Must have a full clean driving licence and own car as position requires travel throughout Northamptonshire

Locations: Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex
Salary band: £140 daily consultant fee - An additional increment on daily rate for specialists in teaching individuals with Dyslexia, Dyspraxia / DCD, Dyscalculia, A.D.H.D / A.D.D. and visual stress

Being interviewed by David Stimson were TCHC Director Dominic Wade and one of the programmes participants Anita.

The Qualification

Mandatory Units:

• Contribute to the provision of customer service in logistics operations
• Provide leadership for your team in logistics operations
• Supervise the receipt, storage or dispatch of goods
• Take responsibility for health, safety and security in your team

Choose units from the following to suit your business needs:

• Moving and/or handling goods in logistics operations
• Use equipment to move goods in logistics operations
• Process returned goods in logistics operations
• Sort goods and materials for recycling or disposal in logistics operations
• Check stock levels and stock records
• Maintain the safety and security of hazardous goods and materials in logistics operations
• Allocate and check work in your team in logistics operations
• Inducting new colleagues into a logistics operation
• Manage your own professional development in logistics operations
• Recruit, select and keep colleagues in logistics operations
• Build and manage teams in logistics operations
  Schedule logistics operations to meet customer requirements
• Arrange the transportation of goods using multiple transport modes

The qualifications are achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment. On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

The Qualification

Mandatory units:

• Deliver customer service
• Manage personal performance and development
• Principles of customer service
• Understand customers
• Understand employer performance and development

And one of the following:

• Communicate verbally with customers
• Communicate with customers in writing

The qualification is achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

We offer an Level 3 Apprenticeship in Retail Management which is equivalent to A Levels.

The Qualification

 Mandatory units: 

• Understanding customer service
• Understanding the management and risks to health and safety on the premises
• Understanding the retail selling  process
• Understanding the development of personal and team effectiveness

Choose from the following units:

• Understanding security and loss prevention
• Understanding how the smooth operation of a payment point is maintained
• Understanding the management of stock
• Understanding how the effectiveness of store operations can be improved
• The principles of food safety supervision for retail

The qualification is achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

Mandatory Units:

• Use and develop systems that promote communication
• Promote professional development
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion
• Develop health and safety and risk management policies, procedures and practices in health and social care setting
• Work in partnership in health and social care or children and young people’s settings
• Manage health and social care practice to ensure positive outcomes for individuals
• Safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adult
• Understand safeguarding of children and young people for those working in the adult sector
• Lead person centred practice
• Assess the individual in a health and social care setting
• Undertake a research project within services for health and social care
• Understand professional management and leadership in health and social care or children and young people’s settings

For all of the pathways you can choose from a wide range of units to help your staffs' development needs and those of the business, including:

• Develop procedures and practice to respond to concerns and complaints
• Recruitment and selection
• Manage induction
• Manage an inter-professional team
• Understand the process and experience of dementia
• Understand physical disability
• End of life and dementia care
• Manage finance within own area of responsibility
• Manage domiciliary services
• Facilitate coaching and mentoring of practitioners in health and social care
• Understand partnership working
• Understand how to manage a team
• Understanding professional supervision practice
• Understand the process and experience of dementia
• Understand the impact of acquired brain injury on individuals
• Manage domiciliary services
• Lead the management of transitions

Call for full list of units

The qualification is achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

The units below have to be completed successfully. In addition to these businesses can decide along with their Tutor/Assesser which additional units to complete to meet the needs of their business.

Mandatory Units:

• Use and develop systems that promote communication
• Promote professional development
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion
• Develop health and safety and risk management policies, procedures and practices in health and social care setting
• Work in partnership in health and social care
• Manage health and social care practice to ensure positive outcomes for individuals
• Safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults
• Lead person centred practice
• Understand safeguarding of children and young people for those working in the adult sector
• Assess the individual in a health and social care setting
• Lead and manage a team within a health and social care setting
• Develop professional supervision practice in health and social work setting
• Understand professional management and leadership in health and social care
• Undertake a research project within services for health and social care

For all of the pathways you can choose from a wide range of units to help your staffs' development needs and those of the business, including:

• Develop procedures and practice to respond to concerns and complaints
• Recruitment and selection
• Manage induction
• Manage an inter-professional team
• Understand the process and experience of dementia
• Understand physical disability
• End of life and dementia care
• Manage finance within own area of responsibility
• Manage domiciliary services
• Facilitate coaching and mentoring of practitioners in health and social care
• Understand partnership working
• Understand how to manage a team
• Understanding professional supervision practice
• Understand the process and experience of dementia
• Understand the impact of acquired brain injury on individuals
• Manage domiciliary services
• Lead the management of transitions

Call for full list of units

The qualification is achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

We offer a wide range of Health and Social Care from Leadership and Management to intermediate levels.

Supporting your staff by putting them through an Apprenticeship gives your business a number of benefits, including having confidence in your staff, providing motivation and staff retention and improving productivity.

We offer the following Health and Social Care Apprenticeships

• Intermediate Level 2 Health and Social Care
• Advanced Level 3 Health and Social Care
• Care Leadership and Management - Higher Level 5 Leadership and Management
• Adult’s Management Higher Level 5 Leadership and Management
• Adult's Advanced Practice Higher Level 5 Leadership and Management

If you would like to find out more about how our Health and Social Care Training can help your business call us on 01923 698 430 or email course@tchc.net

Customer service can be applied to thousands of job roles across many different sectors, from government to retail, financial services and hospitality.

Our customer services apprenticeships will provide your staff with all the skills to ensure that your staff will provide the type of customer service to be remembered.

We offer:

• Intermediate Level 2 - Customer Service Apprenticeships
• Advanced Level 3 - Customer Service Apprenticeships

If you would like to find out more about how our customer service training can help you call us on 01923 698 430 or email course@tchc.net

With a Retail Apprentice you can develop and focus the skills your employee develops to match the needs of your business.

Why an Apprenticeship?

Within the Retail Apprenticeship there are a number of different pathways that reflect the size and diversity of the retail sector and the professions within it.

The pathways available are:

• Level 2 Retail Knowledge
• Level 2 Retail Skills
• Level 3 Sales Professional
• Level 3 Visual Merchandising
• Level 3 Management

The training provided will be developed with you to focus on your business requirements.

The course consists of:

• Recognising abuse indictors
• Definition and types of abuse
• What to do if abuse is occurring.

Contact us

Your training could be funded, please contact us to find out if you or your staff are eligible 01923 698 449 or email SFW@tchc.net

On a day to day basis your staff may face challenging behaviour from the people they look after. The course looks at the environment, perspective and proactive strategies available to support your staff.

The course consists of:

• Defining what is challenging behaviour
• Understanding the environment in which the behaviour occurs
• Understanding the person
• Person centred approach
• Causes and impacts of behaviour
• Current legislation
• Coping strategies

Contact us

Your training could be funded, please contact us to find out if you or your staff are eligible 01923 698 449 or email sfw@tchc.net

Great management is essential to every successful business. Being a great manager doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but you can develop and learn the skills you need to become one.

This Level 3 Management Apprenticeship is for those who are new to management or would like to work in a management role.

The Apprenticeship in Management provides learners with the knowledge and skills they need to operate as a successful manager.

The Qualification

The units below have to be completed successfully. In addition to these businesses can decide along with their Tutor/Assesser which additional units to complete to meet the needs of their business.

Mandatory units:

• Work effectively and support others in a retail organisation
• Understanding customer service
• Understanding the management of risks to health and safety on retail premises
• Understanding retail selling process
• Understanding the development of personal and team effectiveness

And choose a wide range of optional units including:

• Audit stock levels and stock inventories in a retail environment
• Source required goods and services in a retail environment
• Manage staff to receive goods
• Monitor and organise stock
• Manage the payment and transaction process
• Produce staffing schedules
• Plan, allocate and monitor work of a team
• Make effective decisions
• Manage conflict
• Monitor and solve customer service problems

Call for full list of units.

The qualification is achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

Our Retail Visual Merchandising Apprentices gives you the tools to put together creative displays.

Qualification

The units below have to be completed successfully. In addition to these businesses can decide along with their Tutor/Assesser which additional units to complete to meet the needs of their business.

Mandatory units:

• Work effectively and support others in a retail organisation
• Understanding customer service
• Understanding the management of risks to health and safety on retail premises
• Understanding retail selling process
• Understanding the development of personal and team effectiveness

And choose a wide range of optional units including:

• Choose merchandise to feature in visual displays
• Manage the use of signage and graphics in displays
• Evaluate the effectiveness of displays
• Manage budget for projects
• Design visual merchandising display layouts
• Make props and decorate fixtures and panels for displays
• Follow guidelines for planning and preparing displays

There are specific units for specialised retail including for clothes and food stores, florists, electrical and web-based retail. Call for full list of units.

Call for full list of units.

The qualification is achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net.

Qualification

The units below have to be completed successfully. In addition to these businesses can decide along with their Tutor/Assesser which additional units to complete to meet the needs of their business.

Mandatory units:

• Work effectively and support others in a retail organisation
• Understanding customer service
• Understanding the management of risks to health and safety on retail premises
• Understanding retail selling process
• Understanding the development of personal and team effectiveness

And choose a wide range of optional units from the following:

• Help customers choose products
• Source required goods and services
• Audit stock levels an stock inventories
• Organise and manage storage of stock
• Maintain availability of goods on display
• Manage the prevention of wastage and loss
• Monitor and solve customer service problems
• Produce staffing schedules to help team achieve targets
• Demonstrate products to customers

Specific units for specialised retail including specific units for clothes and food stores, florists, electrical and web-based retail.

Call for full list of units

The qualification is achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net.

Get your staff up to date with the latest sales and retail skills so that they understand the customer and how to sell to them. The Intermediate Apprenticeship in Retail Knowledge will help your sales assistants understand the drivers in selling as well as develop a wide range of other retail skills.

The Qualification

Mandatory units:

• Understanding the retail selling process
• Understanding customer service and the selling process in the retail sector
• Understanding how individuals and teams contribute to the effectiveness of a retail business
• Understanding how a retail business maintains health and safety on its premises.

And seven optional units from the following:

• Understanding retail consumer law
• Understanding security and loss prevention in a retail business
• Understanding the handling of customer payments
• Understanding the control, receipt and storage of stock
• Understanding visual merchandising
• Understanding how the effectiveness of store operations can be improved
• Understanding environmental sustainability
• Understanding sales prevention for retail and licensed
• Understanding the use of in-store web-based facilities in promoting retail sales
• Understanding how to maintain the confidentiality and security of customer data held online

The qualification is achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

The Qualification

Mandatory units: 

• Health and Safety at work
• Develop effective working relationships with colleagues in logistics operation

Choose from a range of options to suit your development needs or those of your business, they include:

• Pick goods in logistics operations
• Wrap and pack goods
• Storage of goods
• Process customer orders
• Assemble orders for dispatch
• Maintain the cleanliness of equipment
• Cleaning and maintenance of external surfaces and areas
• Keep work areas clean in logistics operations
• Maintain hygiene standards in handling and storing goods
• Use a forklift side-loader
• Use an industrial forklift truck
• Use a hoist in logistics operations
• Moving and handling goods
• Maintain stock at required levels
• Check stock levels and stick records
• Contribute to customer service
• Receive goods
• Process returned goods

The qualifications are achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment. On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

The units below have to be completed successfully. In addition to these businesses can decide along with their Tutor/Assesser which additional units to complete to meet the needs of their business.

Mandatory units:

• Use and develop systems that promote communication
• Champion equality, diversity and inclusion
• Develop health and safety and risk management policies, procedures and practices in health and social care
• Manage health and social care practice to ensure positive outcomes for individuals
• Safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults
• Lead person centred practice
• Assess the individual in a health and social care setting
• Undertake a research project within services for health and social care
• Understand professional management and leadership
• Promote professional development
• Work in partnership in health and social care or children and young people’s settings
• Understand safeguarding of children and young people (for those working in the adult sector).

For all of the pathways you can choose from a wide range of units to help your staffs' development needs and those of the business, including:

• Develop procedures and practice to respond to concerns and complaints
• Recruitment and selection
• Manage induction
• Manage an inter-professional team
• Understand the process and experience of dementia
• Understand physical disability
• End of life and dementia care
• Manage finance within own area of responsibility
• Manage domiciliary services
• Facilitate coaching and mentoring of practitioners in health and social care
• Understand partnership working
• Understand how to manage a team
• Understanding professional supervision practice
• Understand the process and experience of dementia
• Understand the impact of acquired brain injury on individuals
• Manage domiciliary services
• Lead the management of transitions

Call for full list of units

The qualification is achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

Mandatory units:

• Promote communication in health and social care
• Engage in personal development
• Promote equality and inclusion health and social care
• Principles for implementing duty of care
• Principles of safeguarding and protection
• The role of the health and social care worker
• Promote person centred approaches
• Promote and implement health and safety
• Promote good practice in handling information in health and social care settings

The qualifications are achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

The care sector is growing with lots of career options. One of the best ways to get started is by completing an Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care. It is a way to develop yourself and get a qualification while working and being paid.

Qualification

The units below have to be completed successfully.

• Introduction to communication in health and social care
• Introduction to personal development in health and social care
• Introduction to equality and inclusion in health and social care
• Introduction to duty of care in health and social care
• Principles of safeguarding and protection in health and social care
• The role of the health and social care worker
• Implement person centred approaches in health and social care
• Contribute to health and safety in health and social care
• Handle information in health and social care settings

The qualifications are achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment. On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

Mandatory Units

The units below have to be completed successfully. In addition to these businesses can decide along with their Tutor/Assessor, which additional units to complete to meet the needs of their business.

• Manage personal performance and development
• Communicate work-related information
• Lead and manage a team
• Principles of team leading
• Understand business

And then choose from the following options, to meet your development needs:

• Develop working relationships with colleagues
• Principles of equality and diversity in the workplace
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• Manage team performance
• Manage individuals’ performance
• Chair and lead meetings
• Manage conflict within a team
• Procure products and/or services
• Collaborate with other departments
• Participate in a project
•  Encourage innovation
• Contribute to meetings in a business environment
• Health and safety procedures in the workplace
• Store and retrieve information
• Handle mail
• Employee rights and responsibilities
• Deliver customer service
• Understand customers
• Resolve customer service problems
• Negotiate in a business environment
• Develop a presentation
• Deliver a presentation
• Resolve customers’ complaints

Call for full list of units.

The qualification is achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

Our Level 3 in customer services will offer your employees all the tools to make their customer service a premium service which will make your business stand out from the crowd.

The Qualification

Mandatory units:

• Manage personal and professional development
• Organise and deliver customer service
• Resolve customers' problems
• Principles of business
• Understanding customers and customer retention
• Understand the customer service environment

choose from the following units

• How to monitor customer service interactions and feedback
• How knowledge resources and service partnerships support customer service delivery
• Sales activities in a contact centre and how to close a sale
• How to obtain and analyse sales-related information
• Equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• How to manage performance and conflict in the workplace
• How to manage incidents and collaborate with other departments in a contact centre
• How to use social media tools and channels
• Our qualified tutors will listen to your business needs and tailor the training around your business and sector. 

The qualifications are achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

The Mental Capacity Act was designed in 2005 by the government to protect and restore power to vulnerable people who lack capacity, and supports people who have capacity to be able to make decisions and plan their future; this is everyone who is 18 and over.

It is also relevant to everyone who is involved in the treatment, care and support of people aged 16 and over who are unable to make all, or some decisions by themselves.

The course consists of:

• Understanding duty of care
• Five key principles of mental capacity
• When to test
• How to test mental capacity
• What is deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS)
• DoLs assessment

Contact us

Your training could be funded, please contact us to find out if you or your staff are eligible 01923 698 449 or email sfw@tchc.net 

The Mental Capacity Act was designed in 2005 by the government to protect and restore power to vulnerable people who lack capacity, and supports people who have capacity to be able to make decisions and plan their future; this is everyone who is 18 and over.

It is also relevant to everyone who is involved in the treatment, care and support of people aged 16 and over who are unable to make all, or some decisions by themselves.

The course consists of:

• Understanding duty of care
• Five key principles of mental capacity
• When to test
• How to test mental capacity
• What is deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS)
• DoLs assessment

Contact us

Your training could be funded, please contact us to find out if you or your staff are eligible 01923 698 449 or email sfw@tchc.net 

It is therefore imperative that the people who are organizing and working in your warehouse have the confidence and skills to manage the systems and move goods to the correct place at the correct time.

As warehousing embraces new skills and technology, it is important that warehousing employees develop their skills to meet the changes in the sector.

We offer Apprenticeships at two levels

• Intermediate Warehousing and Storage
• Advanced Warehousing and Storage

The programme is made up of mandatory units and then you can choose from a number of different ones covering a wide range of skills to suit your business needs.

Contact us

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

The Qualification

The units below have to be completed successfully. In addition to these units businesses can decide along with their Tutor/Assessor which additional units to complete to meet the needs of their business.

Mandatory units:

• Dealing with routine and non-routine waste
• Health and safety for the cleaning and support services industry
• Working with customers and others in the cleaning and support services industry.

While completing the qualification you must also choose from 16 additional units to suit your business development needs.

• Cleaning and maintenance of external surfaces and areas
• Cleaning of confined spaces
• Cleaning of food areas
• Cleaning of glazed surfaces and facades
• Cleaning of high risk areas (controlled environments)
• Cleaning of interiors and washrooms
• Cleaning of specialist electronic equipment
• Deep cleaning of internal equipment surfaces and areas
• Maintenance and minor repairs of property
• Manual street cleaning • Unit 14 Mechanical street cleaning
• Periodic cleaning of hard and semi hard floors
• Periodic cleaning of soft floors and furnishings
• Working safely at heights in the cleaning and support services industry
• Cleaning with water fed pole systems
• Internal cleaning of passenger transport

The qualifications are achieved through teaching, learning on the job, e-learning, workshops and assessment.

On completion of the Apprenticeship the apprentice must be able to undertake the full range of duties, in the range of circumstances appropriate to the job, confidently and competently to the standard set by the industry.

To find out more about how we can support your training needs call 01923 698 430 or email us at courses@tchc.net

As the social care sector grows it is important to retain your staff as competition in the sector increases. Keeping your staff up to date with the latest skills and training is essential in the health and social care industry.

Training can be prohibitive in a business where margins are tight, however there is funding for training available for social care staff.

We can offer a range of courses funded through the Education and Skill Funding Agency and European Social Fund.

Short courses

• Introduction to the Mental Capacity Act & DOLS
• Understanding Challenging Behaviour
• Introduction to Safeguarding in Health & Social Care
• Introduction to legislation and record keeping for Medication
• Introduction to Person Centred Approach to Care.
• Introduction to End of Life Care
• Introduction to Communication and Record Keeping.
• Food Hygiene Awareness
• Lead and manage group living for Adults - knowledge assignment

These programmes will lead to progressions to full QCF units that can be partially funded.

Apprenticeships

We can offer Apprenticeships in health and social care, and may be able to fund some credits towards this through our Skills Support for the Workforce programme. Otherwise normal Apprenticeship funding applies.

• L2 Health & Social Care
• L3 Health & Social Care
• L5 Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care

A wide range of other training for social care is available please call to find out how we can help you.

Find out more

If you would like to find out if you and your staff are eligible, or more about the wide range of training we have available in health and social care, call 01923 698 449 or email sfw@tchc.net

English is at the heart of communication. Being able to read, write, spell, listen and interpret, can only help your business flourish.

We can support your staff – whether English is their native language or not – to improve their literacy

What is it all about?

The support your staff receive is fully funded through the Skills Funding Agency and ESF.

It is tailored to meet their needs and that of your business.

Your employees will be mentored and nurtured throughout the programme to help ensure that they succeed.

How can it help your business?

Employees who can communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with colleagues and customers, will help your business by;

• Improving your written communication to customers
• Improving your competitiveness
• Improving your communication and service to customers
• Reducing wastage and costly mistakes
• Increasing productivity
• Improving team working
• Improving staff motivation
• Offering clear development routes and opportunities to your employees

Eligibility

To be able to access this support:

• Employees must be aged 16 or over
• Be a permanent employee
• Work in an organisation with less than 250 permanent employees
• Employer must be based in Essex

How to get involved

Call us on 01279 648 430 or email ssfwessex@tchc.net find out more or make an appointment with one of our Skills Advisers.

