Peter Slack, Strategic Support Coordinator at Opportunity Sheffield, welcomed guests to the Winter Teacake Club Meeting, hosted by Henry Boot on Thursday 16 January 2025.
You can see the full slideshow here:
Speakers
Henry Boot
Chloe Janes – Events and Engagement Manager
Chloe welcomed everyone to Henry Boot. Henry Boot offers various apprenticeships and job vacancies, all of which can be accessed via their website.
Chloe will be happy to offer various office spaces in the building free of charge, from large meeting rooms for an event to a small room for interviews. Anyone interested should get in touch with her at: cjanes@henryboot.co.uk
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Sian Waddell – HNS, Employability Lead & Learning and Development Facilitator
Sheffield Training Hospitals (STH) employs around 20,000 members of staff over five different sites in Sheffield in a variety of roles. They really want to widen participation, especially for entry level jobs, and have employed numerous projects to this end.
PROUD Apprenticeships are Level 2 customer service apprenticeships specifically aimed at NHS roles. In July 14 apprentices started this, 50% of whom had Learning Difficulties, neurodiversity or disability issues. 13 more cohorts are due to start from February 2025.
Its Clinical Support Worker apprenticeship is a ‘Widening Access Project’ for people wanting to start a career in clinical roles such as nursing. The project offers lots of support in IAG and interview training.
STH have collaborated with Street League and Kings Trust on a one-week programme for young people, with ring-fenced vacancies for each project. Last year 55% received a job offer.
It’s sector-based work academy aims to help refugees into domestic/facilities roles. 100% of candidates got jobs at the end of the course.
STH offers Supported Internships with Chances and The Sheffield College, providing placements and various workshops. Community Workshops provide application and interview support. STH provides lots of other Level 2, Level 3 and Entry Level Apprenticeships, as well as Degree Apprenticeships.
Last year, STH ran a World of Work Careers Fair took place at Winter Gardens. It was an opportunity for candidates to apply for ring-fenced vacancies, whilst a range of employability services were present to support candidates. There were 336 expressions of interest.
As well as providing the above opportunities again, this year STH are collaborating with Opportunity Sheffield on a Sector Routeways Business Admin course in February 2025.
There will be a new approach to the Domestics recruitment process, with an Assessment Day replacing the full application process and ring-fenced vacancies. Look out for the Facilities SWAP coming in June 2025.
Apprenticeship candidates require a Level 1 in Maths, English or Functional Skills.
Contact: sian.waddell@nhs.net or sth.employability@nhs.net
To find out more, visit the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals website.
Working Win
Sanjay Nijhawan – Team Leader
The aim of the Working Win programme, using the IPS model, is to support people with barriers into paid employment. Sanjay was delighted to report that its funding has been extended beyond March 2025.
The programme is South Yorkshire wide and open to those aged 16 and over. Participants get a personal coach throughout their journey. Once in work, participants continue to receive support for at least one month.
Over the year in Sheffield, 1,000 participants were supported with 480 gaining employment. Working Win aims to work with as many communities, sectors and local employers as possible.
Clients already in employment, but who are not currently working due to ill health or other reasons are also eligible for support.
For more information, email: sanjay.nijhawan@shaw-trust.org.uk
To find out more, visit the Working Win page on the SYMCA website.
Work Well
Olivier Shaw – Team Leader
Working with South Yorkshire Housing Association, Work Well is a short-term intervention for those recently out of work, off sick or struggling in work.
The project consists of eight weeks of 1-2-1 support, along with access to a Participant Support Fund, which can pay up to £300 to support clients in or out of work for thing such as laptops, travel costs, childcare.
Work Well are currently recruiting a Health at Work Coach, to support participants with health conditions. The eligibility criteria is ages 16 and over and living in South Yorkshire. It is for those who have become recently unemployed (3 months), or struggling in work.
To find out more, email: o.shaw@syha.co.uk
Referrals can come from local organisations or via self-referral through the Work Well website.
Grow
Charley Crump – Training Manager
Grow have their own site based on Manor Lane. The programme is for 16-24 year old NEETS (not in employment, education or training), aiming to improve well-being, employment and social connection through nature, working in horticulture.
The main barriers for participants tends to be a lack of previous jobs or work experience, or that they are not yet ready for work. A part of the programme is helping participants with their CVs.
The first programme this year is a four-week course starting Monday 27 January. There are further cohorts starting in May and September. The hours are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 13pm – 3:30pm.
Participants will have a guaranteed interview with Grow, get PPE, group coaching and a weekly 1-2-1 session.
Grow’s work experience course consists of 10.5 hours in total, based with employment partners in the horticulture industry, consisting of seven hours paid work experience and 3.5 hours with Grow, over a 10-week period.
They support up to 15 participants in each programme cohort, and seven in paid work experience.
For more information, email: charly.crump@growuk.org
To find out more, visit the Grow website.
Opportunity Sheffield
John Powell – Partnership Manager
John reported on the new pots of funding coming through to Opportunity Sheffield and that specifications for the work the service will be commissioning will be coming out in the next few weeks.
There will be a 12-month Economic Inactivity Trailblazer project worth £3million for Sheffield. This will require engagement with 2,000 economically inactive residents, getting 900 into work, alongside other targets.
In addition, there is another round of UKSPF funding worth £2.2million to engage with 1,200 Sheffield residents who are economically inactive or socially excluded and unemployed, with the aim of moving 400 into work.
The aim is to combine these two pots into one contract badged as ‘Pathways to Work’. There will be more contracts for areas of the city with higher deprivation, along with contracts specifically targeting various groups such as those with health conditions, ex-offenders and many more.
To find out more, visit the Opportunity Sheffield website or keep a look out for the latest news on the Teacake Club website.
South Yorkshire Housing Association
Matt Slonskyj – Team Leader
Matt reported on a control trial South Yorkshire Housing Association is undertaking, testing an IPS model for homeless clients.
It focuses on client’s strengths and skills, with regular meetings, employability support, links to CAB for better off calculations. There are three trial sites throughout the country including South Yorkshire.
50% of clients will receive the 1-2-1 support over 12 months and two months employment support, while 50% will make up the ‘control group’, and simply be referred to alternative support.
Individuals will be contacted by the research team, and receive a voucher for their feedback.
For more information, email: m.slonskyj@syha.co.uk
To find out more, visit the South Yorkshire Housing Association 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:
Melanie from Great Places – Has a place based pilot project called Wybourn Works, providing coaching, talks and training to local residents with a £400 employment incentive payment. For more information, visit the Wybourn Works page.
Andy from Portland Training – Based near Meadowhall and provides construction training for 19+ who are not claiming benefits, or those in low paid work. The course is five days, and includes a CSCS test and card, and support once in employment. They are currently bidding for a Health and Social Care contract. For more information, visit the Portland Training website.
Opportunity Sheffield would like to thank Henry Boot for hosting our meeting at their venue. If anyone would like to offer a venue for a future Teacake Club meeting, please contact Ross Brown: ross.brown@sheffield.gov.uk
teacakeclub.org 