The Teacake Club gathered on Thursday 29 October 2026 at The Sheffield College. Ross Brown, Contract Manager at Opportunity Sheffield welcomed everybody to the Autmn Meeting and thanked the venue team.
View the whole slideshow here:
Speakers
The Sheffield College
Rachel Thompson – Director
Scott Cotterill – Employment Services Agency Manager
Rachel welcomed the Teacake Club to The Sheffield College City Campus and gave an overview of the . She talked about how it came to be one of the largest further education (FE) colleges in South Yorkshire, offering academic, vocational, technical qualifications, apprenticeships, and higher education (HE) programmes.
The college has six campuses and serves approximately 15,000 students annually, with 3,500 learners on-site at any given time and over 2,500 apprentices. Formed in 1988 from six colleges, it was enrolling 33,000 students by 1995.
Focus areas include employer-responsive training, partnerships with universities and community organisations, and a strong emphasis on skills development. They use an Employer Academy Model, which means they have partnerships with local companies like VEEZU Taxi, which sponsor student cohorts and provide industry-specific training.
Community impact is important to them and their initiatives include voluntary work and partnerships with local organisations to enhance community engagement.
Scott then talked about the Employment Services Agency. It was established in response to students leaving college due to financial pressures, particularly post-COVID. It aims to support students in balancing education and part-time employment, offering flexible working opportunities.
Benefits for students include flexible work schedules, financial support, and pathways to higher education. Benefits for employers include free recruitment access to a pool of 30,000 learners, with support for onboarding and training.
Outreach efforts include networking events, pop-up shops, and partnerships with local employers.
To find out more, see the slideshow above or visit The Sheffield College website.
South Yorkshire Community Bank
Katy Pugh – Money Guidance Officer
Katy introduced herself as the new Money Guidance Officer at South Yorkshire Community Bank, focused on providing money guidance to students and community members.
Their objectives are to encourage financial planning, reduce money-related stress, and support smooth transitions into employment.
Their services include helping clients to understand payslips, managing deductions, planning for financial stability, and promoting pension awareness. However, they do not offer financial advice such as how to invest your money.
If a client has money worries it can impact their ability to engage with other elements like job search and training. Activities include workshops, community drop-ins, and podcasts on financial literacy.
To find out more, see the slideshow at the top of this page or visit the South Yorkshire Community Bank website.
Realise Training
Lucy Moore – Partnerships Manager
Realise Training offers a range of educational courses, including early years teaching, special educational needs (SEND), and teaching assistant qualifications.
Courses are delivered online and in-person, with flexible schedules to accommodate learners. Success stories include students progressing from entry-level qualifications to employment in schools and nurseries.
Upcoming courses include:
Early Years Course: Starts 17 November and ends on 18 December 2026, delivered online, focusing on working with children aged 0–5 in nursery settings. Sessions are held every Tuesday and Thursday, from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Learners need a laptop or tablet.
Teaching Assistant Course: Runs from 5 November to 4 December 2026, with sessions every Thursday and Friday, from 9:30am to 3pm. Delivered in-person at the Realise Hub near Meadowhall.
SEND Level 3 Course: Starts 13 January and ends 13 June 2027. Runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30am – 12:30pm. More details to be confirmed.
Eligibility criteria: Open to unemployed, economically inactive, or employed individuals working less than 16 hours per week. Additional support available including English and maths assessments to ensure learners can engage with course content.
To find out more, email: Lucy.Moore@realisetraining.com or visit the Realise Training website.
Migration Yorkshire
Jane Williamson – Employer Engagement Coordinator
Migration Yorkshire focuses on strategic migration policy and data, with a recent emphasis on work visas and care worker visas.
Key updates include changes to skilled worker visa requirements, increased fines for illegal employment, and challenges faced by migrant care workers.
The organisation has developed an online platform for employers to navigate recruitment and compliance for migrant workers. A regional care worker forum has been established to address issues like legal advice and employment rights.
Migration Yorkshire’s online platform will be finalised this week. Care Worker visa route closes to new entrants in July 2028, but existing visa holders can continue to work and to change jobs.
To find out more see the slideshow above or visit the Migration Yorkshire website.
In Brief
Attendees had a chance to briefly promote services they work for and projects they are working on.
- Chris Maleham, The King’s Trust – They offer a 12-week intensive course for 16-25-year-olds, not in education, employment, or training (NEET). The programme focuses on life skills, confidence building, and workplace readiness, including activities like residential trips and community projects. The Trust is seeking referrals for young people, guest speakers from local organisations, and work experience opportunities (30 hours or 2 weeks, flexible). Positive outcomes include further education, training, or employment. Email: Chris.Maleham@sheffcol.ac.uk
- Smaira Sadique, Family Adult Community Education Service (FACES) – FACES is part of Sheffield City Council, provides foundational qualifications and learning for adults aged 19+. Courses include ESOL, functional skills (English, maths, digital), family learning, and vocational training (eg food safety, first aid). Classes are small (8-10 learners) and delivered citywide, with flexible schedules to accommodate carers and parents. Eligibility criteria include age, residency in Sheffield, and income/benefit status. Fee waivers may be available for those in need. FACES collaborates with various organisations and offers a mailing list for updates. Email: Smaira.Sadique@sheffield.gov.uk
The meeting was concluded and Ross thanked everyone for their attendance. Guests were then invited to take a tour of The Sheffield College. Details of the next Teacake Club will be announced soon.
If you would like to offer a venue or present at a future Teacake Club meeting, please email Ross Brown: ross.brown@sheffield.gov.uk