What’s it about?

Maths is an area that many people just don’t have confidence in, but being assured in your calculations can make your work much easier and can help staff to develop and achieve promotion.

Good maths can help limit mistakes that can affect your bottom line.

Our tutors will support your staff in the workplace, they will use every day work examples in their training, so that what people are learning can be directly applied to their job.

High quality training

Our tutors are highly experienced in helping people to improve their maths. They use examples and teaching methods that the learner is comfortable with, and they are there to support and mentor. The aim to raise their maths towards a Level 2 – equivalent to GCSE A*- C.

Why improve their maths skills?

A recent report produced for the government has highlighted the importance of good maths to business and to the outlook of employees.

The impact on business include:

• Customer cancellations due to errors and misunderstandings
• Cost of rectifying order and despatching errors
• Lost custom
• Recruitment costs due to not being able to fill vacancies internally

Supporting your staff to improve their maths will help improve your productivity and profitability and increase your customer satisfaction. 

Eligibility

If your business is based in Essex then your staff may be eligible. Their current level of maths must be below Level 2 and they must be 16 or over.

How to get involved.

Call us on 01279 648 430 or email ssfwessex@tchc.net find out more or make an appointment with one of our Skills Advisers.

We have nine partners in total under the Opportunity Suffolk programme all of which play a significant role in the effectiveness of the programme and the level of quality given to you.

Green Light Trust

Is an environmental charity which aims to educate and inform people on environmental matters. They  provide a tailored programme of support covering a full range of woodland management skills while also developing yourself in a variety of ways to help you transition into employment.

We have specific programmes for those recovering from substance abuse, ex-offenders, former service personnel, young adults and people recovering from mental health issues.

Leonard Cheshire 

A charity that supports disabled people to achieve their potential and live the lives they desire. They offer support to job seekers and current employees through 1-2-1 and where necessary, group sessions. The Digital Inclusion support also allows you to learn mroe about IT either individually or at one of their Discover IT centers.

Inspiring Aspirations

Specialises in providing training in maths and English in addition to personal development skills, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and counseling.

Appleseed

This social enterprise is designed to provide opportunities for you to access outdoor activities that encourage and increase self-confidence, social interactions, motivation and personal responsibilities. You amongst others will participate in activities based on horticulture, animal care, land managements, conservation and employability skills. Sounds fun right?

Royal Mencap Society

A passionate group of people who are dedicated to changing the world for anyone with a learning disability. Providing employability support by analyzing and creating tailored action plans that suit you after which we'll suport you into work tasters, placements and finding work.

Sharing Parenting

Committed to making a difference to families, this organization provides advice and guidance to parents and carers in order to build confidence and employability skills.

Anglia Care Trust

This trust supports communities by offering bespoke support to families and individuals through advice, mentoring and guidance to allow you to realise and reach your full potential.

Suffolk Refugee Support

Working with you to create tailored individual learning plans through both 1-2-1 and group training sessions we'll help you to develop your job search and interview skills, CV writing and more. With links to local employers we'll also look to provide work opportunities for you.

Realise Future

Providing support to enhance your employability for those in the Ipswich region, this organization works with you to create action plans through individual and group sessions which are tailored to your needs by providing work trials, taster sessions, voluntary placements or even paid jobs.

The partners involved in Enterprising People can help you realise your dream of self-employment and have a wide range of expertise

Building Business

Their business start-up course helps you to explore ideas, interests and hobbies with a view to developing them into a business. Our bespoke programme will take you on a journey through business start-up, to help you grow into becoming a successful entrepreneur.

evolve Your future

They provide you with one-to-one support and a choice of courses to help kick start your business. We’ll assist you with writing a business plan, cash-flow,  marketing and any other skills you need to help you start up your business.

MK Christian Foundation

They focus on growing your business skills through their community social enterprises, using them as learning environments for you to develop your skills, confidence and gain qualifications. The areas they work in include catering, horticulture, childcare and graphic design, but they can support you in other sectors as well. 

Pre-school Learning Alliance

If you have young children they can provide advice and support in accessing childcare and other services. You’ll also have the opportunity to train in childcare or child-minding courses with the possibilities of on-site crèche provision. Helping you into work or self-employment.

SABA

They focus on the creative industries. If you’re a creative person they can offer you the route to discover how best to turn your talent into a micro-business. They'll help you to tap into current opportunities and take advantage of emerging placements. They support both performers and those wishing to work behind the scenes.

TCHC

They help people make their business ideas become a reality with a wide range of training and support including; business planning, finding and keeping customers, finance and tax, legislation and things you might of never even thought about. They can help you take something from hobby or idea to business start-up!

How to get involved

To find out more or to book a place please contact TCHC 01923 698 456 or email ep@tchc.net.

The partners working on the this project have successfully supported a wide range of people with very diverse needs. Here is a little bit about how they can help you!

Cross Keys Homes

Looking to support 18-24 & 50+ by providing a key worker and specialist intervention team. Helping you get involved in community projects, gain qualifications, increase your confidence and improve your employability skills. They are mainly based in the Peterborough and Huntingdon area.

CWRC

They help females looking to return to work, by helping them to gain confidence and find sustainable employment through the ‘making the best of you’ and ‘future options’ courses. The work predominantly in Peterborough City Centre.

FACET

Focus on helping adults with learning disabilities. They support them with reading, writing, IT, cookery, art, woodwork, horticulture and life skills. They are based in March but are able to support people from across the whole of the area. 

The Ferry Project

The main group they support at the homeless by helping with temporary accommodation and support with job searching and employability skills. They also offer substance abuse reduction support to help overcome barriers created by addiction.

Hanseatic Union

If you are a migrant and need support they can help you to access local services. They provide English classes and parent and toddler groups. They work primarily around King’s Lynn.

Headway

They have vast experience with supporting people who have brain injuries and their families. They will help them to adapt and develop areas they need to get their lives back on track. This may include building up their confidence and helping them develop new skills. They will help them to improve their employability potential with a 12 week course which is followed by mentoring and one-to-one support sessions. They work across the whole of the area.

Keystone Development Trust

They work with 15 - 19 year olds to help them believe they can achieve and open their eyes to opportunities. They do this through their Young Enterprise programme and school work clubs. They will support young people by developing skills for self-employment and work. The focus their support across King’s Lynn, Wisbech and March.

Kickstart

Many people find getting to work or training in a rural community very difficult. Kickstart can help over come this by offering a fully funded moped hire to get to you to training courses, work experience or voluntary work for up to 12 weeks. They can help you get a licence, CBT test, clothing etc. Work across the whole of the area.

Papworth Trust

Helping to support participants with disabilities in the Peterborough area. They will help you get involved in community projects which will help you to develop your skills and gain confidence, motivation and employability skills.

Pre-school Learning Alliance

If you have children they can help support you back into work by offering help in finding childcare. They can also help you gain qualifications in childcare should you wish to work in this area.

The Prince's Trust

They are offering courses for 16-24 year olds plus work placements and the opportunity to gain qualifications. They will continue to offer support in finding work for up to 6 months. They are focusing their support in King's Lynn and Peterborough.  

The Rosmini Centre

They focus on supporting migrant participants from the Fenland area with English lessons, registering for NI cards, gaining qualifications, information advice and guidance and employability skills.

Sharing Parenting

They support unemployed parents and carers by providing information, advice & guidance as well has offering confidence building programmes and employability skills support.

TCHC

Working across the whole area supporting participants of all ages with mentoring and skills development for self-employment, work tasters and employability skills. As well as providing leadership for the partnership.

 How to get involved

To find out more or to book a place please contact TCHC 01923 698 456 or email cc@tchc.net.

If you live in Suffolk and are looking for a helping hand to get a job or training, Opportunity Suffolk may be just what you are looking for? If you face challenges to get you ready for work, Opportunity Suffolk has a network of partners who can support you – whatever challenges you face.

Opportunity Suffolk is a flexible programme designed to help you develop the skills you need and support you into work or take a step towards it.

Opportunity Suffolk is a network of local specialist support organisations with a wide range of expertise to help build skills, gain confidence and meet the challenges you face to get you into employment or training.

The programme is tailored specifically to individual needs, whatever and however complex they may be. You will have a mentor who will be there to support you. If you can’t make it to us, we can come to you.

The programme is funded as part of the Building Better Opportunities by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund

Who is it for?

Anyone aged 24 or over, who lives in Suffolk and has not worked in the last two years.

What does the programme include?

This flexible programme is designed to meet your needs.  It offers intensive targeted support this could include:

• Identifying the development needs and support required
• Information, advice and guidance session
• Financial and budgeting support
• Housing and debt advice
• Childcare support
• English language training
• Mentor to provide continuing support throughout the programme
• Motivation and confidence building
• Action plan to map out the relevant support
• Bespoke package of support to overcome issues you face
• Support applying for jobs

The length of the programme is determined by your needs.

Partners

We work with eight different specialist organizations. Find out more about our partners here

Progression routes

If you need to develop further skills and require training, we will help you find it or if you need additional support we can signpost you onto relevant support groups and programmes. Our recruitment team will be on hand to help you find local employment opportunities.

How to get involved

To find out more or to book a place please contact TCHC 01923 698 456 or email courses@tchc.net

Skills Support for the Workforce is a new programme that funds staff training and development.

Skills Support for the Workforce is a new programme that helps your businesses develop skilled employees through funded training and development, supporting their progression, while helping your organisation develop the skills levels you need to compete locally and globally.

There are hundreds of courses that are funded through the Skills for the Workforce programme. Call us to see how we can support you.

What’s it about?

Businesses often talk about how hard it is to hire people with the skills that they need. That there is a lot of competition for the best employees and that they lose their skilled staff to competitors.

Skills Support for the Workforce can help your business overcome these issues by upskilling your workforce. It offers a wide variety of training to suit your development needs.

Our skills advisers can support you by working with you to assess your skills requirements and find the right training courses for you. We will help you at every step and will complete all the paperwork so that you can get on with the important day to day running of your business.

Priority sectors include, health and social care, logistics, food and drink, manufacturing, visitor economy, construction, science and engineering, creative, retail, warehousing, transport, high-performance technology, fashion and textiles and financial and business services, water and energy.

We offer you impartial advice and help you find the best training to suit your business needs.

What sort of training is available?

There are a wide range of options from non- accredited to accredited qualifications, from one day courses to Apprenticeships and Level 3 and beyond. Your staff can complete units of a qualification or the whole qualification.

High quality training

We are working with dedicated partners who are committed to delivering the highest quality training to suit your business needs. If you prefer to use other providers you have used before, we can organize this for you.

Why should I train my staff?

Training your staff shows that you are committed to their development and progression. Offering clear progression and promotions routes tells them that you value and appreciate them. It shows that you want them to succeed and that you want them to grow alongside your business. The benefits for you are greater staff motivation and commitment to your business, increased retention levels, less staff sickness.

Training can help increase productivity and profitability.  It enables your business to be more competitive and meet its business objectives.

• Increased profitability
• Improved productivity
• Increased staff motivation
• Reduced staff turnover
• Improved skills levels
• Greater competitiveness
• Reduced wastage

Eligibility

If your business is based in Northamptonshire, Essex or Greater Cambridgeshire, Great Peterborough, then Skills Support for the Workforce can offer training to your staff. Employees receiving the training must be aged 17+ and there is no upper age limit.

How to get involved?

Call us on 01923 698 449 or email sfw@tchc.net to find out more or make an appointment with one of our Skills Advisers.

The programme running in Greater Cambridge, Greater Peterborough, Fenland, King’s Lynn, West Norfolk and Rutland and surrounding area and has received £1.6 million of match funding from the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund to enable it to develop a wide range of support opportunities for over 600 unemployed, disabled and disadvantaged locals across all ages.

Support into Work in Birmingham

The Think Positive Programme is designed to help you look forward and support your aims and ambitions.

If you are facing moderate mental health issues, this flexible programme is designed to help you overcome any obstacles, build your confidence and grow your skills, so that you can focus on your career. Whatever your needs we want to help you into work.

Overcome your barriers to employment and get the support you need to get into work!

What does the programme include?

• Identifying your goals and ambitions
• Mentoring and wellbeing support
• Confidence building
• Motivation tools
• Developing team work skills
• CV support
• Job search tools
• Interview techniques
• Work placement
• Enhancing your self esteem

Who's it for?

This programme supports clients experiencing health barriers who are:

• Claiming Employment and Support Allowance
• Residents of North, Central, East and South Birmingham
• Aged 18 or over and seeking employment

How long does the course last?

The course duration is 4-6 weeks, for less than 16 hours a week.

How to get involved

To find out more or get involved please ask your work coach to contact TCHC on 01923 698455. For more information email: thinkpositive@tchc.net

The programme running in Greater Cambridge, Greater Peterborough, Fenlands and surrounding area, brings together a wealth of local knowledge and experience from community organisations working together to help the more disadvantaged in the community move closer to work.

The programme running in the south east Midlands local enterprise area brings together a wealth of local knowledge and experience from community organisations working to help move the more disadvantaged in the community closer to self-employment or work.

What is Building Better Opportunities?

t is a programme which supports local projects and organisations to tackle the root causes of poverty, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth. It aims to help the most disadvantaged in our community.

The five key areas of Building Better Opportunities are:

• Help the most disadvantaged
• Tackle social exclusion
• Be focused on the capabilities of each individual
• Lead to better coordinated services
• Create new opportunities for work.

We aim to do this by working in partnership with community organisations who have specific expertise and together work to offer a tailored and holistic package of support. 

How is it funded?

Big Lottery Fund is matching funds from the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020 to invest in local projects tackling the root causes of poverty, promoting social inclusion and driving local jobs and growth.

The funding will be delivered in 38 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas (see map below) according to local priorities, which have been set by the LEPs themselves. It will support a variety of projects, ranging from those improving employability for the most disadvantaged, helping those with multiple and complex needs, to improving financial literacy.

TCHC with our partners has won funding to local communities with two programmes: Community Connections North and Enterprising People.

Community Connections

Tailored for individual needs, it offers a wide range of support from across our network of community organisations to help people to achieve their dreams and goals by helping them move towards or into employment.

There is a wide range of support available to meet the diverse needs of the local community, whether they are disabled, homeless, a migrant, lone parent, isolated or facing other factors holding them back, Community Connections North aims to help you overcome and grasp the local opportunities available to you.

The programme runs across Wisbech, March, Whittlesey, Chatteris, Kings Lynn, West Norfolk, Rutland, Huntingdonshire, Ely and East Cambridgeshire, The area of the Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough LEP Fenland area (GCGP LEP).

Enterprising People

Many people see self-employment as an opportunity to turn their lives around, but they are often unsure of how to get started. Enterprising People aims to help individuals develop the tools they need to become self-employed or start a business.

It runs in the South East Midland Local Enterprise Partnership which includes areas in and around Kettering, Daventry, South Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Central Beds, Luton and Banbury.

Opportunity Suffolk

Has a dedicated team of local experts to help give people the support and tools they need to get on in life and move closer towards or into work. the programme supports people aged over 24 and living in Suffolk, who have not worked for more than two years. Whatever barriers locals face be it disability, learning difficulties, homelessness, addiction, English as a second language or migration issues - our partners run tailored programmes putting the individual at the heart of this flexible programme.  

 Ever dreamed of being your own boss but don’t know how to go about it?

Join our Enterprising People programme. We can offer you the support you need to achieve your dream of working for yourself. Our network of experts can help you develop the essential tools and skills you need to set up your own business and become the boss!

Our programme which is match funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund, is tailored for you so that you will have the confidence and skills to become self-employed. 

Who is it for?

If you are 18 or over unemployed or economically inactive or facing disadvantages this programme could be for you.

Residents of the South East Midland Local Enterprise Partnership which includes areas in and around Kettering, Daventry, South Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Central Beds, Luton and Banbury.

What does the programme include?

This flexible programme is designed to meet your needs and can include: he needs of the client Areas covered include:

• Identifying the development needs and support required
• Developing a business idea and opportunities
• Assessing viability and refining your product or service
• Legal and business requirements for getting started
• Finances and cash flow
• Putting together a business plan
• Sales and marketing    

Partners

Our partners have a wide range of expertise that can help you no matter what your idea. Find out more about our partners here.

Courses

Progression routes

For those who need to develop further skills and require training, they will be signposted onto relevant courses, support groups and mainstream programmes. 

How to get involved

Contact us to find out more by calling 01923 698456 or email ep@tchc.net 

If you are looking to find a job and need support, Community Connections North is a flexible programme that can help you develop the skills you need to make that step into work.

Community Connections North is a network of local specialist support organisations with a wide range of expertise to help build skills and confidence to get into employment.

The programme is tailored specifically to individual needs, whatever and however complex they may be. Each participant will have a mentor who will be there to support them. 

Participants will be actively encouraged to engage in community events and take on volunteering roles to help them develop their confidence, gain experience and feel connected to their community, with the ultimate goal to help them find employment.

The programme is funded as part of the Building Better Opportunities by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund

Who is it for?

Anyone aged of 15 or over there is no upper limit, who is at a disadvantage when finding employment – this could be due to a disability, learning difficulty, you may be claiming benefits or economically inactive or a wide range of other issues

Residents of Wisbech, March, Whittlesey, Chatteris, Kings Lynn, West Norfolk, Rutland, Huntingdonshire, Ely and East Cambridgehire, The area of the Greater Cambridge and Greater Peterborough LEP Fenland area (GCGP LEP).

What does the programme include?

This flexible programme is designed to meet the needs of the client Areas covered include:

• Identifying the development needs and support required
• Information, advice and guidance session.
• Mentor to provide continuing support throughout the programme
• Action plan to  map out the relevant support and timeframes needed
• Bespoke package of support to overcome issues faced
• Support applying for jobs

The length of the programme is determined by the needs of the client.

Our Partners

Together we can offer you a wide range of help and support so that you can achieve your dreams and goals and find employment.

Cross Keys Trust, CWRC, FACET, The Ferry Project, Hanseatic Union, Headway, Keystone Development Trust,  Kickstart, Papworth Trust, Pre-school Learning Alliance, The Prince's Trust, The Rosmini Centre, Sharing Parenting and TCHC. To find out more about how each partner can help here

Progression routes

For those who need to develop further skills and require training they will be signposted onto relevant courses, support groups and mainstream programmes. Our recruitment team will be on hand to help them find local employment opportunities using their network of local employers.

How to get involved

To find out more or to book a place please contact TCHC 01923 698 456 or email cc@tchc.net.

Designed to meet the needs of each individual, the programme offers a wide range of initiatives to help young people get back on track. The contract to run this essential support was awarded to TCHC by Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership who are managing the project funded by the European Union’s European Social Fund and the Skills Funding Agency.

What is OnTrack?

Designed to meet the individual needs of young people in Thurrock to help get them into work, an Apprenticeship, education or training, to get their lives back OnTrack.  If focuses on overcoming any barriers stopping young people reaching their potential. Whether these are low or no qualifications, disabilities, being a carer, drug and alcohol problems, whatever the issues, this programme will support them through mentoring, specialised support and setting achievable short term goals.

Aim of OnTrack

It is designed to re-emgage young people who are disconnected from employment and learning and help them overcome the challenges they face. It facilitates young people's learning. personal and social development, through mentoring training and a variety of other support offers.

Who's it for?

those who live in the Borough of Thurrock and are aged 15-29 and not in employment, education or training

How it works?

OnTrack is tailored to meet the individual needs of young people, getting them on track towards their career goals. It consists of:

• An initial assessment to find out what their aspirations are and any barriers they are facing
• A bespoke package of support which focus on barriers and achieving their goals
• Ongoing one to one mentoring and assistance
• Work experience and work tasters to gain relevant job skills
• Employability skills such as interview techniques, CV writing and job searching
• Presentations, job fairs and networking events
• Structured exit of the programme with sign posting to other services to ensure they continue to receive support should they require it

Support may include CBT, financial management, skills development, English, maths, ICT, self-confidence or personal presentation training.

Financial support

If needed clients may receive financial support which could include costs towards: traveling to work or interviews; work clothes and tools for specific jobs; and short-term or one off childcare. Employers may receive a wage subsidy.

How to get involved

To find out more or to book a place please contact TCHC on 01923 698441 or email ontrack@tchc.net.

Amanda joins TCHC from the Skills Funding Agency where she is currently Head of Employer and Delivery Services.

