance. Designed with input from young people, the Skills and Careers Hub offers practical tools to support young people through education, transition into employment and beyond in a process of lifelong learning.
Careerpilot - online resource providing careers information and tools for 11-19 year olds
StedyChefs Learning Centre - offer a range of courses for adults with disabilities, local schools, colleges and provisions based around catering and hospitality. The courses provide great hands-on experience, and can lead to gaining employability and independent living skills.
Skills for Life - supports adults to develop their skills by bringing together government backed skills and training opportunities to support lifelong learning
Key Training - traineeship programmes to give those aged 16-24 the skills and experience that they need to progress into employment
Haddon Training - offers traineeships for 16-23 year olds with little or no work experience
PLUSS - supports people with disabilities and other disadvantages move into employment
Transport
Dial A Ride - a local voluntary organisation whose aim is to provide safe, affordable, accessible transport for the community. They assist anyone whose mobility impairment means that they are unable to use existing public transport.
Vocational qualifications
CSCS Card - confused about which card you need? The most common card is the green general operative card but depending on your trade or position, you may need to take a specialist or managers test
Tempus Training online - are you looking to work in construction? The construction industry offers a huge variety of roles and plenty of opportunities for career growth with average salaries of around £24k. To get on-site you’ll need a CSCS Card. Tempus Training’s completely free CSCS Programme will help you get the CSCS card plus the skills, qualifications and support to get into work quickly
Headway - charity set up to give help and support to people affected by brain injury
Volunteering
National Trust - a range of volunteer roles are available at a variety of locations
Volunteer Rangers - Swindon Borough Council - our volunteer rangers carry out a variety of tasks in our local country parks, including helping to run, organise and deliver events such as guided walks, wildlife workshops and wildlife surveys
Once you’ve increased your confidence, skills and experience you are ready to start your job search and career pathway. Pathways include direct entry into the open labour market, apprenticeships and self-employment and you will find useful tips and information on how to start your job search, set up your own business, apply for jobs and prepare for interviews here.
Horizons College - programme designed to enable young people with special educational needs to achieve sustainable employment with a local employer
Down Syndrome Association - help to get supported apprenticeships/internships through their WorkFit employment programme
Project search - is a one-year internship program for students with special educational needs, autism and or disability and have an EHCP. It is targeted for students whose goal is competitive employment in the community.
Apprenticeships
New College Swindon (apprenticeships) - these combine practical training in a job with study. You can apply for an apprenticeship whilst you are still at school and as an adult as they open to all ages
Haddon Training - specialising in equine apprenticeships, but also offer apprenticeships in animal care, business administration, customer services, warehousing and management
Key Training - their apprenticeship programmes are designed for learners at all levels, covering a wide range of roles and sectors
Network Rail- offer both apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships in engineering, operations, IT, business services and finance
Amazing Apprenticeships - have an extensive range of resources which help to explain apprenticeships, plus a range of apprenticeship vacancies from national employers
Find an Apprenticeship - a GOV.UK website where you can search and apply for apprenticeships
Paid employment
jobsite - a website where you can search for job vacancies
Jobcentre Plus - government funded employment agency which provides assistance to those who are unemployed and claiming benefits
Find a job - a GOV.UK website where you can search for job vacancies
JobHelp - provides a wide range of job search help and advice, including hints and tips on applying for jobs. Also includes a Starting out in your career section to provide advice for those under 25
Disabled Workers Co-operative - charity that provides a searchable database bringing together skills of disabled individuals and organisations employing disabled people
Swindon recruitment agencies - directory of Swindon recruitment agencies (includes Swindon, Devizes and Highworth areas)
Self-employment
The Platform Project- a youth development scheme that helps young people develop confidence and employability skills through a range of different enterprise activities
Rapid Enterprise Development self-employment guides - offers a range of tool and guides to help you on your business journey. Many of the guides available are designed specifically for disabled people while others are more general business development guides
The armed forces
Army careers - offer a wide range of career options, including regular roles, reservist, soldier and officer level training
Royal Air Force - a range of career opportunities as a regular or reserve are available. Also offer a range of apprenticeships in a variety of roles
Royal Navy - a range of careers are available in a wide variety of roles
Sometimes getting the job is the easy part, staying in work can be more difficult.
There is a range of in-work support available to you to help you to stay in regular employment, including job coaching, Access to Work and upskilling/reskilling. You can find out more about the types of support available and how you can access it here:
Job coaching
The Swindon Support into Employment Service helps people overcome their barriers to education and employment across Swindon. Support includes: work experience, work taster sessions, CV development workshops, job-searching, interview preparation, in-work support, volunteering opportunities, specialist employment support
Support in work if you have a disability or health condition (Access to Work)
Access to Work grants can pay for specialist equipment, adaptations or support worker services. Can apply if you are self-employed, an apprentices in work experience or on a supported internship or work trial. Cannot apply for volunteering or other unpaid work.
Upskilling/reskilling
Serco - Skills Support for the Workforce - helps support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to up-skill their employees with training courses and qualifications to grow their business and boost the local economy