Ross Brown, Contract Manager at Opportunity Sheffield, welcomed guests to the Spring Teacake Club Meeting, hosted by Business Sheffield at Electric Works on Friday 19 April 2024.
Speakers
BUSINESS SHEFFIELD
Jonathan Richards (Operations Manager), Business Sheffield – Launchpad Grant Funding
Jonathan explained that Business Sheffield is a section of Sheffield City Council within the Economy, Skills and Culture service. It is made-up of a wide array of specialists who support businesses in start-up and help them to grow. This support includes: start-up provision, business growth, retail and high street support, investment, and technology.
He told us how Business Sheffield Advisors will support pre-start and newly established businesses with financial planning and additional funding. There are a few grants available to businesses within Sheffield depending on their circumstances, including: the Launchpad Start-up Grant, the Productivity Grant, and the Digital Innovation Grant.
Jonathan gave some more detail about the Launchpad Grant which is a scheme to provide funding (between £500 and £1000) to help new and existing businesses and entrepreneurs develop and grow their businesses.
Business Sheffield have already awarded over 60 businesses with a grant, to the value of over £50,000. Before an application can be submitted for assessment, applicants are required to engage with a business advisor to demonstrate viability of the business.
Eligibility for these grants can be discussed by emailing businesssheffield@sheffield.gov.uk or calling 0114 224 5000.
Visit the Business Sheffield website.
SHEFFIELD EMPLOYMENT & SKILLS ADVISORY BOARD (SESAB)
Kevin Owers (Policy Officer – Employment & Skills), Opportunity Sheffield – South Yorkshire Skills Strategy
Kevin told us about South Yorkshire’s Skills Strategy that was published by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combine Authority (SYMCA) in March 2024 and outlines South Yorkshire priorities for employment and skills.
Its mission is to structure skills activity and discussions across the area and move those far from the labour market into work or ready for work, raise attainment of core knowledge and skills, and increase the supply of a high-skilled workforce.
He explained the need for a local strategy for Sheffield to align with the regional document, and outlined the preparatory work the Sheffield Employment & Skills Advisory Board (SESAB) has been undertaking since 2023 to bring this fruition.
The local strategy will deliver a long-term, clear vision, provide a detailed five-year roadmap with actions, and include a live dashboard.
We heard how Sheffield City Council, working on behalf of SESAB, has recently commissioned a partnership of consultants to develop the strategy – Kada Research and Ekosgen. Extensive consultation has already taken place by Kada Research in respect of the South Yorkshire Skills Strategy and intelligence gained from this exercise will frame consultation workshops to be staged with local stakeholders over the next 2-3 months.
There will be opportunities for all stakeholders to give their input through themed groups that will seek to draw upon feedback from the research and advance the conversation. The strategy aims to be published by September 2024.
More about the South Yorkshire Skills Strategy on the SYMCA website.
OPPORTUNITY SHEFFIELD – ADVANCE
Bill Hilton (Strategic Support Officer), Opportunity Sheffield – Advance Programme
The Advance team support people in work to improve their skills and economic situation. They offer advice on how to identify the skills needs of the workforce, promote the offer to employees and support learners through funded training.
To be eligible, individuals need to be aged 18+, employed, and a resident in South Yorkshire. Some of the new courses that have recently been procured are: Mental Health First Aid, IOSH, Forest School Team Leader, Teaching Assistant, IPS Supervision.
There are currently vacancies to work in the Advance team for two Senior Project Officers – Grade 7. The closing date is Thursday 9 May 2024.
For more details email Bill Hilton on Bill.Hilton@sheffield.gov.uk or Becky Hopewell on Becky.Hopewell@sheffield.gov.uk or call 0114 229 6188.
More information about Advance (career progression & training) can be found on the Opportunity Sheffield website.
CARE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE’S FUTURE
Terezia Rostas (CYPF Founder, Roma Educational Consultant & Advocate), Care for Young People’s Future – Roma Women’s Employment Project
The aim of the project is to build alliances between women networks and to ensure legal and policy standards are applied to Roma women and girls. Terezia spoke about how Roma Women are transforming the educational systems around Europe through their social and political mobilisations and this work will continue through the UKSPF funded contract with Opportunity Sheffield.