Dale Morgan CEO of TCHC Group said “Amanda’s vast experience in this sector will be invaluable to us and our clients. Her knowledge and understanding of mainstream and ESF project management will help TCHC develop our programmes to ensure that young people and adults can have greater prospects. Amanda is joining a company who seek to make lives better and with her experience and drive, she will ensure that we are able to meet this goal. She will be a brilliant asset to the company.”

Traineeships consist of pre-work training and education and quality work experience.

Our eight-week programme for 19-24 year olds in Essex will support them with their English and maths and develop their work and interpersonal skills.

Our Traineeships include:

• Work preparation skills and confidence building, including interpersonal skills development, interview techniques and employment and sector information
• Improved English and maths
• High quality, valuable and meaningful 100 hours of work placement that will develop their on-the-job skills and help them start their careers. 

Traineeships offer businesses the chance to support their local community while also developing potential employees and helping to fill skills gaps you may have.

Traineeships are designed to help young people into work and find an Apprenticeship. If you are looking to employ an apprentice you could take one on via a Traineeship to ensure you get the right candidate. 

If you are thinking about taking on an Apprentice or offering a Traineeship or would like to find out more contact us on 01923 698430 or email us

To find out more about the programmes we offer, please visit our youth support website www.mgn.tchc.net

What our clients say:

“Thanks for all that you have taught me. I’m now a fully qualified lifeguard and happy to be off Job Seekers Allowance. Thanks again!”
John, Life Guard

"My son Thomas left school with very low grades, actually only three grades G E and U. Cheryl and her team have him working towards E3 maths and English as well as customer services. Thanks to TCHC's hard work and perseverance Thomas has been accepted at Otley College to do mechanics which is his dream. A big thank you to your wonderful hard working team, who have gone over and beyond to get my child where he needs to be to move on to the next phase of education.”
Stephanie Jeacock, parent

Click here to find out more about our range of services for young people

If you are considering starting up your own business or becoming self-employed our Understanding Enterprise Course lets you explore what running a business is all about. Starting up your own business or self-employment can be very daunting, our Understanding Enterprise Course is a business start-up course designed to help you understand what running a business is about and whether it is right for you.

On the Understanding Enterprise course you will look at all the practical aspects of business start-up from someone who knows what it is like to run their own business. The interactive training sessions will offer you the chance to talk through business ideas with an experienced business adviser.

Who is it for?

This six day course will benefit residents of Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough, particularly anyone that is unemployed, claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance.

What does it consist of?

During six engaging days, you will learn some of the key skills required to run a business including the importance of business planning, how to market your business and a wide range of important business skills to get your business started. You will get involved in a number of activities and practical exercises in order to understand the skills, attributes and behaviours to set up your own business enterprise. You will achieve the Level 1 Award in Understanding Enterprise. 

Progression Routes

The course will help you to develop your confidence and help you get the skills you need to become self-employed or start your own business. Further support into work or self-employment through our wide range of courses may also be available should you require it.

Course Location & Dates

How to get involved

For more information and details, please call Aeisha on 01923 698484 or send a short email complete with your day time telephone number to: courses@tchc.net

We offer a programme where the primary focus is giving you the support you need to get into work and kick start your career.  Our Wellbeing Support for Jobseekers provides tailored support to meet your individual needs.

What is the programme about?

It has been specifically designed for those with health barriers to help them meet and overcome the challenges they may face when looking for employment. 

It offers a comprehensive support and skills package including:

• CV support, development and goals
• Job search techniques and assistance
• Interview techniques and skills
• Mentoring support
• Well being support
• Personal development including building confidence, motivation and team working

In addition it offers the following bespoke options:

• Pre-work placement support - providing specialist support as required
• Work placement
• Pre-employment / Full-time education support
• Job search / application support
• In work support.

No matter what your circumstances the Wellbeing Support Programme is designed to help you get your career kick started. 

Who’s it for?

This programme supports clients experiencing health barriers who are:

• Claiming inactivity benefit such as Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit
• Residents of Essex, Bedfordshire or Hertfordshire

Will it affect my benefits?

No!  The programme is funded by the DWP and has been designed to give you the best chance to start your career.

Oto, 23, explained that when his economics degree ended, he had been unsuccessful in landing that elusive first job, despite applying for numerous positions. “An adviser at Jobcentre Plus suggested I take a course being offered by Ignite Business in Braintree,” he said.

Hannah Garland, from Syleham, took part in the Hyve project which saw a group of unemployed people creating a short film together. The project, run by Waveney Valley Productions, was made possible through a £15,000 Community Grant from TCHC. 

At TCHC we have a wide range of apprenticeships run through our training provider All Trades Training (ATT). If you are taking on an apprentice, our Business Administration,Customer Service, Team Leading, Management, Health and Social Care, Warehousing or Cleaning Services Apprenticeships are designed to help you develop a skilled, motivated and qualified team. Your apprentice will acquire skills through a mix of learning in the workplace and formal off the job training with the opportunity to practice and embed new skills in a real work context.

Apprenticeships are designed to help you develop a skilled, motivated and qualified team. Your apprentice will acquire skills through a mix of learning in the workplace and formal off the job training with the opportunity to practice and embed new skills in a real work context.

We specialise in delivering the next generation of administrators, business support assistants and managers, health and social care assistants and managers, warehousing specialists and cleaning and environmental technicians. All through our Apprenticeship programmes in business Administration, Customer Service, Team Leading, Management, Warehousing and Storage and Cleaning and Environmental Service.

Entry requirements

We will consider anyone with an active interest in the relevant subject and sector.

Course length

Our Apprenticeship courses are a minimum of 12 months and 1 day in duration.

Why choose TCHC as your apprenticeship provider?

We specialise in Health and Social Care, Business and Administration, Customer Service, Team Leading and Management, Warehousing and Cleaning and Environmental Services Apprenticeships and we're here to guide you through the process. Whatever you require we'll help you make the most out of your Apprenticeship(s).

Laura Shead, of East Road, struggled mentally after the end of a turbulent relationship, with things coming to a head when she had a road accident while intoxicated.

Put on probation, the 33-year-old sought the help of the Cambridge Women’s Resources Centre (CWRC) and its Dawn Project in particular as part of her community service. Laura, mum to five-year-old Ryley, explains: “I had been a carer before I had Ryley but I’d lost touch with that side of things a bit. So when I was convicted, I decided it was time for me to try and improve my life through the Dawn Project, which works with ex-offenders.

Who’s it for?

This programme is available to anyone who is claiming JSA, aged 25+, Pre-Work Programme, has been claiming for more than 26 weeks and who lives in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.

What does it consist of?

This is a support programme for a minimum of 13 weeks that will look at exploring your strengths and weaknesses, enabling you to embark on a sustainable career that offers long term opportunity.

The support options include:

• Employability Skills
• Job search and interviewing techniques
• Additional Bite-Size Workshops, specific support themes will include social skills and development, motivational skills, confidence building, health condition management, communications, behavioural development, community integration, ‘recognising your abilities’, parental skills and financial skills. Each individual module has been designed as ‘bite-size’ and vocationally applicable to help boost confidence and develop a range of skills
• Enterprise Support

You will have the opportunity to gain work experience and employment through Voluntary Work Placements, Work Experience and ongoing support from our recruitment team who will be tasked to help you secure a job. You will be supported by your own assigned personal adviser throughout the support process to ensure you can secure a successful future.

How do I get involved?

To find out more about the programme, please call 01923 698456 or email eesrefferals@tchc.net.

Who's it for?

It is for any adult 19+ who is currently not working, lives in Bedford and require support to help them move into or closer to employment.

What does it consist of?

The programme provides:

• A one to one IAG and career planning session discussing aspirations and current barriers to employment and how these can be overcome
• A series of workshops including employability skills, building confidence, body language, selling yourself at interview, using social media to enhance job search and how to work effectively with recruitment agencies
• For participants interested in self employment workshops we will cover entrepreneurial skills alongside core principles of a business plan, market research and business finance
• Ongoing support from our recruitment team while seeking employment and during the first weeks in employment.

How do I get involved?

To find out more information about the programme, please contact 01923 698430 or email adult.referrals@tchc.net.

To be considered to deliver training provision under any of our current or future contracts please complete the application form below.

The European Social Fund (ESF) is part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme for England in 2014-2020. The Growth Programme brings together the European Social Fund, European Regional Development Fund and part of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development in an integrated package that will be delivered in Local Enterprise Partnership areas in England.

The ESF will deliver three of the Growth Programme’s thematic objectives to: 

a) Promote sustainable and quality employment and supporting labour mobility (Thematic Objective 8)
b) Promote social inclusion, combating poverty and any discrimination (Thematic Objective 9), and
c) Invest in education, training and vocational training for skills and life-long learning (Thematic Objective 10).

The main investment priorities for ESF will be:

• helping more unemployed and inactive people to enter and progress in employment
• increasing the number of young people who are in education, employment or training
• tackling barriers to work faced by the most disadvantaged groups
• helping more people improve their skills
• making skills provision more responsive to the needs of the local economy.

The activities funded by ESF must complement or enhance support available through national programmes and be tailored to the needs of individual LEP areas, as identified by their respective European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) strategies.

In anticipation of ESF funding opportunities, TCHC is now seeking suitable partner organisations for the delivery of forthcoming contracts.

If you are interested, then please complete and return the attached form to us by 5pm on 6th March.

If your organisation is working in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector, then we would also like to hear from you in relation to ESF Thematic Objective 9, which particularly covers Social Inclusion activity. This line of work is led by our Community Interest Company (CIC). 

Download European Structural and Investment Fund Programme Interest Form

The Investors in People standard is a management framework for high performance through people and looks for strong leadership, vision and a culture of improvement.

In the assessment it was highlighted that not only does TCHC meet the core Standard requirements, but in fact meet most of those required for the Bronze Award.

Organisations must:

• Have a turnover of less that £300,000 per annum
• Employ no more than 9 full time equivalent paid staff
• Be a social enterprise or not for profit organisation
• Not be in direct receipt of Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) and/or
• Skills Funding Agency funding.

Community Grants can fund the following capacity building activities:

• Training for staff and volunteers in third sector organisations on mainstream routes to employment and training; and
• Actions to support the development of delivery and accreditation arrangements in-house

Application Form A is to be completed if you have not previously applied for an ESF Community Grant with TCHC.

Application Form B is to be completed if you have previously applied for an ESF Community Grant with TCHC.

Application Form A Guidelines

Application Form B Guidelines

Applications are closed

To make this happen we provide advice, mentoring, cognitive behaviour therapy, tailored personal development activities and training that builds the skills and confidence of our clients. We are committed to promote social inclusion, equal opportunities and combat poverty on a local level and across borders.

As we are a Community Interest Company /Not for Profit Organisation our funding is generated through various Government and charitable funding streams, which is all invested back into the communities we serve.

Government figures show that over 4,000 16 to 17 year olds in the East of England were supported by the workforce development provider through the Youth Contract scheme from September 2012 to the same month this year. This is more than any other region in the country.

The courses run regularly across King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and are funded by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Norfolk County Council. Anna went on the Building Your Own Business Idea course which gave the confidence and support to make the leap into being her own boss.

Who is this IT course for?

This 11 day course will benefit residents of Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough, particularly anyone that is unemployed, claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance.

What does the course consist of?

Our experienced Tutor will cover the basics of computing and introduce learners to some widely used computer packages.  The course will be practical and hands on; and you will be “learning by doing” using a computer in a purpose built computer training suite.  Successful completion of the course leads to the achievement of the Level 2 Award in IT User Skills.

Dates and Locations

If you are interested in our I.T. course please contact us and we will book you on to the next course running near you.

Progression Routes 

Some people may go straight into work and/or wish to progress to intermediate or advanced levels in specific computer packages.  There is also a course on using social media to help improve your job search skills and get that dream job.

How to book your course place

To find out more information and for details of our other courses, please call Paul Riddick on 01923 698474.  Alternatively, drop a short email complete with your day time telephone number to: courses@tchc.net 

This one-day course is for IT beginners and is about starting you off on the road to becoming I.T competent so that you can find and apply for work or get a job where you can use computers. Don’t get left behind, learn the basics and get confident and build up your I.T. Skills.

Who is this IT course for?

It will benefit residents of Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough, particularly anyone that is unemployed, claiming Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance.

What does the course consist of?

Our experienced tutor will cover the basics of computing and introduce learners to some widely used industry standard computer packages and using the internet and emails. The course will be practical and hands on; and participants will “learn by doing”.

Dates and Locations

If you are interested in our I.T. course please contact us and we will book you on to the next course running near you.

Progression Routes 

Successful completion of this course means that you can take it up a level and go onto the I.T. User Skills Level 1.
Some people may go straight into work and/or wish to progress to another course such as Social Media to help improve job search skills and networking, Enterprise/Business start-up, or Employability

How to book your course place

To find out more information and for details of our other courses, please call Paul Riddick on 01923 698474.  Alternatively, drop a short email complete with your day time telephone number to: courses@tchc.net 

Who is this IT course for?

This courses will benefit residents of Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough, particularly anyone that is unemployed, claiming Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance.

What does the course consist of?

Our experienced tutor will cover the basics of computing and introduce learners to some widely used industry standard computer packages. The course will be practical and hands on; and participants will “learn by doing”. 

Successful completion of the course leads to the achievement of either a Level 1 or Level 2 Award in IT User Skills. If you complete the Level 1 course you may wish to continue your I.T. development and take the Level 2 course, which is more advanced than the Level 1.

Dates and Locations

New dates to be confirmed for September.

If you are interested in our I.T. courses please contact us and we will book you on to the next course running near you.

Progression Routes 

Some people may go straight into work and/or wish to progress to intermediate or advanced levels in specific computer packages.  There is also a course on using social media to help improve your job search skills and get that dream job.

How to book your course place

To find out more information and for details of our other courses, please call Paul Riddick on 01923 698474.  Alternatively, drop a short email complete with your day time telephone number to: courses@tchc.net 

You will learn about how these match to jobs that would be suitable for you and if you may need to learn new skills. You will find out about the skills and personal qualities employers are looking for today. The course will improve your communication skills and personal effectiveness for work and provide a basis for further learning. It will move you closer to the workplace.

Who is this course for?

Have you been out of work for some time and want to get back in the job market? Are you not sure about the skills you have and how they translate to the world of work today? You may not even be sure what job is right for you or what employers are looking for. Are you feeling downhearted and feel you need encouragement to move back into employment? If so, this is the course for you.

What does the course consist of?

Our experienced careers adviser will guide you through the content including:

• Detailed assessment of skills and personal attributes
• Job profiles
• Transferable skills
• The labour market in local area
• Skills and personal qualities employers are looking for
• How to gain new skills
• Self-improvement and personal effectiveness for work

Dates and Locations

If you are interested in our I.T. course please contact us and we will book you on to the next course running near you.

Progression Routes 

It is highly recommended that participants progress to the Employability course so that they build on their learning. This course covers CVs, Interviewing skills, job applications etc.
Some people may wish to progress to another course such as Social Media to help improve job search skills and networking, Enterprise/Business start-up, or IT Skills

How to book your course place

To find out more information and for details of our other courses, please call Paul Riddick on 01923 698474.  Alternatively, drop a short email complete with your day time telephone number to: courses@tchc.net 

We offer a programme where the primary focus is giving you the support you need to get into work and kick start your career.  The well-bing programme for Employment Support Allowance claimants provides support tailored to your individual needs.

What is the programme about?

This programme is about giving you the skills and confidence to succeed.  We offer you a wide range of support including access to a personal adviser throughout the programme, which can run up to 13 weeks.

The support options include:

• Pre-work placement support - providing specialist support as required
• Work placement
• Pre-employment / Full-time education support
• Job search / Application support
• In work support.

Who’s it for?

This programme supports clients experiencing health barriers who are:

• Claiming inactivity benefit such as Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit who are experiencing health barriers
• Residents of Essex, Bedfordshire or Hertfordshire.

Will it affect my benefits?

No!  The programme is funded by the DWP and has been designed to give you the best chance to  start your career.

Please select a support option below, suitable for your individual circumstances.

According to a recent report by Jobvite, social media has become a popular recruitment tool amongst hiring managers over the last few years. The report indicates that 94% of employers surveyed plan to use social networks for recruiting purposes.

Probably, but what about using social media as a practical tool in work or when running your own business?  This course will help you do that.  You will learn how to use social media to search for jobs, do market research, to network and promote products and services.  These are sought after skills for potential employers or running your own business.

TCHC has been re-awarded the contract to be the grant co-ordinating body in the East of England for ESF Community Grants, with the service to be delivered until July 2015. Small third sector organisations can apply for up to £15,000 to manage a project for learners, with the grants co-funded by the Skills Funding Agency.

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The programme, funded by ESF (European Social Fund), Education Funding Agency and the Skills Funding Agency, will focus on the individual needs of young people, with the ultimate aim of getting them ready for work, education or training. It is estimated that in the East of England region there were over 10,000* young people classed as NEET in 2012.

The contract worth around £3.9 million has now started and will run until July 2015. It is expected that 1833 young people will receive support from this programme.

The programme will focus on two core groups; those aged 16-19 and classed as NEET and those aged 14-16 in danger of becoming NEET. We can also support people between 19 and 24 who have been assessed as having a learning difficulty and/or disability.

TCHC has experience of delivering support to young people and adults who are unemployed and have skilled, qualified and highly experienced tutors and personal advisers. Each young person will have their own Personal Adviser who will put together an individual learning plan designed to meet the needs of the individual.

There are three main strands to the support offered and they are around: functional skills development such as maths, English and ICT; employability skills such as communication, interview techniques, behavioural development; and work readiness such as work placements and volunteering.

TCHC Chief Executive Dale Morgan said: “We are excited to have won this contract. We have a proven track record of supporting this group and can’t wait to see the positive impact of the programme. It is so important to support this group of young people and give them the opportunity to develop and gain confidence and give them every chance to succeed. 

“Our programme is developed for the individual, it looks to solve the challenges they face and give them the confidence to progress, get employment, get an Apprenticeship or return to education.”

Mark Williams, Director of Youth Programmes added “This programme provides the young person with a tailored programme to meet their needs. They get a Personal Adviser, someone they can talk to and with their help, put together a plan that will help them succeed. It might be that they need more confidence, motivation, better communication skills, improve their English or maths. That’s what we can provide, practical but essential support that they need, as well as real life work experience.”  

The programme is available in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Hertfordshire

If you know of someone who could benefit or you would like to attend email info@tchc.net or visit www.mgn.tchc.net 

Called GAPs it aims to help these young people gain confidence, a qualification and work experience, the things they need to kick start their future. Funded by the Education Funding Agency, it is expected that all those who complete will gain a NVQ Level 1 or 2 along with Employability Skills, Functional Skills and work placement.

The course lasts four days (usually two days a week for two weeks) and enables candidates to:

• Understand the skills required as a salesperson
• Develop their communication and presentation skills
• Learn ways to source and approach potential customers
• Determine customer needs
• Pitch products or services to potential customers
• Handle objections and close the sale
• Develop long-term relationships with their customers.

The course is run in an informal workshop style with a variety of activities and exercises. Each candidate also has a short one-to-one session with the Facilitator in order to clarify their understanding and to sign off their workbooks.

Successful completion of the course means that candidates will be awarded the SFEDI Level 2 Award in Selling a Product or Service. This will be a very useful addition to their CV when applying for a sales role.

The course supports people intending to embark on a career in:

• Telesales
• Retail Sales
• Field or commercial sales

Course Dates Currently Open for Recruitment in Watford:

• 5 September
• 6 September
• 12 September
• 13 September

For more information or to refer a candidate for an Information Advice and Guidance session, please email: courses@tchc.net with ‘Selling’ in the subject line or call 01923 698432.

The programme, funded by ESF, Education Funding Agency and the Skills Funding Agency, will focus on the individual needs of young people, with the ultimate aim of getting them ready for work, education or training. They will have an experienced Personal Adviser throughout the programme who is there support, guide and mentor them.

The programme will focus on 4 main areas: assessment, advice and guidance; functional skills such as English, Maths and ICT; employability and soft skills including communication and social skills; and employment readiness, with work placements and volunteering.

The programme will run until July 2015. If you know of someone who could benefit or you would like to attend email info@tchc.net

Global Entrepreneurship Week runs from 18-24 November themed “take the next step” and has a wide range of enterprise activities available.

The contract has been awarded to TCHC by the Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough Councils, to support residents who are thinking about becoming self-employed or starting their own business.

If you are thinking of starting a business or want to test out a possible business idea then we are here to help. We offer comprehensive business enterprise support. With our help you’ll understand what is needed to run a business and develop a wide range of skills which can help you in setting out on your own.

Why TCHC Business Start-Up?

If you are considering starting a business, becoming self-employed or would like to explore your options further then our business start-up support can help you:

• Find out if running a business or becoming self-employed is for you
• Learn business skills and knowledge to enable you to run a business effectively
• Receive independent impartial advice to give you every chance of success
• Meet and network with others in a similar position to yourself to help build your confidence.

We can help you develop the tools you need to be a successful entrepreneur and make your dream of being your own boss a reality.

We offer support to the following:

• Residents of Central Bedfordshire and Bedford Borough who are looking to explore the possibility of setting up a business

Our Business Start-Up Offer

We run several programmes developed for those considering starting out on their own:

• Practical Skills for Business
• Bedford and Central Bedfordshire Business Support

To book your place on a workshop please call TCHC on 01923 698 474 or email courses@tchc.net

There is however support for local future entrepreneurs through the Enterprise Norfolk programme. TCHC, with support from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Norfolk County Council are running a free Building Your Business Idea workshop to help locals over the age of 18, make the first step.

This grant has been established to enable local third sector organisations to deliver employability skills training to people in the area who are most in need.

The Consultancy Home Counties Ltd (TCHC) is launching a new, free training programme in Cambridge aimed at getting young people ready for the workplace.

TCHC, already a leading training provider throughout the East of England, is the first new provider in Cambridge for some years to offer a mix of vocational GCSE-equivalent qualifications and relevant work placements to young people aged 16 to 17 years old.

]]> ROOT Wed, 11 Sep 2013 14:35:42 +0000 http://www.tchc.net/services/unemployed/jobseeker-survival-guide/492-what-to-do-once-you-ve-found-work http://www.tchc.net/services/unemployed/jobseeker-survival-guide/492-what-to-do-once-you-ve-found-work Positive Attitude in the Workplace

Now that you have a job it is important to maintain a positive attitude in the workplace to increase your chances of getting a promotion. Adopting a positive attitude will impress future employers and make them more likely to take you on. Here are some tips for staying positive in the workplace.

• Be solution-minded and not problem-focused. If a problem is within your scope of responsibility, then you should not leave a problem unsolved.
• Give the best of yourself at your job. This means keeping up to date with developments in your sector, keeping your skills and knowledge fresh, and coming to work each day with the willingness to do well.
• Never criticise anyone. If you criticise people to your employer then you give them the impression that you might criticise them behind their back. This won’t leave them with a good impression of you.
• Stay away from gossip. Employers might think that you are lacking in honesty and integrity.
• Be constructive. Look at any problems as an opportunity to learn and grow as a result.
• Be a good news reporter in your organisation. Look for good things happening in your organisation and share this news with your friends and social contacts.
• Be productive. Try to structure your day effectively.
• Be pleasant. Find something nice to say to all your colleagues when you see them.

Starting your Job

If you managed to get the job, congratulations! You will normally get an offer letter, detailing your pay, benefits, rights, holiday and sickness entitlement. Your employer should take you through company procedures in your first week to make sure you know everything you need to know. If there is something you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask. There is still a lot to think about. Before you start your new job you need to:

• Think about what you are going to do about childcare if you have children
• How you are going to get to and from work
• What the wage is and the benefits of working for your chosen company
• What training the company is going to provide you to enable you to do your job better
• Get plenty of rest
• Allow time to spend with friends and relatives
• Prepare what you are going to wear

Signing off Benefits

Once you have got a job, you will of course have to sign off jobseeker’s allowance. All you need to do is inform your jobcentre that you have found work. They may ask you to provide evidence, such as your offer letter, and if you have done our Skills Support for the Unemployed programme you will need to provide us with a payslip from your first month or first 4 weeks in work and complete a P10 form so that we can continue to provide support for the unemployed.

For support in finding employment please register for our Skills Support for Jobseekers programme, or use the contact form below to request more information.

Interviews can be difficult, especially if you haven’t done one in a long time. Here are our tips for dealing with interviews:

• Answering your phone. When writing your CV, make sure that you list a contact telephone number. This could be a mobile or landline number but it must be yours and you should try to answer it when it rings. You could miss out on potential opportunities if you don’t answer your phone.
• Write down all interview details. If they are phoning you to ask you to come in for an interview, make sure you have a paper and pen with you so you can write down all the details about the interview. You want to know where and when the interview is taking place so that you are properly prepared.
• Research the company beforehand. Find out as much about the company as possible. This is important because it will help you answer the questions. You can use newspapers, the company’s website, search engines and industry magazines to help you do this. The interviewer will be impressed with you if you can demonstrate a good amount of knowledge about their company; they will not be impressed if you don’t know anything about what they do.
• Prepare what you are going to wear. This is important as although it shouldn’t be about what you look like, your appearance does make an impact and you want to demonstrate that you can dress smartly when appropriate and look presentable in front of clients/customers. Make sure your clothes are appropriate, clean and tidy-looking.
• Look up where the interview is taking place. You can do this on Google Maps or on a satellite navigation system. You want to know how long it takes to get there, and make extra allowances for traffic or other problems with public transport. Sometimes companies may offer to pay travel expenses to interview in advance, you should keep all receipts if this is the case.
• Find out who is interviewing you. If you are told who is interviewing you, sometimes it can really help you secure that job if you have a bit of background about the interview before going into the interview room. You are also much more likely to find a common talking point. You can find them on the company page, LinkedIn or try Googling them to see what comes up! Just be careful not to be too familiar at the interview as this can come across very awkwardly.
• Practise what you are going to say. A lot of typical questions are asked at interview, which means you can think about the answers beforehand. You want to think about what your main strengths and weaknesses are, and examine what your key skills and main areas of experience and expertise are. You also want to be able to answer the question, “Why do you want to work for this company?”

At Interview: Dos and Don’ts

Do

• Allow enough time to get to your interview; there is nothing worse than being late
• Take a pen and paper with you. You never know, you may need to take notes
• Make sure you look smart before you step into the interview room. Check out your teeth and hair in particular
• Take breath mints with you. There is nothing worse than having bad breath
• Do shake hands with the interviewer. Give a firm hand shake but don’t crush them!
• Answer all their questions as best you can and provide as much detail as you can • Say if you do not understand
• Ask questions that demonstrate your interest in the industry. You may ask them questions about the company culture, for example
• Say thank you and good bye at the end of the interview. This shows that you are polite. It’s fine also to ask when you might expect to hear whether or not you have been successful
• Write a thank you note. For some employers this is essential.

Don’t

• Be late
• Bad mouth your previous employer. This will just give your employer the impression you will do the same about them
• Ask stupid questions. Asking questions like “what does your company do?” could lose you the interview as it shows you have not done your research before the interview
• Talk about relationships, religion, political views or sport.

What next?

Once you have had your interview, in some cases you may be asked to come in for a second interview, give a presentation or take a test. The interviewer will normally make this clear before your first interview.

Once you have been to your interview all you can do is wait and hope for the best. Don’t be afraid to apply for other jobs in the meantime just in case you don’t get the result you want. It is always better to have more options, so you are not forced to take the only job that comes along.

Make sure you have your phone on you, or have an answering system set up, so you can hear if they ring to confirm that you have the job.

If you didn’t get the job, then don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world and there are always other jobs you can apply for. Make sure you are polite and ask for feedback and ask the company if they can keep your CV on file. You never know, they might have another job opening later on which you would be suitable for.

For support in finding employment please register for our Skills Support for Jobseekers programme, or use the contact form below to request more information.

A covering letter gives you the chance to introduce yourself and demonstrate your suitability for the role. You need to tailor the covering letter to the job description and person specification in order to demonstrate that you have the necessary requirements. This will increase your chances of being invited in for an interview.
Effective covering letters will be no more than one side of A4, neatly laid out, typed, clear and straight forward, and free from spelling and grammar mistakes.

Selling Yourself

When approaching employers you need to think long and hard about the skills and attributes you possess and how you can sell these to potential employers. Lots of people will use the same boring approach to try and grab an employer’s attention so don’t be afraid to be a little different in order to stand out from the crowd.
In order to grab an employer’s attention you can use the same technique that is used in advertising:

Attention – Get the person’s attention.
Interest – Get the person’s interest
Desire – Leave the person with a desire to learn more about you
Action – Persuade the person to take action

You need to be persistent. If you ask plenty of open questions, you give the employer less opportunity to say no.
When calling employers asking them about vacancies you should follow these rules:

• Introduce yourself and explain why you are calling. Ask them, ‘have I caught you at a good time?’ This gives them less opportunity to say no
• Explain what experience you have and back this up with examples of your achievements from the sector you are in
• Be quite general about the experience you have until you know exactly what they are looking for
• Have a few tricks up your sleeve in case the person you are talking to is intent on getting you off the phone
• If they don’t have time to speak to you, ask them when would be a convenient time for them to talk
• If they don’t have a suitable position for you, you can ask them if they know of any other vacancies through their contacts. It is important to be really polite, so that you can have this person as a contact.
• At the end of the call, tell the person why you are calling, ending with a question that will lead to a positive response.

For support in finding employment please register for our Skills Support for Jobseekers programme, or use the contact form below to request more information.

Less than 20% of jobs are advertised anywhere because the cost of recruitment advertising is too high for many companies. These vacancies which are unadvertised are in the ‘hidden jobs market’, you can tap into this market through networking.

Keep up with everyone that you know. Email your contacts and make sure that they are aware that you are unemployed. There is no shame in it and you never know what opportunities your friends and connections may have for you, but if you don’t ask then you won’t find out about these opportunities.

Take every opportunity you can to meet people. This could be through professional networking events but it doesn’t have to be. Utilise any social opportunities you have, such as clubs, societies, parties etc. As they say, it’s not what you know, but who you know.

Use social networking sites. Social networking makes it quick and easy to meet people in an online setting. LinkedIn is a professional network designed for the purpose of meeting people, sharing ideas and posting jobs. Twitter is good for networking with companies and keeping up to speed with news from certain industries.

Looking for Jobs

There are many places to look for jobs now, so make sure you examine all of them:

• Sector magazines. Most career sectors have a magazine where you can learn about the key players and issues in the industry.
• Newspapers. Some jobs are still being advertised in newspapers. Ensure you get up early so that you can get information about jobs in your area before anyone else.
• Windows. Shops and cafes will often advertise vacancies in their window because this is cheaper than recruiting on a website. When you go inside make sure you smile, talk to them politely and don’t look scruffy and unkempt. Hand them a CV that isn’t crumpled if possible.
• Jobs websites: There are many websites advertising jobs, from listings on news websites, like the Guardian or the Times, to recruitment websites like www.reed.co.uk and Universal Jobsmatch. Just be careful as occasionally you will see bogus ads claiming that you will make lots of money with no experience or asking for your bank details, if something seems too good to be true then it’s probably fake.
• Recruitment agencies. There are a number of agencies, some are focused in particular areas, sectors or industries and may also provide candidates with additional support in their job search
• Social media.LinkedIn is a great resource for finding jobs with plenty of recruiters to connect with and jobs advertised. TwitJobSearch.com is a great resource for finding jobs related to a particular job title, industry or location; you don’t need a Twitter account to use it.
• Networking. Take every opportunity to network and make connections, both online through LinkedIn and Twitter and in person at events, conferences, even dinner parties and social gatherings.

Using social media in your Job Search

Social media is an effective tool for keeping up with friends and contacts, but it can also be used to find and apply for jobs. Employers often look on people who use social media more highly, and some employers only post jobs on social media, so if you don’t tap into this hidden jobs market you could be missing out on a tonne of opportunities. Here is how to use these sites in your job search:

• LinkedIn. This is the most obvious place to start if you wish to use social media for job search as it is specifically designed for professionals and jobseekers. There are job adverts posted on the site, but it is also really good for networking and finding companies that might be able to offer you a job! Creating a really good LinkedIn profile can act as an online CV, and can help to showcase your skills and experience and increase your chances of getting head hunted. Looking at LinkedIn regularly will help you to keep in contact with everyone in your network and learn about new opportunities through contacts.
• Twitter. Being on Twitter will tell employers that you are in touch with the world. You can follow companies in your industry and keep up to date with current affairs and the latest developments in your industry. Tweeting about these things yourself will help to tell employers that you are knowledgeable about the industry and have a thoughtful and inquisitive personality. Also, thousands of jobs are posted on Twitter every day, so it can really pay off to follow companies and see what they are up to. The website TwitJobSearch.com allows you to search Twitter for jobs according to industry, location and level of experience, you don’t need to have a Twitter account to use it!
• Google Plus. This is relatively new on the scene, but it is linked to the world’s most powerful search engine so having a strong Google Plus profile will give you a powerful internet presence and increase the likelihood of getting head hunted. You can put up similar information to what you can with a LinkedIn profile but you are not restricted in who you can send messages to and add to your circle. However, this of course means that you need to be careful about the information you put on there, and although it’s a powerful networking tool it’s not as useful as LinkedIn for searching for companies and jobs.
• Facebook. Many employers may regard being on the world’s most visited website as essential. Facebook is maybe not as effective for job search as some of the other sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter, however you might hear about opportunities through your friends and can use it to ask your friends if they know of any jobs in their company. Unless an employer states that you need to be on Facebook, it is best to keep Facebook separate from your other networks and make sure you use the highest security settings possible so that employers cannot access photos or statuses that could damage their impression of you.
• YouTube. If you are looking for a job in the media industry or for large multinational companies, then having a presence on YouTube is usually a good idea. This helps to demonstrate your creativity. Creating a video CV using a web cam can demonstrate to employers that you are professional and articulate without them having to call you in for interview.
• Blogs. If you have knowledge and interest in a particular area, then a blog is the perfect opportunity to show case your knowledge. It’s also a good way to build a base of followers and get noticed by potential employers, as well as being something you can put on your CV to demonstrate your knowledge and ability.

For support in finding employment please register for our Skills Support for Jobseekers programme, or use the contact form below to request more information.

Before you can apply for any jobs you need a CV. This is a marketing document used to present you as a personal brand. It demonstrates your skills and experiences and what you can bring to an employer. Structure Ideally you want your CV to be between 1 and 2 pages long, no more than 2 pages and no less than 1 page. You should include the following:

• Profile: A very brief paragraph (2-3 lines max) summarising your skills and qualities, tailored to each job that you are applying for.
• Key Skills: A couple of bullet points, explaining your main skills and/or key areas of expertise that you are selling to employers. Recruiters may use search engines and other specialist software to look for candidates with your specific skills. Be prepared to answer questions about these at interview.
• Employment details: It is not enough to simply list every job you have ever had, stick to recent (last 10 years) and relevant. Include the company name, dates, job title and outline of duties. Account for any gaps in your CV in a positive way, such as studying or bringing up children. You do not need to give your reason for leaving.
• Education and Training: Provide a brief list of your education (secondary, higher and further), qualifications and training, including dates attended and the name of the institution listed in reverse chronological order. If you failed a qualification or exam then it is best to leave it out. Also, you do not need to list your GCSEs (or O Levels). Just say how many you have and where you studied and only include subjects that are relevant (e.g. Chemistry for work in a Chemistry lab).
• Leisure and Interests – This can really help the employer better understand whether you will be a good fit for their company. List any hobbies you have, and interests or volunteering you are engaged with.
• References – You do not need to include references at the end of the CV as these are normally not required until you have attended an interview or been made an offer. If they are specifically asked for, you may include them on a separate sheet of paper.

Checking your CV

1. Ensure that the same formatting is used throughout. You can use bold or italics to emphasise something – do not underline. Use a readable font such as Arial or Times New Roman and also a decent size – but not huge.
2. Proof Read your CV. In a competitive marketplace a single spelling mistake on your CV can be seriously costly. Therefore, read your CV multiple times to make sure it reads nicely and there are no spelling mistakes or errors. Don’t rely on spell-check as it doesn’t always work.
3. Read your CV again, and again, and again. Then give it to a friend and ask them to read through it. They may find mistakes which you have missed.
4. Check your CV is the right length. If it is too short, think about other information you can include, building your skills and experience on your CV.
5. Check the skills, experience, and profile on your CV against the requirements of the job role listed in the advert.

For support in finding employment please register for our Skills Support for Jobseekers programme, or use the contact form below to request more information.

Before you start applying for jobs it is important to understand the qualities that employers look for and the value you can bring to their company. Here are the top qualities that employers value in their candidates:

• Intelligence: Intelligence affects your capability and productivity in the workplace. Candidates with a high level of common sense and the ability to get on with day-to-day tasks are highly prized by employers
• Leadership Ability: Employers want someone who is able to take charge of a task, delegate when the need arises and take responsibility when things go wrong.
• Integrity: Employers like candidates who will not bad mouth their previous employers but who will speak honestly about their experiences and put their hand up when they do not understand or make a mistake.
• Likability: Employers like candidates who they will get on with, and who will be kind, considerate and mindful of others
• Competence: Employers like candidates who can get on with a task and do it well without lots of assistance.
• Courage: Some employers want risk-takers and people who are not afraid to speak up when there is a problem or who will voice their opinion when appropriate. Candidates with courage are prepared to make themselves heard and fight for what they believe in.
• Inner Strength: Employers like candidates with perseverance, who can strive through even when things seem hopeless.

For support in finding employment please register for our Skills Support for Jobseekers programme, or use the contact form below to request more information.

Once you have decided what you want to do with your career, before you start job searching, set some goals for yourself. This can help you focus on what you want to achieve and motivate yourself to keep going.
Your goals should follow the SMART model. They should be:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Timely

To set goals, start by setting large lifetime goals for yourself, and then break these down into small, more achievable goals. Then devise a plan of action for achieving these goals.

For support in finding employment please register for our Skills Support for Jobseekers programme, or use the contact form below to request more information.

Whether you are starting a career, changing career or returning to a career you need to think about the skills you have and what knowledge and experience you can bring to an employer. You want to choose something that you are going to enjoy because a job should be so much more than just about earning a living.
Ultimately, you want a job that offers opportunities, that provides a chance of progression and that has some variety and allows you to learn new things. You may not get your ideal job straight away, but if you have some plan in place for your career then you have a better idea of where to go next. While it’s best to get a job in your home town, this may not be possible, and you should be prepared to travel to the next town or further if jobs you are interested in are available there.

How do you decide what you want to do?

• Think about what interests you. This is really important: if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing then you are not going to have as much motivation to work
• Think about what you are good at. Everyone is good at something, whether it is talking to people, or writing things down. Think about what you are good at and research what jobs these skills will be a good fit for. You could also think about how you might set up a business around your skills and interests
• Talk to your adviser. At TCHC, we provide one-to-one Information, Advice and Guidance sessions, giving you the opportunity to discuss career plans with one of our advisers and put a plan of action together. You can also find other good resources online, such as the National Careers Service and the Prospects website
• Do your research. You can use Google to research companies that you might be interested in working for, as many large companies have a ‘work for us’ page. This could indicate whether a particular company, job role or industry is for you!
• Ask contacts, friends and family members. They can share their honest opinions about the job they are working in and give you an insight into the company. You never know, they may also let you shadow them for the day or provide you with work experience
• Volunteering. This is the opportunity to gain skills and experience, make new friends and give something back to society. Sometimes you can also gain valuable qualifications which you can then demonstrate to an employer
• Work Experience/Shadowing. This is an excellent way to get a sense of whether a particular career is for you. It will also give you an insight into the world of work and can present some valuable experience to put on your CV
• Self-employment. You should consider all the options and if you can’t find a job that you enjoy or can’t decide what you might enjoy then you can always create a job for yourself by starting a business. You need a passion and commitment, but running a business can be thoroughly rewarding and the financial incentives are potentially very high.

Transferable Skills

You may think that changing careers or returning to work after a break is impossible, but in reality jobs involve a range of skills which will often cross over with skills required for other jobs. For example, to be a car mechanic you might need to work with customers, handle money and keep records of stock. These skills cross over into many customer-service roles, such as retail, for example.

For support in finding employment please register for our Skills Support for Jobseekers programme, or use the contact form below to request more information.