We learnt that there are between 8000 and 9000 Roma people in Sheffield, many of which face inequalities and barriers to accessing employment. The project has a careers advisor who will help to inspire and empower the Roma women, giving employment support and offering volunteering opportunities. Terezia talked about the successes of previous projects and how the funding will help to continue the work already started.
Visit the Care for Young People’s Future website.
STREET LEAGUE
Graham Severn (Operations Manager for South Yorkshire), Street League
Street League is a national charity that has just celebrated its 20th year. They offer sport and fitness as part of their programmes to provide enrichment and improve mental health.
Graham told us that in Sheffield, they currently offer:
- Weekly drop-in sport and fitness sessions for unemployed people between 16 and 30 years old. Held at Ponds Forge on Tuesdays 4pm-5pm and at Goals Sheffield on Mondays 5pm-6pm.
- Street League Academy is a 12-week training programme delivering functional skills for 16-24-year-olds needing maths or English support. The programme is four times a week and runs three times a year. In addition to maths and English support, the programme also offers personal development (e.g. drug and alcohol education, first aid). Sport is an optional element built into every day of the programme.
- There is a weekly job club offering 1:1 appointments in partnership with other organisations (for example the youth hubs). They provide enrichment activities alongside practical employability skills like CV writing.
Visit the Street League website.
SHEFFIELD CITY OF SANCTUARY
Blessan Babu (SPRING Delivery and Advocacy Manager), Sheffield City of Sanctuary – The Sheffield Project for Refugee Integration and Growth
Sheffield City of Sanctuary’s vision is to create a safe space for people of all cultures and for all new refugees in Sheffield to lead full lives. The Sanctuary is a place of safety and welcome and provides a calm place to sit with a warm drink.
It offers opportunities for participation in conversation groups and other social activities. Blessan told us how the drop-in sessions offer crucial face-to-face support with English language classes and signposting to other support services, such as food banks.
The Sheffield Project for Refugee Integration and Growth (SPRING) addresses urgent needs such as housing, benefits, and immigration advice. It also focuses on long-term integration and empowerment through education, employment, language classes and mental health support.
Since 2019, they have supported over 1500 new refugees, prevented multiple homeless cases, created the Sheffield Lift the Ban Coalition and made numerous referrals to their partners. Their Advocacy and System Change Team are currently working on: Lift the Ban Strategy 2024: the right to work, concessionary free travel passes in Sheffield, and access to good quality legal help and representation.
Visit the Sheffield City of Sanctuary website.
MIGRATION YORKSHIRE
Jane Williamson (Employer Engagement Coordinator), Migration Yorkshire – Health and Social Care Visas
Migration Yorkshire is a local-authority led partnership with partners including local authorities, the voluntary sector, the Home Office, health and police. Their key roles are: strategic leadership and coordination, information, data and research, expert support for local integration, and responding to change.
Jane told us about the Economic Integration Team who can advise partner organisations on matters relating to migrant employment and provide information about employment, training and education opportunities.
She went on to give us details about the Health and Social Care Visas and how the issues with sponsorship have contributed to an increase in modern slavery. The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) has been inundated with cases of migrant care workers.
She explained the many issues arising from Health and Social Care Visas including: people being forced to work excessive hours with a lack of training or equipment, unfair salary deductions and underpayment, car loans with high charges, being forced to sign paperwork they do not understand, becoming destitute with no recourse to public funds, and being left without a sponsor.
This leaves migrants reliant on illegitimate work, foodbanks, charities and faith centres to survive. Jane then gave a list of ways providers can support displaced workers and some useful websites and helplines to use.
Visit the Migration Yorkshire website.
IN BRIEF
Attendees had a chance to briefly promote services they work for and/or projects they are working on.
Speakers in this quarter’s In Brief segment included Charmaine Myers from Sheffield Futures, Colin Ellis from Employment is for Everyone, Khalid Abdillahi (Debt Advisor) from Citizen’s Advice, Abbie Thorpe from RNN Group and Alex Ashida from Green Tree Therapy.
Opportunity Sheffield would like to thank Business Sheffield and Electric Works for hosting our Spring 2024 meeting at their venue.
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