Financial concerns are often the first worry of someone who finds themselves unemployed. Jobseekers Allowance provides jobseekers with a basic allowance while they are looking for a job. This money depends on your age, savings and pensions, and personal circumstances. You may also be eligible for other benefits, such as housing benefit, if you are on a low income and need support with paying rent or paying your mortgage.

To claim Jobseekers allowance, visit: https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/jsaol/lp

You will then be contacted by a jobcentre adviser to arrange an appointment. Read our registering as unemployed guide here.

Once registered as unemployed you can sign up to our Skills Support for Jobseekers project, which can help you with developing your CV, applying for job applications, writing covering letters and dealing with interviews.

Losing your job can be extremely difficult. There is a lot of financial uncertainty, particularly if you have to support a family. You may have lost your job because of a disagreement with an employer, illness or family reasons, and so there may be other concerns and problems for you to deal with. Before you start looking for work you need to take a look in the mirror and assess why you lost your job. If it was your fault, then what would you have done differently? Once you have contemplated this, you need to put it to the back of your mind and start focusing on the future, how you are going to learn from your mistakes and turn your situation into a positive.

For support in finding employment please register for our Skills Support for Jobseekers programme, or use the contact form below to request more information.

There is still a lot to think about. Before you start your new job you need to:

• Think about what you are going to do about childcare if you have children
• How you are going to get to and from work
• What the wage is and the benefits of working for your chosen company
• What training the company is going to provide for you so you can do your job better
• Get plenty of rest
• Give time for friends and relatives
• Prepare what you are going to wear

Signing off Benefits

Once you have got a job, you will of course have to sign off jobseekers allowance. All you need to do is inform your jobcentre that you have found work. They may ask you to provide evidence, such as your offer letter, and if you have done our Skills Support for the Unemployed programme you will need to provide us with a payslip from your first month in work so that we can continue to support the unemployed.

TCHC has a wealth of knowledge in supporting the unemployed and those affected by redundancy to find work or to start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

• Sector magazines. Most career sectors have a magazine where you can learn about the key players and issues in the industry
• Jobs websites. There are many websites advertising jobs, from listings on news websites, like The Guardian or The Times, to recruitment websites like www.reed.co.uk and Universal Jobsmatch. Just be careful as occasionally you will see bogus ads claiming that you will make lots of money with no experience or asking for your bank details; if something seems too good to be true it probably is!
• Recruitment agencies. There are a number of agencies, some are focused on particular areas, sectors or industries and may also provide candidates with additional support in their job search
• Social media. LinkedIn is a great resource for finding jobs, with plenty of recruiters to connect with and jobs advertised. TwitJobSearch.com is a great resource for finding jobs related to a particular job title, industry or location. You don’t need a Twitter account to use it
• Networking. Take every opportunity to network and make connections, both online through LinkedIn and Twitter, and in person at events, conferences, even dinner parties and social gatherings.

TCHC is an experienced workforce development specialist which works with local authorities and public and voluntary sector organisations to support jobseekers and those affected by redundancy to help them find a job or start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company making redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Not found the job you are looking for? Find out how social media can help you in your job search.

Once you have been to your interview all you can do is wait and hope for the best. Don’t be afraid to apply for other jobs in the meantime just in case you don’t get the result you want. It is always better to have more options, so you are not forced to take the only job that comes along.

Make sure you have your phone on you, or have an answering system set up, so you can hear if they ring to confirm that you have the job.

If you didn’t get the job, then don’t worry. It’s not the end of the world and there are always other jobs you can apply for. Make sure you are polite and ask for feedback and ask the company if they can keep your CV on file. You never know, they might have another job opening later on which you would be suitable for.

TCHC is a workforce development specialist that works with local authorities and public and voluntary organisations to support jobseekers and those affected by redundancy get back into work or start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

 Finally, starting your new job!

• Jobseekers allowance, for financial assistance while you are looking for a job
• Housing benefits, for those needing assistance with paying rent or their mortgage
• Child benefit, for parents
• Income Support for those with a disability.

Read our ‘how to register as unemployed’ guide here.

We hope that you will not need to register for too long but unless you have a job lined up by the end of your notice period, you should register as unemployed. This will also give you access to a range of other benefits, including our Skills Support programmes.

TCHC are regional specialists with proven success in helping jobseekers and those affected by redundancy to find work or to start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Now you've registered as unemployed, how do you look for jobs?

• Write down all interview details. If employers are phoning you to ask you to come in for an interview, make sure you have a paper and pen available so you can write down all the details about the interview and are properly prepared
• Research the company beforehand. Find out as much about the company as possible. This is important because it will help you answer the questions. Use newspapers, the company’s website, search engines and industry magazines to help you do this. The interviewer will be impressed with you if you can demonstrate a good amount of knowledge about their company; they will not be impressed if you don’t know anything about what they do
• Prepare what you are going to wear. This is important as although it shouldn’t be about what you look like, your appearance does make an impact and you want to demonstrate that you can dress smartly when appropriate. Make sure your clothes are appropriate, clean and tidy-looking
• Look up where the interview is taking place. You can do this on Google Maps or on a satellite navigation system. You want to know how long it takes to get there, and make extra allowances for traffic or other problems with public transport. Sometimes companies may offer to pay travel expenses to interview in advance, you should keep all receipts if this is the case
• Find out who is interviewing you. If you are told who is interviewing you, sometimes it can really help you secure that job if you have a bit of background about the interviewer before going into the interview room. You are also much more likely to find a common talking point. You can find them on the company page, LinkedIn or try Googling them! Just be careful not to be too familiar at the interview as this can come across very awkwardly
• Practise what you are going to say. A lot of questions are typically asked at interview which means you can think about the answers beforehand. You want to think about what your main strengths and weaknesses are, what your key skills are and your main areas of experience and expertise. You also want to be able to answer the question, “Why do you want to work for this company?”

At Interview: Dos and Don’ts

Do

• Allow enough time to get to your interview; there is nothing worse than being late
• Take a pen and paper with you. You never know, you may need to take notes
• Make sure you look smart before you step into the interview room. Check out your teeth and hair in particular
• Take breath mints with you. There is nothing worse than having bad breath
• Do shake hands with the interviewer. Give a firm hand shake but don’t crush them!
• Answer all their questions as best you can and provide as much detail as you can
• Say if you do not understand
• Ask questions that demonstrate your interest in the industry. You may ask them questions about the company culture for example
• Say thank you and good bye at the end of the interview. This shows that you are polite. It’s fine also to ask when you might expect to hear back about whether or not you have been successful
• Write a thank you note. For some employers this is essential.

Don’t

• Be late
• Bad mouth your previous employer. This will just give your employer the impression you will do the same behind their back
• Ask stupid questions. Asking questions like “what does your company do?” could lose you the interview as it shows you have not done your research
• Talk about relationships, religion, political views or sport.

TCHC is an accomplished workforce development specialist with years of experience in supporting the unemployed and those affected by redundancy to find work or to start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

So you've mastered the interview, what do you do next?

Write your CV at the beginning of the redundancy process before you do anything else. This is really important as it will help you sell your skills to your current or future employer. It may have been a long time since you last applied for jobs so we have compiled some handy tips to help you write a really good CV.

Structure

Ideally you want your CV to be between 1 and 2 pages long, no more than 2 pages and no less than 1 page. You should include the following:

• Profile: A very brief paragraph (2-3 lines max) summarising your skills and qualities, tailored to each job that you apply for
• Key Skills: A couple of bullet points, explaining your main skills and/or key areas of expertise you are selling to employers. Recruiters may use search engines and other specialist software to look for candidates with your specific skills. Be prepared to answer questions about these at interview
• Employment details: It is not enough to simply list every job you have ever had, stick to recent (last 10 years) and relevant. Include the company name, dates, job title and outline of duties. Account for any gaps in your CV in a positive way, such as studying or bringing up your children. You do not need to give your reason for leaving
• Education and Training: Provide a brief list of your education (secondary, higher and further), qualifications and training, including dates attended and the name of the institution listed in reverse chronological order. If you failed a qualification or exam then it is best to leave it out. Also, you do not need to list your GCSEs (or O Levels). Just say how many you have and where you studied and only include subjects that are relevant (e.g. Chemistry for work in a chemistry lab)
• Leisure and Interests: This can really help the employer better understand whether you will be a good fit for the company. List any hobbies you have, interests or volunteering you are engaged with that are relevant for the job you are applying for
• References: You do not need to include references at the end of the CV as these are normally not required until you have attended an interview or been made an offer. If they are specifically asked for, you may include them on a separate sheet of paper.

Checking your CV

1. Ensure that the same formatting is used throughout. You can use bold or italics to emphasise something – do not underline! Use a readable font such as Arial or Times New Roman and also a decent size – but not huge!
2. Proof Read your CV. In a competitive marketplace a single spelling mistake on your CV can be seriously costly. Therefore, it’s really important that you read your CV multiple times to make sure it reads nicely and there are no spelling mistakes or errors. Don’t rely on spell-check as it doesn’t always work.
3. Read your CV again, and again, and again. Then give it to a friend and ask them to read through it. They may find mistakes which you have missed.
4. Check your CV is the right length. If it is too short, think about other information you can include, building your skills and experience on your CV.
5. Check the skills, experience, and profile on your CV against the requirements of the job role listed in the advert.

Emailing your CV to your Network

It’s important to send your CV to your network and make sure that people know you are in need of a job, because if you don’t ask, you don’t get! Draft a speculative letter summarising your skills and experience and stating what you are looking for. Send this to an appropriate list of agencies and employers along with your CV, adjusting it when necessary.

Call any business contacts, former colleagues, class mates, and explain the situation. Ask them if they know of any jobs that match your skill set. Follow up any leads you get straight away so you don’t miss out on potential opportunities.

TCHC has nearly a decade of success behind them in helping jobseekers and those affected by redundancy to get back into employment or to start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Need help registering as unemployed, read on to our next part of our Redundancy Survival Guide.

Effective covering letters will be no more than one side of A4, neatly laid out, typed (unless a potential employer specifically asks for a handwritten letter), clear and straight forward, and free from spelling and grammar mistakes.

Selling Yourself

If you want to tap into the hidden job market then you can contact employers or recruiters directly. When approaching these people you need to think long and hard about your skills and attributes and how you are going to sell them. Lots of people will use the same boring approach to grab an employer’s attention so you may need to do something a little different to stand out from the crowd.

To grab an employer’s attention you can use the same technique that is used in advertising:

Attention – Get the person’s attention.

Interest – Get the person’s interest

Desire – Leave the person with a desire to learn more about you

Action – Persuade the person to take action

You need to be persistent. If you ask plenty of open questions, you give the employer less opportunity to say no.

When calling employers to ask them about vacancies you should follow these rules:

• Introduce yourself and explain why you are calling. Ask them, ‘have I caught you at a good time?’ This gives them less opportunity to say no
• Explain what experience you have and back this up with examples of your achievements from the sector you are in
• Be quite general about the experience you have until you know exactly what they are looking for
• Have a few tricks up your sleeve in case the person you are talking to is intent on getting you off the phone
• If they don’t have time to speak to you, ask them when would be a convenient time for them to talk
• If they don’t have a suitable position for you, you can ask them if they know of any other vacancies through their contacts. It is important to be really polite, so that you can have this person as a contact
• At the end of the call, tell the person why you are calling, ending with a question that will lead to a positive response.

TCHC has had a bundle of success in supporting jobseekers and those affected by redundancy to find work or start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Next up in our Redundancy Survival Guide, the dos and don't of interviews.

It can help to focus your job search if you understand the qualities that employers look for in the candidates and how you can demonstrate these qualities to employers. Here are the top qualities that employers value in their candidates:

• Intelligence: Intelligence affects your capability and productivity in the workplace. Candidates with a high level of common sense and the ability to get on with day-to-day tasks are highly prized by employers
• Leadership Ability: Employers want someone who is able to take charge of a task, delegate when the need arises and take responsibility when things go wrong
• Integrity: Employers like candidates who will not bad mouth their previous bosses but who will speak honestly about their experiences and put their hand up when they do not understand or make a mistake.
• Likability: Employers like candidates who they will get on with, and who will be kind, considerate and mindful of others
• Competence: Employers like candidates who can get on with a task and do it well without lots of assistance
• Courage: Some employers want risk-takers and people who are not afraid to speak up when there is a problem or to voice their opinion. Candidates with courage are prepared to make themselves heard and fight for what they believe in
• Inner Strength: Employers like candidates with perseverance who keep going even when things seem hopeless.

TCHC has had years of success in supporting jobseekers and those affected by redundancy and helping them to find work or start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Next up, structuring your CV.

• Think about what interests you. It’s important to have passion for your work and to demonstrate this to potential employers. Before deciding whether to change career or start a business you first need to have an idea of what your interests are, what you are passionate about and what you can see yourself doing.
• Think about what you are good at. Your skills and experiences can be applied to other industries, sectors or job roles within your current sector, so think about how your skills are transferrable.
• Talk to your adviser. At TCHC, we provide one-to-one careers advice to help you decide your next move.
• Do your research. Use the internet or your local library to do research about potential sectors to work in or on business proposals. Before you commit to a certain path, it’s best to know as much as possible about what to expect, otherwise you might fall flat on your face.
• Ask contacts, friends and family members. You may have an extensive list of contacts within your industry or previous colleagues who you can draw on for help. Keep in contact with current colleagues as well, however hard the situation may be, as they may learn of opportunities that might be suitable for you.
• Volunteering. This will help to build your contacts, and give you a distraction to keep you busy while you are out of work. Many people find volunteering extremely rewarding and there is often the opportunity to study towards a qualification.
• Self-employment. You should consider all the options and this might be an option for you. If you have an idea that you think could make you money then TCHC can help with that too through our Practical Skills for Business course.

Setting Goals

Once you have decided what you want to do with your career, before you start job searching, set some goals for yourself. This can help you focus on what you want to achieve and motivate yourself to keep going.
Your goals should follow the SMART model, they should be:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Timely

To set goals, start by setting large lifetime goals for yourself, then break these down into small, more achievable goals. Then, devise a plan of action for achieving these goals.

TCHC has proven success in supporting jobseekers and those affected by redundancy find work or start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

You've set your SMART goals, but how do you work out what employers are looking for?

• LinkedIn. This is the most obvious place to start if you wish to use social media for job search as it is specifically designed for professionals and jobseekers. There are job adverts posted on the site, but it is also really good for networking and finding companies that might be able to offer you a job! Creating a really good LinkedIn profile can act as an online CV, and can help to showcase your skills and experience and increase your chances of getting head hunted. Looking at LinkedIn regularly will help you to keep in contact with everyone in your network and learn about new opportunities through contacts
• Twitter. Being on Twitter will tell employers that you are in touch with the world. You can follow companies in your industry and keep up to date with current affairs and the latest developments in your industry. Tweeting about these things yourself will help to tell employers that you are knowledgeable about the industry and have a thoughtful and inquisitive personality. Also, thousands of jobs are posted on Twitter every day, so it can really pay off to follow companies and see what they are up to. The website TwitJobSearch.com allows you to search Twitter for jobs according to industry, location and level of experience, you don’t need to have a Twitter account to use it!
• Google Plus. This is relatively new on the scene, but it is linked to the world’s most powerful search engine so having a strong Google Plus profile will give you a powerful internet presence and increase the likelihood of getting head hunted. You can put up similar information to what you can with a LinkedIn profile but you are not restricted in who you can send messages to and add to your circle. However, this of course means that you need to be careful about the information you put on there, and although it’s a powerful networking tool it’s not as useful as LinkedIn for searching for companies and jobs
• Facebook. Many employers may regard being on the world’s most visited website as essential. Facebook is maybe not as effective for job search as some of the other sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter, however you might hear about opportunities through your friends and can use it to ask your friends if they know of any jobs in their company. Unless an employer states that you need to be on Facebook, it is best to keep Facebook separate from your other networks and make sure you use optimum security settings so that employers cannot access photos or statuses that could damage their impression of you
• YouTube. If you are looking for a job in the media industry or for large multinational companies, then having a presence on YouTube is usually a good idea. This helps to demonstrate your creativity. Creating a video CV using a web cam can demonstrate to employers that you are professional and articulate without them having to call you in for interview
• Blogs. If you have knowledge and interest in a particular area, then a blog is the perfect opportunity to show case your knowledge. It’s also a good way to build a base of followers and get noticed by potential employers, as well as being something you can put on your CV to demonstrate your knowledge and ability.

TCHC has proven success in working with jobseekers and those affected by redundancy to find work or start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Next up, how to write an effective covering letter.

During your redundancy consultation it is essential that you maintain a positive attitude in the workplace. If you come across as negative or focus too much on past grievances with your employer, then you are not going to give them sufficient reason to keep you on. Also, showing that you have a positive attitude can impress future employers and make them more likely to take you on.

Here are some tips for staying positive in the workplace.

• Be solution-minded and not problem-focused. If a problem is within your scope of responsibility, then you should not leave a problem unsolved
• Give the best of yourself at your job. This means keeping up to date with developments in your sector, keeping your skills and knowledge fresh, and coming to work each day with the willingness to do well
• Never criticise anyone. If you criticise people to a current or future employer then you give them the impression that you might criticise them behind their back. It does not leave them with a good impression of you
• Stay away from gossip. Employers might think that you are lacking in honesty and integrity
• Be constructive. Look at any problems as an opportunity to learn and grow as a result
• Be a good news reporter in your organisation. Look for good things happening in your organisation and share this news with your friends and social contacts
• Be productive. Try to structure your day effectively
• Be pleasant. Find something nice to say to all your colleagues when you see them.

Dealing with redundancy emotionally

Redundancy is a difficult time. To help you get through it, here are some tips to help numb the pain.

• Stay positive. It may seem difficult, but thinking positively is a sure-fire way to success in all aspects of your career
• Keep working. You need to keep motivated and active. Keep working until the end, and when you have finished, turn your job search into a job
• Never lose hope. Although your situation may seem dire, don’t lose sight of the future and never give up.

TCHC supports businesses and individuals in realising and reaching their potential. We have a wealth of experience in helping the unemployed and people affected by redundancy find employment or start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have been made received your redundancy notice or are a company making redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

You're keeping positive, but where do you go from here? Find out in the next part of our redundancy survival guide.

Put your CV together. Do this before you receive your notice of redundancy if at all possible as it will help you demonstrate your skills and value to your employer during the redundancy consultation process.

Before redundancy consultation

Approach your redundancy consultation as if it is a real interview: dress appropriately, research the background of your interviewer, practise answers to the likely questions they might ask, maintain a positive attitude throughout. While it may be easier to feel angry towards your employer for putting you in this position, this will not help you keep your job.

After redundancy consultation

Research similar job roles in your area to get a sense of other jobs you could potentially do. Can you find any jobs requiring your skills and experience? Also, start calling everyone in your contacts list, explaining your situation as they may know of relevant opportunities for you.

Receipt of redundancy notice

Start applying for jobs. You can find jobs in the newspaper, on library notice boards, a number of websites, on LinkedIn and through contacts. Explore all avenues to give yourself a maximum chance of getting the job that you want. Don’t be afraid to examine job possibilities in other industries, branching out into freelance work, or even setting up a business.

End of notice period

Register as unemployed through your jobcentre. You can do this online here, www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk. Read our ‘applying for jobseekers allowance’ guide to help you through the process. Once you have registered, you will be contacted by the jobcentre to arrange an appointment with your jobcentre adviser. You may also attend an Information, Advice and Guidance session and a CV workshop from TCHC through our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

After Redundancy

Continue to stay positive, do some volunteering or update your qualifications with a training course. Turn job hunting into your job. Do whatever you can to keep the momentum going and your skills and knowledge fresh.

TCHC has many years of experience of providing support to jobseekers and those affected by redundancy so that they can get back into work or start a business. If you have recently been made redundant or are a company making job losses in the East of England, then please contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

To help you keep to your plan of action, it is important to stay positive, as we learn in the next part of the redundancy survival guide.

If you need redundancy help because you think that you have been unfairly made redundant or your employers have failed to consult you properly, then you can seek legal advice from the following bodies:

www.acas.org.uk

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service - an advisory body, helping businesses and their employees work together.

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk

The Citizens Advice Bureau is a nationwide charity helping people with their legal problems. They have branches – known as bureaux – across the country and also have an online guide with lots of helpful advice, and a phone-in service.

TCHC has years of experience of working with the unemployed and those affected by redundancy to get them back into work or start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net.

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Next up in the redundancy survival guide, putting a plan of action together.

If your employer goes bankrupt then they may not be able to pay you statutory redundancy pay and some of your wages may also be outstanding. If you are made redundant, then you can claim this money back through National Insurance contributions from your Redundancy Payments Office. They will send you forms to fill in. You may not get back everything you claim for but you will get back:

• Redundancy
• Up to 8 weeks’ pay
• Up to 6 weeks’ holiday
• Statutory notice pay
• Basic award for unfair dismissal

Redundancy Compensation

Once you have been made redundant you will receive a redundancy package if you have been with your employer for two years or over. Your employer should take you through a consultation process to ensure that the right people are being made redundant. Your redundancy package is determined by your age and length of service:

• Aged 41 or over – One and a half weeks’ pay for every full year of service
• Aged 22-40 – One week’s pay for every full year of service
• Aged 18-22 – Half a week’s pay for each full year of service.

TCHC supports businesses and individuals in realising and reaching their potential. We have a wealth of experience in helping the unemployed and people affected by redundancy find employment or start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company making redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Get help with your redundancy issues and find out how you can seek legal advice in our next installment of our redundancy survival guide.

• 1 month to 2 years - 1 week’s notice
• 2 years to 12 years - 1 week’s notice for every year employed
• Over 12 years - at least 12 weeks in advance.

This should give you time to put a plan of action together and seek alternative work or training.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Next in our redundancy survival guide, find out about compensation from bankrupt employers.

When the decision is made by a company to scale back part or all of their business, move premises or go into administration, then decisions will be made among senior management about whether redundancies should take place and who needs to go. Employers are expected to make all reasonable changes necessary to avoid redundancies before they lay off their staff. They can’t, for example, make lots of redundancies at the same time as taking on new staff. They should also make a reasonable effort to offer you alternative work where applicable.

Employers will select employees for redundancy according to a number of criteria:

• Skills and Capabilities
• Attendance Record
• Conduct Record
• The importance of your job role in the framework of the company
• Type of work needed to be done by those remaining in the company

You should be told which of these have been considered during your redundancy consultation.

Redundancy Consultation

Before you are selected for redundancy or your notice of redundancy is received, your employer must bring you in for a redundancy consultation where they will inform you of why you are being made redundant. You are allowed to discuss this with your employer and plead your case in an employment tribunal if your employer fails to consult properly.

During this process, your employer should also inform you of possible alternative work. This should take into account your current pay, your skills, abilities and qualifications. You may refuse alternative work offered to you but this may affect your redundancy pay if deemed unreasonable. You have the right to time off during your redundancy consultation to look for alternative work or do training relevant to your career. However, your employer does not have to pay you for all this time; only for 20 per cent of it. The consultation period should not last more than 30 working days, but for larger organisations this may be longer.

Collective Redundancies

Where multiple redundancies are being made in larger organisations, a representative will be an elected employee or trade union member, chosen to represent employees at the consultation. The representative will consult with the employer about the best way to proceed and keep redundancies to a minimum and may consult back to the rest of the employees.

TCHC work with local authorities and public and voluntary sector organisations to support jobseekers and those affected by redundancy and help them to find a job or start a business.

If you are in the East of England, and have received your redundancy notice or are a company about to make redundancies, then you can contact us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Next in the redundancy survival guide, find out about redundancy rights and statutory redundancy notice periods.

• Their job role is no longer needed within the company
• The company is moving to a location from which their role cannot be performed
• The company is being restructured so someone else is doing role
• The company has been taken over
• The company has gone into administration, insolvency or has gone bankrupt.

What does it mean when a business goes into administration?

Administration occurs when a business is in debt with its creditors and an ‘administrator’ is appointed to help deal with these debts, through shutting down, selling or liquidising parts of the business. A company will go into administration either to rescue the company or to begin the process of liquidation. It does not necessarily mean the end of the business, but it can result in redundancies.

TCHC is a workforce development specialist with a wealth of experience supporting jobseekers and those affected by redundancy and helping them get back into work. If you have recently been made redundant or are a company making redundancies in the East of England, then please get in touch. You can call us on 01923 698430 or email the redundancy team at ssr@tchc.net

Visit our redundancy web page for more information on our Skills Support for Redundancy programme.

Next in our redundancy guide, find out about the redundancy selection process.

Development specialist TCHC is running the Skills Support for Redundancy (SSR) programme which offers free advice, guidance and retraining opportunities to employers and their staff.  With financial backing from the Skills Funding Agency and the European Social Fund, the programme is aimed at helping people prepare for new careers or starting their own business after redundancy.

• Challenge: If you are someone who enjoys a challenge, then setting up a business could be just the thing to keep you stimulated throughout your work life
• Learn new skills and gain new knowledge: Running a business involves a range of skills including; time management, organisation, communication, teamwork, giving presentations etc
• Be you own boss: You don’t have to take orders from people anymore. You are in charge so what you say, goes! 
• See the direct results of your labour: Working for yourself means you can do things your way and enjoy the rewards when you succeed
• Interest and enjoyment: Starting a business means that you can focus on the things you enjoy
• Efficiency: You set the deadlines. This means you need the self-discipline to get the job done when necessary
• Innovate and create: It’s up to you what your business is about
• No more commuting: If you would have to travel far to do the job you love, then that could be enough reason to become self-employed
• Second Career: If you have the discipline to balance a job with a business, then you can make it work, and add another string to your bow

What makes a successful entrepreneur?

• Energy – You need to be able to motivate yourself to work in the morning and keep going throughout the day. You should also be the sort of person who is constantly coming up with new ideas, plans and strategies
• Persuasiveness – You don’t necessarily need to be a natural sales person but you do need to master the art of persuasion as you will be telling as many people about your business as possible, from customers to investors
• Resourcefulness – You will encounter many problems throughout your business so it is essential that you are able to come up with ways to solve these problems as effectively as possible
• Positive Attitude – If you are a pessimistic person, you might find running a business very challenging. You need to be able to think positively, and always look on the bright side
• Able to deal with uncertainty – There is a lot of uncertainty in being an entrepreneur, especially in the first few years of starting up a business. You will need the ability to do your best through this uncertainty and not be phased if situations change that are out of your control
• Opportunistic – You need to be the sort of person who seizes every opportunity
• Able to learn from mistakes – It is inevitable that you will make mistakes. You will need the ability to deal with these mistakes, not give up when they happen, but learn from them and find new ways to fix problems
• A creative thinker – You need to be full of ideas about how your business might grow
• A good communicator – You are going to be talking to a lot of people in your line of work so you need to be a good communicator and be able to deal with people.

If you have some or all of these personality traits then you may have what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur! But where do you start, and how do you know if your business idea is a good idea? TCHC’s enterprise staff can help you figure this out. You can contact them using the form below.

Our Practical Skills for Business course can help you with starting your business, from the assessment of your initial idea, to how you are going to fund and market your business. If you are unemployed or have recently been made redundant, then you may be eligible for funding. We look forward to hearing from you!

In order to carry your idea forward into a viable business proposition, your idea needs to have:

• A need – something that consumers need and are going to buy
• A target market – A target market that could be broad or niche
• A place where you can sell your product or service – a website, Facebook page, shop, office or market stall
• A name – something that fits in with the concept of your business

Of course you do not have to think of all these things at once, but you need to have some idea about how your business is going to start and grow. If there isn’t a need for your product then it isn’t going to sell. If you don’t know who your target market is, then you are going to find it hard to market your product or service. If you are going to sell a product, you are going to need a place to sell it.

The only way to find out whether your business idea is a good idea is to talk to experts about your idea, so do as much research as you can about the sector and the target market, and test the product or service. Most of this can be done for nothing, simply by going on the internet or to your local library, attending your local business network or networking evenings to discuss your ideas, or even asking people if they think your idea is workable.

If you are determined, passionate and have the belief to make it work, then you will find a way to make it work. This could mean tweaking or completely changing your original idea in order to make it into a viable business. As long as you have the expertise, determination and motivation to make your business work, you are half way there to making it a success.

If you are unsure of how or where to start with setting up your business, then why not attend one of our business enterprise courses? We run start-up enterprise courses to help you with your business ideas, and to provide you with the skills and know-how to make your business work.

Find out more about our Practical Skills for Business courses by talking to one of our enterprise team members using the contact form below. If you are unemployed or have recently been made redundant, then the course will be funded for you. You can also take part in our Skills Support for the Unemployed and Skills Support for Redundancy programmes, which can equip you with the skills and knowledge to get back into work.

If you are thinking of setting up a company, where you may have share holders and can take on employees, then you need to register with Companies House. You need to have done your research, have put a plan together and gathered together some investment. But you also need to think about a suitable name for your company and register it before you can start making money from your business.

Bank Account

You need to have a separate business account to the one you use personally. This is partly because it makes it easier to keep your accounts in order and record what transactions you make through your business. It also makes it easier when you are calculating things like your self-assessment for HMRC.

Name

Before you can make money out of your company, you must first decide on a name. Your name should be something that reflects the work that you do and the image you wish to project to your customers. Your name should not be like a name already listed on the Companies House ‘list of companies’. The name should not bear any association to existing public institutions, countries or governments without first seeking permission. See http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/about/ for full information about which names are contested.

Registering your Company

In order to legally operate as a company, you must register your business and business name with Companies House. This is part of the Government and is responsible for businesses. Registering your company means your business will be ‘incorporated’ and your directors must release annual accounts. There are four types of company that you could register:

• Private Company Limited by Shares: A company that has a share capital. Its shares are owned by its private members
• Private Company Limited by Guarantee: A company with no share capital. Its members act as guarantors rather than share holders
• Private Unlimited Company: A company which may or may not have a share capital but does not limit their members’ liability
• Public Limited Company: A public company which has a share capital and offers shares for sale to the general public and may be listed on the stock exchange.

To incorporate your company you must file the necessary documents and send them to Companies House, these include:

• Application to register a company (form IN01) and the fee. – This is an 18 page document including your proposed business address and the names and addresses of your business director(s)
• Memorandum of association – This confirms your desire to form a company and the purpose of the company
• Articles of association (or model articles) – These are the rules and procedures which the directors will use to ensure the business runs smoothly
• Additional information if your application includes a sensitive word or phrase.

It is difficult to change these later, so it is important to check all the information carefully, and if possible seek business advice from a professional before sending the relevant documents off.

If your name and documents are approved, then you will be issued with a certificate of incorporation by Companies House. This will state the name and registered number of the company, the date of its incorporation, whether it is limited or unlimited, public or private, and whether the company’s registered office is in England and Wales, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. This certificate must be signed by the registrar in order to be validated.

TCHC’s business start-up and enterprise courses are designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills they need to set up and successfully run a business. We will help support you with your business idea and in fine-tuning your pitch to investors. It also gives you the chance to gain a nationally-accredited qualification.

If you are unemployed or have recently been made redundant, then you can also take part in our Skills Support for the Unemployed and Skills Support for Redundancy programmes. You can use the contact form below to talk to our advisers and find out how we can help you with developing your business.

Before you start your business, make sure you do plenty of research about the marketplace you are entering. You need to know whether there is a product or service existing already that is like the one you are proposing. If so, how you will make this sufficiently different? You need to ensure that your business idea can make money by conducting market research surveys and developing a firm understanding of existing products and services, their successes and/or weaknesses and your ability to compete. Some market places have such well-known brands already existing that it can be hard to compete unless you deliver your customers something sufficiently different. If your competitors are not in your area or are specialising in a different field, then this might not affect your business.

Business Plan

Your business plan should be a structured and detailed plan of how you are going to conduct your business, the product or service you are going to sell, and how you are going to sell. Find out more information about writing a business plan here.

Investment

Once you done substantial amounts of research on the marketplace and have written a business plan you can start looking for investment. There are lots of costs involved in setting up a business, such as buying tools and machinery, setting up a website, registering your name and company, any licences or insurance you need to get and for any marketing and advertising you are planning to do. Investment may be in the form of a start up loan or through equity investment and becoming a share holder. There are a number of ways to secure funding for your business, such as on Grantfinder, through local authorities, the Big Lottery Fund or Foundation East.

If you take on share holders, they will usually have some control in the running of your business. They take a part of the profits gained as a return on their investment.  Banks and some government bodies can help you with setting up a business. Shop around with banks on the high street or check out https://www.gov.uk/business-finance-support-finder/sectors for information about business funding providers in each sector.

If you are thinking about starting your own business but are unsure how to start, TCHC can help with our business start-up and enterprise courses. We will support you in coming up with a great business idea and give you ideas for how to turn it into a functional business, and also will help you with writing your business plan and developing your elevator pitch to attract new investors. If you are unemployed or have recently been made redundant, then you can also take part in our Skills Support for the Unemployed and Skills Support for Redundancy programmes. You can use the contact form below to talk to our advisers and find out how we can help you with developing your business.

• Keep it simple and relevant. Present it in a language that readers, not familiar with your business, will understand
• Follow the SMART acronym: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound
• Use the third person, it is the business you are writing about
• Avoid graphs, illustrations, lots of different fonts and font sizes
• Include a cover page which should show the title and business name in the top centre, and your full contact details at the bottom left
• Include a contents page
• Include page numbers in a footer
• Appendices must include a cash flow forecast; anything else is optional and depends on who you are presenting to

Executive Summary

This is the most important part of the business plan. It should be short and concise, no more than 2 pages long and contain a summary of what your business is about. While it is first in your business plan, it is recommended you do this last because you will be summarising information elsewhere in the business plan. As it is your first page it really needs to grab the reader’s attention as it will determine whether they keep reading or not. Some business owners like to include in this their ‘Mission’ and ‘Vision’ or a short ‘Introduction’.

Marketing

• Research – Summarise the research you have conducted on your target market. You do not have to include everything, just the relevant facts and figures
• Competition – Explain the direct and indirect competition. Direct competitors are selling the same thing, indirect competitors are selling an alternative
• Product(s) or service(s) – Explain what it is that you intend to sell. Your description should be clear and you will also need to explain things like packaging and quality
• Pricing – This is an overview of your pricing structure. You should include any details of discounts or other offers you may be able to make
• Place – How and where will your customers purchase from you? Eg. Face-to-face, retail and internet etc
• Promotion – Explain how you will promote your products or services and how much this will cost. This will include printed media, broadcast media, on-line media, PR, exhibitions and networking
• Unique Selling Point (USP) – Explain what makes your business different from the competition. What will ultimately make you stand out from the crowd?

Management and Operations

• Management - Explain who will manage the business and skills, experience and qualities they bring to the business
• Legal structure – How your business will be structured legally? What is the split between partners or shareholders?
• Premises – Explain where the business will operate from and the implications in terms of costs, logistics and so forth
• Manufacturing – If you are making something then you will need to explain the process for manufacturing
• Suppliers – Give an overview of your main suppliers and the terms under which they have agreed to supply the business
• People – Provide an overview of staffing requirements, the job roles and the sort of salaries you will be paying

Finance

This is a summary of the financial issues which you can place in more detail under each of the headings below.

• Start up costs
• Cash flow
• Break Even
• First Year Profit or Loss (estimate)
• Short, Medium and Long-term opportunities

Appendices

You may add as many appendices as you like. You must include a first year cash flow forecast but the rest is optional. If you are pitching to investors then you will want as much information as possible. 

• First year cash flow
• First year profit/loss
• Further two years cash flow and profit/loss
• CVs of the owners/managers
• Product specifications or detailed pricing structures
• Letters of intent from potential buyers
• Letters of intent from potential suppliers
• Draft contracts and/or terms and conditions of trading
• Any press or other research that might back up any claims that you are making

If you need help with your business plan and putting the nuts and bolts together for your business, then our enterprise facilitators can help. We run business enterprise and start-up courses for people who are looking to utilise their skills and experience into becoming self-employed. It is also of interest to people who wish to keep their options open, through gaining a greater understanding of how they might set up their own business and how business works.

If you are unemployed or have recently been made redundant, then funding is available for these courses. You can also participate in our Skills Support for the Unemployed and Skills Support for Redundancy programmes. Use the contact box below to find out how we can help you.

The Consultancy Home Counties (TCHC) is running Skills Support for the Unemployed (SSU), a service for those who are out of work and receiving state benefits.  Co-financed by the Skills Funding Agency and European Social Fund, the programme aims to provide individuals with a holistic approach to securing long-term employment.

Laying-off staff helps to prevent redundancies but employers must agree this with their employees in advance. If necessary, an employer can change their contract or issue a written statement about how temporary lay-offs have worked in the past.

Employers are breaching their contract if laying-off an employee or putting them on short-time work without pay is not written in the employee’s contract. The employee may:

• Accept the breach of contract and claim a guarantee payment
• Sue for damages for breach of contract in a civil court or at an employment tribunal
• Claim unlawful deduction for wages at an employment tribunal
• Claim unlawful dismissal at an employment tribunal

You can seek legal advice about redundancy from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau http://www.adviceguide.org.uk or from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service http://www.acas.org.uk.

If laying off staff is the only viable option for your business, then TCHC can support them through our Skills Support for Redundancy programme. This programme is designed to build confidence and develop their chances of future employment through CV workshops, interview techniques and one-to-one careers advice and Information, Advice and Guidance sessions with a TCHC Personal Adviser. We also run Skills Support for the Unemployed and Business Start-Up courses to provide additional support in the job market.

Redundancies can be compulsory or non-compulsory and you can seek help from the Jobcentre Plus to find future opportunities for your staff.

Employees have the right to be offered suitable alternative employment, a trial period in the alternative employment without any risk to their redundancy pay, reasonable time to find a new job or arrange training, and to not be unfairly selected for redundancy.

You should always take steps to avoid making redundancies and only use it as a last resort. You can seek legal advice from a solicitor or for free from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau http://www.adviceguide.org.uk or the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service http://www.acas.org.uk.

If making your staff redundant is the only viable option for your business, then we can provide them with support to help them move into new jobs quickly, with minimum impact to their lives. Our Skills Support for Redundancy outplacement programme provides CV workshops, interview techniques, careers advice and one-to-one Information, Advice and Guidance sessions to get them back into work.

Who’s it for?

The service is aimed at those who are:

• Looking for work or to get back into work
• Looking to become self employed
• Unemployed and claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance
• On a low income
• Aged 19+ and who do not hold a Level 2 or equivalent qualification

What does it consist of?

We provide a wide range of courses from helping you improve your IT skills, enhancing your employability an enabling you to be your own boss.

The following courses are available:

• IT User Skills Level 1 and 2
• Social Media Level 1
• Understanding Enterprise

 How do I book?

If you'd like more information or to book a place, please call TCHC on 01923 698 474 or email courses@tchc.net 

• Your employers have been hiring lots of new staff prior to making you redundant
• You are the only person being made redundant, or one of just a few people in a large company
• You have had a bad relationship with your employer
• You have encountered discrimination at work before.

These examples all suggest that you are possibly being fired for something or being discriminated against, rather than being made redundant because your job is no longer needed.

You are also not made redundant if you resign from your job. However, if you take voluntary redundancy then this does count and you are still entitled to redundancy pay. The Citizens’ Advice Bureau http://www.adviceguide.org.uk can help you if you are having a redundancy dispute with your employer or if you are not sure whether your employer is making you redundant on legal grounds.

If you are in fact at risk of redundancy, have been made redundant or are claiming JSA or ESA, then TCHC can help you feel more at ease. You can contact our Skills Support for Redundancy staff using the contact box below. They will be help you with any worries you may have. Our programme can help you build confidence and demonstrate your skills to develop your career. We also run business enterprise and start-up courses for people with aspirations to support them in becoming their own boss.

There are a number of reasons why you might be made redundant:

• You could be made redundant because your employer’s business, or part of your employer’s business, has gone bust, insolvent or is failing
• Your employer is moving into a new line of business which no longer needs your skills
• New technology is being introduced which means your skills are no longer needed
• The company is being reorganised and so someone else is doing your job
• Your employer’s business is moving to a different area or is being taken over.

You are technically not being made redundant if you resign from your job. However, if you take voluntary redundancy then this does count and you are still entitled to redundancy pay.

Your local Citizens’ Advice Bureau, www.adviceguide.org.uk will be able to offer free advice with any legal problems you may have regarding redundancy. If you are concerned that you might be made redundant or you have received a redundancy notice and are living in the East of England (Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire) then you may be eligible to receive support. Our Skills Support for Redundancy programme provides advice and support to help you with getting back into work. We also run enterprise courses in Business Start-Up so that you have the option to start your own business. Contact our Skills Support for Redundancy advisers using the contact box below.

The service will help anyone with a business idea make it a reality. It is specifically targeted at budding entrepreneurs from West Norfolk, and includes informative workshops covering all the points that you will need to consider when deciding to become self-employed or setting up your own business, as well as providing the opportunity to discuss your ideas and questions with an experienced business adviser.

Start by researching and deciding what you want to do. If you need help, think about the things you enjoy and the skills you have. If you have been made redundant from your last job and are looking for a similar position then you need to take the time to reflect on your skills and experience. If you are looking to return to work after a career break then you need to be aware of how that sector and market has changed. If you are looking for a change in career, then you need to think about how the skills you have obtained from your current job are transferable with the skills required for your future career.

Make sure you do plenty of research. 

• What are the main job roles in that sector?
• Do you have the experience, qualifications and skills to carry out that job role?
• How can you get better skills and experience?
• Does the job role you are applying for cross over with other sectors? Perhaps there is another way of getting into that sector through a similar position in a different sector.
• Where do you think this post will take you? What is the next post in the sector?
• Who are the main players in the sector and what are the main issues surrounding the sector?

Read the paper regularly to keep up to date with current affairs and issues which might affect the sector. Also, keep a look out for jobs from newspapers, websites and agencies.

Preparation

Your CV should be typed, be a decent size and font making it visible to read, and attractively laid out. Make sure you have proofread your CV before you send it out, and that it is tailored to meet all the requirements of the job which you are applying for. They also need to be concise and to the point, no more than 2 sides of A4.

CVs are usually accompanied by a cover letter. A cover letter allows you to introduce yourself to the employer and show that you understand the requirements of the job you are applying for. You need to say why you are writing, why you are interested in the job and why you are suitable for the role you are applying for.

It should be no more than 1 side of A4 and neatly laid out in a clear and structured way. You should always type your letter unless specifically asked for a handwritten one. Make sure you proof read the cover letter for any spelling or grammar mistakes.

Keep a copy of any cover letters you send out to help you at interview.

You also don’t have to restrict yourself to adverts you see in the newspaper or the internet. It’s worth signing up to some agencies who can match you to suitable jobs they are recruiting for. You can also look up companies you would like to work for and find out if they have any job vacancies listed on their website or write speculative letters.

Tips for Interviews

• It’s important to have confidence when going into the interview. Remember, they wouldn’t have asked you to come in for an interview if they did not think you were capable nor had the qualifications and/or experience necessary for the role
• Make sure that you have all the details of the interview. The time, location and who will be interviewing you. If you do not have all the information, then ask before the interview. You need to be prepared!
• Do research on the interviewer and the company. It is common for the interviewer to ask you if you have any questions at the end, so it helps if you have a few questions to ask them. You also need to demonstrate that you know a lot about the company.
• Dress smartly for the interview. Leave yourself plenty of time to get ready on the day of the interview
• Shake hands with your interviewer before and at the end of the interview.
• Ensure that you listen to all the questions carefully. You may ask the interviewer for clarification if you are not sure. It’s good to answer as fully as you can, but try not to waffle.

Follow these rules and you will have a good chance of getting a job.

To learn more about how to write CVs, cover letters, application forms and speculative letters and where to look for jobs, please contact our Skills Support for the Unemployed team.

We also run a Skills Support for Redundancy programme, for clients facing redundancy. Speak to one of our advisers about your eligibility and to find out more about TCHC and the programmes that we offer.

To register for Job Seekers Allowance you have two options;

1. Register online (recommended) or
2. Register by phone

To register for jobseekers allowance please visit the Jobcentre website via this link: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/how-to-claim.

Once registered you will have to attend an interview with a Jobcentre Plus adviser, where they will discuss your support options with you.

Why register as unemployed?

It is important to register as an unemployed person and to inform HM Revenue & Customs that you are out of work as it ensures that your National Insurance Contribution will be paid and your state pension won’t be affected. In addition, when registered, you may be eligible for some benefits and training schemes designed to help you find a new job.

Is there support to help me find a new job?

TCHC works with the Jobcentre Plus to assist jobseekers and those affected by redundancy in the East of England (Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire). Through our Skills Support for the Unemployed programme we offer advice, assistance and training to help you find a new job as quickly as possible. We also offer business start-up courses for those considering self employment. If you live outside these areas, please ask your Jobcentre adviser about the programmes in your area.

For further information about our Skills Support for the Unemployed or Skills Support for Redundancy programmes please complete the form below or ring 01923 698 430 to arrange a one-to-one meeting with one of our Personal Advisers who will help you get started.

Please be aware that we can only assist clients who live in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk who are already claiming benefits or who are at risk of redundancy. If you fall in these groups please use the contact form below if you'd like us to get in touch regarding further advice and training support.

To register for Jobseekers Allowance, please contact Jobcentre Plus https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/how-to-claim.

There are a number of ways to find jobs, from social media to your local newspaper. Certain methods of looking for a job are more important than others, depending on the type of job you are looking for. Here are a few options you can consider:

1. Newspapers – There are still plenty of jobs being advertised in newspapers. Pick up your local newspaper in the morning and apply for any adverts straight away. Most national newspapers also have jobs sections which are printed at the back of the paper or are available online.
2. Sector Magazines – Most job sectors have a magazine. If there is a particular sector you are keen to get into, then signing up for that sector’s magazine could help you get a feel for the sector and the issues surrounding it. You can also find out who the leaders are and build relationships with them. There are usually job adverts and information about companies which you might want to work for.
3. Job sites – There are lots of websites advertising jobs. Some of these websites are sector-specific or are just for your area. Jobcentre Plus has a free Universal Jobmatch service to help you find suitable jobs in your area. There are many others, such as reed.co.uk, target.com and monsterjobs.com.
4. Agencies – There are lots of recruitment agencies dealing with many areas of recruitment, sometimes in different areas. Sometimes they will assess your skills and abilities with an interview and tests. They will usually try to fill vacancies for a number of companies and will put you forward for any jobs they think you might be suitable for.
5. Networking – Look for Jobs fairs in your area or any networking events specific to your sector. Most areas have a business network or clubs, even not related to careers, where you have the potential to meet people and potentially find your next opportunity.
6. Contacts - Sometimes it is not about what you know, but who you know. Ask any friends and relatives if they know of any job vacancies where they work. Any friends on Facebook could also potentially know someone who has a job for you.
7. Social Media – You can use Facebook to ask friends or acquaintances if they know about any vacancies in your area. You could find out about a job through a friend of a friend. Follow organisations that you are interested in on Twitter, they will most likely post any new vacancies straight away. Many recruiters and agencies also have Twitter accounts to tell people about current job opportunities. LinkedIn is also useful when looking for jobs, setting up a professional profile with your skills, experience and ambitions. It provides the opportunity to network with potential employers and perhaps get headhunted. There are also jobs advertised on this site.
8. Speculating –If you turn up on a company’s door step, with a CV and are prepared to wait to speak to the hiring manager, this could be rewarded so long as you make a good impression. You can also look at directories for companies in your sector or use a search engine to find companies of interest. If they have vacancies they will normally have it displayed on their website. If not, you can write a speculative letter or email to that company. Even if they cannot offer you a job, they might let you come in for work experience or let you know when a vacancy opens.

If you are affected by redundancy or are currently unemployed and need further support with getting back into work quickly, please get in touch using the contact form below so we can get you started.

For more information on what we can offer you, please visit our Jobseeker page or our Redundancy information page.

Cambridgeshire-based not-for-profit organisation, the K9 Project, is running a brand new programme designed to get people who are unemployed back on their career path, whether that is a new job, training, or volunteering. The secret weapon is dogs.

Mr Morgan launched workforce development specialist TCHC in 2004 as a one-man operation providing government-funded training programmes.  Since then, the company has helped over 600,000 people to progress in their careers or find employment, while 60,000 businesses have benefited from advice and training services.

Now, the 59-year-old’s determination and passion for his industry has led to him being shortlisted in the Business Person of the Year category of the FSB’s East of England Business Champions awards.

The two-day Introduction to Enterprise course will help participants set off on the journey to running a profitable company.  Students will be shown how to assess their business skills, while they will also gain advice from experts and learn from real life examples.

If you are currently participating in our Skills Support for Redundancy or Skills Support for the Unemployed programmes, use TCHC's job search portal to find local employment opportunities.

To register you will need a registration key. To obtain a registration key please contact your personal adviser for assistance.

If you are not registered for Skills Support for the Unemployed or Skills Support for Redundancy, but would like to participate please contact 01923 698457.

We are looking for expressions of interest to partner on the Enterprising People BBO project.
Who is eligible for this project?
The project will have a specific focus on those people from within the SEMLEP area who are out of work, furthest from the labour market and people who are most at risk of social exclusion. This includes, but is not limited to:

• People with few or no qualifications;
• People who are long term unemployed;
• People with mental and physical health problems;
• People with Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities;
• Carers for children or a dependent adult;
• Homeless people;
• People over 45;
• Women returning to the labour market after a break in employment;
• People with English language needs and/or from migrant communities.

If you are interested, then please complete and return the attached form to us.

Partnership Opportunities with TCHC

TCHC is now seeking suitable partner organisations for the delivery of forthcoming contracts.

The main investment priorities will be:

• Helping more unemployed and inactive people to enter and progress in employment
• Increasing the number of young people who are in education, employment or training
• Tackling barriers to work faced by the most disadvantaged groups
• Helping more people improve their skills
• Making skills provision more responsive to the needs of the local economy.

If you are interested, then please complete and return the attached form to us.

Please read these Jobseeker Terms and Conditions (“Jobseeker Terms”) carefully before registering to use this website (the “Site”). You should understand that by registering you are confirming your acceptance of these Jobseeker Terms.

1. Information About Us

The Site and its services are operated by The Consultancy Home Counties Ltd (“we”, “our” or “us”). We are registered in England & Wales under company number 05207503 and have our registered office at Chase Green House, 42 Chase Side, Enfield, Middx. EN2 6NF.

You can contact us using the following email address: help@tchc.net

2.  Definitions

In these Jobseeker Terms the following expressions have the defined meanings:

“Application” means an application for a job vacancy that has been advertised on the Site and/or Jobseeker Services;

“CV Services” is a service which, if selected by the Jobseeker, enables the Jobseeker to make his or her CV available to recruiters who have subscribed to receive CVs by email and/or to search for CVs in our database using various search criteria; and

“Jobs-By-Email” is a service which matches and sends job vacancies via email to Jobseekers who have subscribed to this service.

“Jobseeker” means the person registering to use the Site and/or Jobseeker Services;

“Jobseeker Services” means free job finding tools and services made available via the Site including, without limitation, Jobs-By-Email and CV Services. 

3. Agreement to Website General Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

The Jobseeker has read, understood and agrees to the Privacy and Cookie which are deemed incorporated into these Jobseeker Terms.

4. Jobseeker Services

The Jobseeker Services are provided “as is”. All warranties, conditions, representations or other terms that may be implied by statute or common law in relation to the Jobseeker Services are excluded by us to the fullest extent permitted by law.

5. Job Vacancies

The Jobseeker acknowledges that we are not responsible for the content of any job vacancy advertising and that accordingly it is a matter for the Jobseeker to satisfy himself/herself as to the suitability of the job vacancy and the identity of the advertiser/recruiter.

6.  Applications

6.1  If the Jobseeker submits an Application, the Jobseeker agrees that:

6.1.1  the Jobseeker has read and understood the requirements for the job vacancy;

6.1.2  the information that the Jobseeker provides as part of the Application (including without limitation, in any CV) is a true and accurate reflection of the Jobseeker’s employment, education, experience and training and that the Jobseeker’s personal details are correct.

6.2  If the Jobseeker submits any information in an Application that is found to be false, we reserve the right to deny the Jobseeker access to the Site and its services.

6.3  Jobseekers should note that Applications are assessed by the relevant recruiter and all decisions relating to such Applications are taken by the relevant recruiter and not by us. Accordingly, any requests for information relating to Applications that have been made should be addressed to the recruiter directly.

Employers

These Employer Terms and Conditions (“Employer Terms”) are deemed accepted by the Employer when any Services are ordered by the Employer.

1. Definitions

In these Employer Terms the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Affiliates” means any holding company of the Company or any subsidiary of such holding company from time to time (and holding company and subsidiary shall have the definitions set out in section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006);

 “Company” means the company providing the Services as set out on the Registration Form;

“CV” means the curriculum vitae of the Jobseeker that is prepared and supplied by a Jobseeker;

 “Jobseeker” means a person who uses the Jobsite Network to search for, obtain information about and apply for job opportunities;

“Network” means the Sites and other recruitment websites and widgets operated by the Company, its Affiliates or third parties in partnership with the Company and/or its Affiliates;

“Registration Form” means the form or online registration page completed by the Employer;

 “Employer” means the person, company or firm named on the Registration Form;

“Employer Content” means all or any part of the content and materials (including job advertisement particulars) supplied or made available by the Employer in connection with the Services;

 “Upload System” means the system (if any) made available by the Company to the Employer in order to facilitate upload of the Employer Content to the Sites and includes any Upload System Software; and

“Upload System Software” means any software supplied by the Company to the Recruiter to assist upload of Recruiter Content via the Upload System.

2. Services

2.1 The Company shall be entitled to temporarily suspend or alter the operation of the Services and/or Upload System for legal or technical reasons without prior notice.  

2.2 The Company may in its sole discretion decline to post on or remove from the Sites and Services any of the Employer Content and/or require the Employer Content to be amended at any time if the Company considers that the Employer is in breach of any of clauses 3 and 4.

3. Job Advertisements

3.1 The Employer warrants that:

3.1.1 its job advertisement particulars shall be accurate, honest and truthful;

3.1.2 its job advertisements shall not contain unnecessarily repeated words or phrases intended to cause a false positioning in the search results seen by a Jobseeker;

3.1.3 its job advertisements shall not contain links to the website of the Employer (or any third party) or any job application contact information without the prior written agreement of the Company; and

3.1.4 its job advertisements shall not promote any ‘get rich quick’, pyramid selling or network marketing  opportunities or similar.

4. Jobseekers and CVs

4.1 The Employer shall only use CVs and personally identifiable Jobseeker information for the purpose employing Jobseekers.

4.2 The Employer shall keep confidential and not supply or make available to any person CVs and personally identifiable Jobseeker information that the Employer receives from the Company or any Jobseeker without the Jobseeker’s expressed consent.

4.3 The Employer shall comply with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and, in particular, shall take all appropriate technical, organisational and security measures to prevent unauthorised access, loss and use of personal data relating to Jobseekers.

4.4 The Employer accepts that it is responsible for satisfying itself as to the suitability of Jobseekers for a job vacancy and verifying the identity of such Jobseekers.

5. Employer Indemnity

The Employer shall indemnify the Company and its Affiliates against all claims, costs, damages, losses, expenses and liabilities suffered or incurred by the Company and its Affiliates arising as a result of any breach by the Employer of clauses 3 and 4.

As this is a community page, feel free to share and post on our wall.

If you are looking to recruit an individual who can make a positive contribution to your organisation whilst reducing your recruitment cost. TCHC can give you access to the talent you require at no cost. We have a vast database of clients in the East of England (Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex) and surrounding areas who are ready to start a new job.

Our recruitment team will use their knowledge and experience to help you find the best candidates, with the required skill set for your vacancies. This service is available to fill vacancies that require candidates to work more than 16 hours per week.

To upload search candidates and upload vacancies please register below.

This minimum rate applies to the time working, plus the time spent attending training that is part of the Apprenticeship. Employers are free to pay above the NMW, but they must ensure that apprentices are paid at least the NMW.

Apprentices older than 19 who have completed the first year of their apprenticeship must be paid the normal NMW according to their age group. The current NMW for all apprentices who are older than 19 and have completed the first year of their apprenticeship is £6.70 (for those aged 21 and over) and £5.30 (for those who are aged between 19 and 20).

If you are interested in employing an Apprentice, but you’d like more information regarding the process or possible programmes, please contact us by dialling 01923-698430 today.

Please also note that restricting applications to those from a certain geographical location can also be seen as potentially discriminatory if the specified area has few minority groups.

All further discrimination laws will apply to apprentices as outlined under the Equality Act 2010.

If you are interested in employing an Apprentice, but you’d like more information regarding the process or possible programmes, please contact us by dialling 01923-698430 today. Or alternatively, complete the form below and we will contact you.

Through the Skills Support for the Unemployed project, TCHC can assist your business with a grant of up to £1,500 to help you take on an Apprentice. This grant can be used for the associated costs, such as recruitment fees, of employing a new Apprentice.

This grant is available to organisations who meet the eligibility criteria below and who take on an individual who is currently unemployed and in receipt of state benefits, that are looking for work and require training to help them enter work.

Is my organisation eligible for this grant?

Your organisation may be eligible for this grant if:

• You are a small or medium sized enterprise who employs fewer than 50 full time employees; and
• You have not previously engaged in Apprenticeships or there has been a period of 12 months since the last Apprenticeship ended and/or
• You have an Apprenticeship Programme but can confirm additionally; and
• Satisfy State Aid and De Minimis regulations

If your business meets the above criteria, you can qualify for a grant payment if the individual that you wish to recruit is unemployed (in receipt of state benefits, looking for work and requires skills training to help them find work) and:

• Is aged between 19 and 24 at the start date of the Apprenticeship and
• Is eligible for ESF funding and
• Your business is employing the apprentice for a minimum of 35 hours per week, including off the job training, for the duration of their Apprenticeship programme.

How will the grant be paid?

If your business qualifies for this grant you will receive two grant payments of up to a maximum of £1,500 for every Apprenticeship start. The first payment will be made on the completion of 8 weeks (56 days) of the Apprenticeship (from the start date) and the second payment will be made on completion of the Apprenticeship framework should they remain on the programme.

What support will I receive from TCHC?

We will assist you with the recruitment process and help you find a suitable Apprenticeship Course and Training Provider. Once your Apprentice started work, we will check in with you and the training provider regularly to ensure everything is running as smoothly as possible. You will also have access to further advice and guidance to ensure you receive the maximum benefit from taking on a young Apprentice.

If you would like to receive more information, or take on an Apprentice, please dial 01923 698 430 or submit your enquiry using the form below.

No Fee, Funded, Recruitment Service

Through our funded projects we provide employers in the East of England (Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex) and surrounding areas with a no fee recruitment service.

We have a growing database of skilled and job ready candidates covering most sectors and business activities. If you are looking to fill vacancies we can help. We can provide you with a personalised and efficient recruitment service.

Our skills and recruitment team can provide you with:

• Your own dedicated Specialist Employment Adviser who will search our database against the job specification and provide you with pre-selected and pre-screened candidates who fit your criteria - saving you time and effort
• No fees. That's right, there is nothing to pay as this is a funded service, which you are entitled to benefit from as a UK taxpayer. This will allow you to reinvest your recruitment budget into other areas of your business
• Job ready candidates. A large number of eager and pro-active candidates have come through our projects. These candidates have the skills and expertise to progress back into work
• An easy process. Simply call us today and we'll start the search straight away.

For more information, please call 01923 698430 or email your vacancies and a job specification of each to recruitment@tchc.net today.

Looking to get into or return to work?

If so, then our jobseeker support could be just the thing for you.  

Our programmes are government-funded and designed to support those not currently in work but who are committed to finding long-term employment or wish to start a business.

Support vary depending on your area, but may include:

• One-to-one guidance and advice to formulate a tailored personal action plan
• Job search support including careers advice, completing application forms and preparing your CV
• Job specific training
• Support throughout your participation in the programme to help you secure a positive future and become more confident in your own abilities
• An assigned Specialist Employment Adviser to help you find a new job
• Business start-up training and support, should you wish to enter self-employment.

If you are looking for work in a specific field, we offer training, including Apprenticeship opportunities in a range of sectors such as Construction, Business Services, Transport and Logistics, Hospitality and Tourism and Health and Social Care, to name just a few.

The training will be tailored to your needs, and you will receive support from the very first day to help you overcome any difficulties you might face.

If you would like to start a business, some of programmes include business start-up training courses and cover topics such as:

• Testing your business idea
• Business planning
• Business forecasts
• Assessing or developing your marketing plan
• Identifying your customers.

To participate, you must be a UK resident who lives within one of the six counties in the East of England (Hertfordshire, Essex Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire or Cambridgeshire) and be aged 19 or over.

For up to date information on potential job roles please visit the National Careers Service website.

If you would like to receive more information, call 01923 698 472 or leave a message via the contact form below.

Looking to return to work?

If so, then this project could be just the thing for you.

Similar to the Response to Redundancy this is a government-funded scheme designed to support those not currently in work but who are committed to finding long-term employment or start a business.

This programme provides:

• One-to-one guidance and advice to formulate a tailored personal action plan
• Job search support including career advice, completing application forms and preparing your CV
• Job specific training
• Support throughout your participation in the programme to help you secure a positive future and become more confident in your own abilities
• An assigned Specialist Employment Adviser to help you find a new job
• Business start-up training and support, should you wish to enter self-employment.

If you are looking for work in a specific field, we offer training including Apprenticeship opportunities in a range of sectors such as Construction, Business Services, Transport and Logistics, Hospitality and Tourism and Health and Social Care to name just a few.

The training will be tailored to your needs and you will receive support from the very first day to help you overcome any difficulties you might face.

If you would like to start a business our business start up training cover topics such as:

Skills Support and Training Courses for Jobseekers
01923 698 472

• Testing your business idea
• Business planning
• Business forecasts
• Assessing or developing your marketing plan
• Identifying your customers.

To participate, you must be a UK resident who lives within one of the six counties within the East of England (Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire or Cambridgeshire) and be aged 19 or over.

For up to date information on potential job roles please visit the National Careers Service website.

If you would like to receive more information, call 01923 698 472 or leave a message via the contact form below.

TCHC has been chosen by the Skills Funding Agency to deliver two separate programmes from April, co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF).

The Internationally accepted standard sets out a framework that addresses the delicate balance between maintaining profitability and reducing environmental impact.

Signatures:

• Must be setup in your Profile (user Control Panel) , and not manually added to your messages.
• May NOT contain any images.
• May not contain any pricing, sales, product etc. details.
• May contain a maximum of two smilies. Or one animated smiley.
• May include two clickable links. URL's or mailto: - No duplicate links
• Only exact URLs allowed - No tinyurls, affiliate links etc either, only exact, literal URLs
• May include two colors. Hyperlink color is set by the forum and is not counted as a color.
• Maximum font size cannot be larger than normal.
• Must be kept to a maximum of four lines (at 1024 resolution).
• May not contain links to other threads or posts for the purpose of self promotion
• Your signature is your signature. It is not for sale or rent.
• Any signature or avatar that is offensive or insulting to either us, our members, or our staff, are prohibited.
• We reserve the right to ask you to change and/or remove your signature or avatar at any time, for any reason.

At all times:

• Keep all commentary civil, and be courteous at all times. Constructive criticism is welcome, but insults directed towards other users or the site admins will not be tolerated. Coarse/insulting language will not be tolerated.
• No commercial advertising is permitted.
• When recommending a training course or other product to help a user solve their issue, you must disclose any affiliations you may have with the company or group that authors that particular product. This includes, but is not limited to: any paid or non-paid relationships past or present, receiving any promotional products or services, or any other similar information.
• Any posts deemed to be self promotion, advertising, or spam can and will be removed. NO SPAM - NO ADVERTISING eg. Posting and making excessive, inappropriate and unnecessary references to your products and websites is self promotion.
• This is not the place to settle a commercial disagreement or to be a 'wall of shame'. Any posts deemed to be of this nature will be removed. Settle your disputes in private please.
• If you feel a post violates any of these rules, or you need to bring it to the attention of a moderator (move threads/close/split), please use the ‘report this post’ link to notify the moderators.
• These forums are centered on TCHC, and support programmes. They are not a place to promote ideological, religious, or political matters. All such discussions will be deleted/closed.

Failure to abide by these rules may result in an editing, negative moderation or deletion of your post. We reserve the right to ban abusers from the site. We reserve the right to change these rules at any time.

But help is still available until mid December this year to support the employees of businesses that are faced with redundancy, thanks to workforce development specialists TCHC.  The company’s Response to Redundancy programme assists businesses to give their staff a head start in finding new employment. The package includes advice, guidance and re-training opportunities to help individuals prepare for a new job, a new career path or a business start-up after redundancy.

Create Films

This seven week course gives attendees the confidence, tools and knowledge needed to compleat a short film script.  It also enables students to work on the production of a short film, with a professional crew,  offering valuable experience and evidence for CV's.   Filmmaking offers great transferable skills of literacy, logistical planning, team work and  evidence of commitment.  Whether you are looking to write something as a creative exercise, need to build experience for your CV, or have plans on breaking into the creative arts world, this course will get your foot on the ladder.

For further information, please contact Shirley Day on 01379 668353 or email createfilms@mac.com

Address: Denham House, Hoxne Road, Denham, Nr Eye, Suffolk, IP21 5DF

Phase 4

ActivLives

Project : GardenGATE

GardenGATE offers work placements at ActivLives garden projects, based in Ipswich. The placements will enable people to access experience and training, tailored to their needs, in amenity gardening and horticulture, including nursery experience. There will be opportunities to get involved in basic construction and training on garden machinery. Placements are based at The People’s Community Garden, situated on an allotment site, and at Chantry Walled Garden, a nursery garden with historic features within a public park. Both gardens are thriving community sites, and successful applicants should have a willingness to work as part of a team alongside other volunteers. They can gain experience in helping less able volunteers, and assisting with group visits to the gardens. They can also get involved in helping to organise our exciting programme of special events. Applicants must be over the age of 18 and unemployed.

For more information, please call Susannah Robirosa on 01473 261112 or email susannah@activlives.org.uk

Address: 1 Cornhill, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 1DD

Bright Green

Project: Bright Green Forks Project

The Bright Green Forks Project is a new project which provides people in our community with the opportunity and skills to diversify and achieve their ambitions through volunteering opportunities or experience in the green construction industry. It includes:

• Fun and interactive training workshops
• Practical skills volunteering in micro-community enterprises
• Industry related work experience in the emerging energy efficiency household improvement sector
• Accredited qualifications in CITB, CSCS cards and RTITB forklift drivers

For more information, please call Maxine Narburgh on 01502 584061 or email maxine@brightgreen.org.uk

Address: The Yard, Off Ashby Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR32 2BB

Ipswich Disabled Advice Bureau

Project: Dyslexia Project

Ipswich DAB has been giving advice and support to people with disabilities for forty years. This project builds on our core work, focusing on people who have other disabilities. These people also have dyslexia, which for a range of reasons has not been investigated, and hence they have not received screening, or been supported by advice and guidance. It aims to move individuals closer to further training.

Activities include:

• Screening - with a report for each participant
• Support to access appropriate literacy courses
• Advice on other dyslexic difficulties e.g. weak short- term memory
• Help with IT skills and 'hands on' experience of assistive technology
• Training to use skills learnt to manage their own affairs - read and answer letters and maintain online accounts (e.g. Universal Credits)
• Support for voluntary work experience placements

For more information, call Pat Ramsey on 01473 217313 or email ramseypa2008@hotmail.com

Address: Room 11, 19 Tower Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3BE

OBee CIC

Project: Building Sustainable Lives

OBee – Building Sustainable Lives project will provide disadvantaged and excluded people in Suffolk with the opportunity to get hands-on with a live project, restoring a Seventeenth-Century traditional Suffolk Barn and conserving surrounding natural habitat. In doing so, participants will get a great educational experience, personal development, skills-based work experience using traditional building methods and they will learn about sustainable ways of living.  Participating in this project will help people build a sustainable life, and progress towards mainstream activity.

 For more information, please call Ian Burnett on 01449 613983 or email ian@orchardbarn.org.uk

Address: Sanctuary, St. Mary's Close, Offton, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 4RZ

Bridge Plus

Gateway to Employment is a Norwich based project managed by The Bridge Plus+ which uses community based expertise to train and support communities to become job ready through improved job search skills, confidence building, peer support and networking opportunities.

For more information, please contact Beatrice Humaru on 01603 617076 or email beatrice@bridgeplus.org.uk

Address: 19 Muspole Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1DJ

Cromer Past Present Future

The Making I.T. Work for Me project offers a flexible and accessible approach for local people wanting to improve their job prospects, to find work or who want to improve their connectivity to the modern world.  The project offers a range of activities, from basic use of smart phone and tablet apps, to using computers for online Job Search.  Other activities include support to improve employability skills particularly aimed to support young people leaving school or people over 18 years seeking employment.   Working in partnership with local providers, the project centres on the needs of the individual. The project will take place at Merchants' Place in Cromer - for more information on the project telephone: 01263 519454 and for more information on Merchants' Place, please see our website:  www.merchantsplace.org.

For more information, please contact John Morgan on 07748 641718 or email john@cromercentre.co.uk or call Geoff Leversedge on 01263 519454 or email geoff@cromercentre.co.uk

Address: Merchants' Place, 16 Church Street, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9ES

Phase 4

Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust

Project: Great Yarmouth Cemeteries Project

In its 30 acres of land, Great Yarmouth Cemeteries is home to many monuments and tombs of historic significance, both regionally and nationally. Some areas of the cemeteries have, however, become overgrown and certain listed monuments are in urgent need of repair.   However, there is a shortage of conservation skills and expertise in the locality.

Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust has developed a project which incorporates a training programme enabling unemployed people to participate in the conservation of six monuments, and gain skills and experience in surveying, recording, research, masonry and conservation methods. Opportunities for progression will be offered in conjunction with the refurbishment of property acquired by the Trust.

For more information, please call Bridget Heriz-Smith on 01493 846195 or email

bhs@great-yarmouth.gov.uk.

Address: Room 44/45, Old Fire Station, Trafalgar House, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk

Home-Start Norwich

Project: Fresh Steps

The Fresh Steps Project will recruit parents who are currently economically inactive and train them in a range of skills and strategies to become volunteer mentors for families in need. In doing this, the volunteers will develop their own skills and build their confidence to help them get back into the working environment. Volunteers will receive training in a friendly, informal environment covering first aid, listening skills, child development, safeguarding, confidentiality and how to prepare healthy family meals on a budget. They will be able to support families suffering from isolation and lacking in self-confidence. Together they will both be making the changes needed to get back on track with their lives.

For more information, please call Sharon Hearsum on 01603 616400 or email manager@homestartnorwich.org

Address: 3 St. Benedicts View, Grapes Hill, Norwich NR2 4HH

Phase 3

Action Community Enterprise CIC

Project Name:  ACE High

The ACE High project provides opportunities to those who need the most support, or who may have previously had a bad experience of learning or have even become totally disengaged from learning. Our unique facility provides a practical way for people to learn about cars and mechanics, while building confidence and developing motivation and self belief. This opportunity could be the first time the learner succeeds and the start of their individual learning journey with the view to them improving their life chances through participation and education. It's an easy, interesting and fun first step toward self-development.

For more information,  please call Lou Gardiner on 01603 720308 - www.ace-project.org.uk

Address: Viking House, 2 Dewing Road, Rackheath Industrial Estate, Norwich, Norfolk, NR13 6PS

Bicycle Links

Project Name:  Pedal Forwards

Bicycle Links 'Pedal Forwards' programme is about providing the inclusive environment for personal development through a practical activity. Refurbishing old bicycles is both environmentally and personally rewarding, in the process of which the skills to keep a bike rolling are learned as is the importance of sustainable practice.

For more information, please call: Lucy Hall, 07796 104429 - www.bicyclelinks.org.uk

Address: 18 St. Mary's Works, Duke Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1QA

Great Yarmouth Refugee Outreach and Support (GYROS)

Project Name: GYROS Springboard for Women

'Springboard for Women' is a programme designed to meet the particular needs of women who have never, or not worked, in the UK for a long time. Based in Great Yarmouth, all support and training is embedded with ESOL and basis skills delivered by advisors with different language and cultural understanding. We offer women in-depth support to develop an Individual Support Plan as a route map to employment. If appropriate, there are also empowerment training and development-led volunteering opportunities in the service sectors.

For more information, please call Louise Humphries on 01493 745260 - www.gyros.org.uk

Address: 144B Kings Street, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 2PQ

Sweet Arts

Project Name: The Sweet Factory Project

The SWEET (Supporting Women to Enter Employment & Training) Factory is an inspiring and creative employment support initiative, specifically designed to provide women with an appropriate and alternative route to employment. It is a social enterprise based on a fashion & retail outlet specialising in up-cycled, bespoke and individually hand- made products. We promote diversity and encourage people to invest in locally made products and artefacts which are environmentally sound, and created by locally skilled women who otherwise may not be in training or work. We encourage people to shop with a social conscience and 'buy into Britain' to help boost our local economy and provide people in the community with training, skills and jobs. We provide opportunities to women from all backgrounds who are ready and willing to make changes in their lives, are interested in fashion, textiles and retail, and are striving to become economically active and contribute to their local community.

For more information, please call Toni Lawton on 07986 105691

Address: 4 Women Rescue Centre, 18 Colegate, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 1BQ

West Norwich Partnership

Project Name: Be Your Own Boss

Be Your Own Boss is a unique programme for economically inactive people living in the West of Norwich. It provides the knowledge, skills and support needed for local people to start their own business or gain employment. If you have a passion, skill or idea you would like to turn into a business reality Be Your Own Boss aims to help you overcome any of the barriers in your path.

For more information, please call Scott Porter on 01603 455517 - westnorwichpartnership.org.uk

Address: Fourways Community Centre, Stevenson Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR5 8TN

Willow Tree Garden

Project Name: Willow Tree Garden

Willow Tree Garden is a unique project driven by the needs of those with disabilities and their carers in the Norfolk and Suffolk area. The project aims to deliver individually targeted skills-based learning that will promote their employment potential, along with their personal achievements and well-being. The ethos of the garden is summed up in our motto, 'growing stronger together'. The tasks and skills taught at Willow Tree Garden will be client and carer led in order to fill a massive 'hands on' void that currently remains between professional bodies and service users.

For more information, please call Clare Winter on 01493 302975 - www.willowtreegarden.cfsites.org

Address: 246 High Street, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 6RT

ActOne ArtsSpace

The Trainee Programme is a course for creative disabled adults, that provides training in dance performance and leadership. With special training activities run by the ActOne team, this programme will teach you how to have great technique as a dancer and how to support and lead other people to take part in dance. As a Trainee you will also play a leading role in the work that ActOne do. The Trainee Programme is an exciting way to meet new people, take on new challenges and help you to learn the skills that you will need to work in the arts.

For further information, contact Suzie Birchwood on 07889 188469 or email suzie@artsbase.org.uk 

Address: 59 Down Edge, Redbourn, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 7JR

St Albans District CVS

The Stepping Stones Project helps long term unemployed adults with Mental Health issues to overcome their barriers to employment. Participants are encouraged to use their hobby or skills within a volunteering role with a local community group to regain work-ready confidence. The holistic support includes 1:1 mentoring, including out of hours contact to ensure that participants feel supported and do not drop out of the programme. Participants will get CV writing experience, the opportunity to go on 1st Aid, Health and Safety Training and Food Hygiene courses, have an IT skills check and training and take part in group volunteering.

For more information, please contact Julie Allen on 07811 456173 or email julie@cvsstalbans.org.uk

Address: Ground Floor Civic Centre, St Albans Council Offices, St Peter's Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3JE 

Phase 4

Farming for All

Project: Horticulture for Health

The Horticulture for Health project provides training in horticulture, conservation and outdoor practical skills for adults with physical or sensory disabilities that would otherwise restrict them from accessing other horticulture or allotment based projects. 

Our allotment site has been specifically designed to enable wheelchair users and those with physical disabilities to participate fully in gardening activities by incorporating raised beds, accessible pathways and specifically designed tools to help with limb weakness and other injuries. Activities are designed to increase independence, teamwork, communication and physical wellbeing, and incorporate transferable daily living skills such as developing strength, stamina and dexterity through practical gardening tasks. Participants experience positive successes by accomplishing achievable practical tasks which often boost their self-confidence and motivation to try new things, such as other learning opportunities and volunteering.

For more information, please call Jude Allen on 07815 851093 or email judeallen@farmingforall.org.uk

Address: Unit 280b, The Wenta Business Centre, Colne Way, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD24 7ND

Games for Life

Project: Focus for Work

Focus for Work is building on the success of a training programme to reduce attention difficulties and impulsivity, which can contribute to offending. This project assists young offenders to prepare for, find and sustain work experience and/or employment. Results will be collected, reviewed and analysed by the University of Hertfordshire, Department of Psychology to assist the long-term aim of identifying cognitive and mental health risk factors that predispose individuals to a life of crime and contribute to a raised awareness of government policy strategy.

For more information, please call Ian Glasscock on 0844 3350252 or email ian.glasscock@gamesforlife.co.uk

Address: WelTech Business Centre, the Ridgeway, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL7 2AA

Phase 3 Projects

Harmony Coaching & Mentoring Avenues

Project Name:  Experience Counts

Experience Counts, if you are 50+ and unemployed then HCMA wants to hear from you. We have developed a programme which can change your mind-set and open doors that were once closed.

For more information contact: Eileen Hutchinson, 01438 310074 - www.hcma.me.uk

Address: Business & Technology Centre, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 2DX

Headway Hertfordshire

Project Name:  HABIT PLUS

Headway Hertfordshire provides back to work support to people with an acquired brain injury and their carers. A brain injury changes lives overnight. Headway Herts can help people with a brain injury regain lost skills and confidence and increase their independence. Support to carers is also vital Headway is there to support carers on their journey into work as the cared for regain independence.

For more information contact: Julia Ajayi, 0300 3301455 - www.headway.org.uk

Address: 30 Campus Five, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, SG6 2JF

Hertfordshire PASS

Project Name:  WorkABILITY

WorkABILITY (a project of Hertfordshire PASS) is a unique employment preparation programme run by and for young disabled people that includes a Work Club and work taster/experience opportunities.

For more information contact: Nigel Fenner, 07773 009463 - www.hertspass.com

Address: 551 Lonsdale Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 5DZ

Learning Through the ARTS CIC

Project Name:  The Arts Skills Project

The Arts Skills Project is an exploration and development of artistic skills for employability and personal development.

For more information contact: Mr Ademola Adeniji, 08444 145282 - www.learningthroughthearts.co.uk

Address: Unit 112, 186 St. Alban's Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD24 4AS

Signpost Counselling for young People

Project Name:  Satnav Job Club

Satnav Job Club will support unemployed young people to have the skills, confidence and motivation to find work. It is designed to provide a multi-dimensional approach with coaching, counselling and specialist job search support that will particularly help young people facing severe barriers, such as mental health problems or disability.

For more information contact: William Allen, 01923 239495 - www.signpostcounselling.co.uk

Address: Watford Advice Centre, St. Mary's Churchyard, High Street, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 2BE

Cambridge Ethnic community Forum

Action for Success is a community based project to bring change in improving employment opportunities for some of the most disadvantaged communities in our City. This project will support unemployed people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. It is run by the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum, which will use its experience and knowledge to help marginalized members of those communities to access the job market at a time of recession, spending cuts and unprecedented change.

For more information, please contact 01223 655241 or email eddie@cecf.co.uk

Address: The Courtyard, 21b Sturton Street, Cambridge, CB1 2SN

Cambridge Womens Resource Centre

Future Options offers unemployed women an individualised programme of group workshops and one-to-one assessments designed to prepare them for volunteer placements.  It works with them to identify and access appropriate volunteer placements relevant to their employment goals.  Support is given to address individual requirements and to enable them to make the most of the placement in order to improve their ability to progress onto future employment.

For more information, please contact 01223 321148 or email nicky@cwrc.org.uk

Address: The Wharf, Hooper Street, Cambridge, CB1 3AE

Illuminate Charity

Illuminate Charity is working with Sharing Parenting to take 40 people through a fundamental and in-depth programme to rebuild confidence in attaining and sustaining work or training opportunities. We work with the hardest to reach and those that experience more disadvantage. We do this by bringing about fundamental change, taking participants through an intensive and life changing personal development journey, that will include understanding their personality traits and how best to use them. Participants acquire new skills to aid themselves and their family units. Participants will leave our programme more confident and with work or education plans in place.

For more information, please contact 01223 520124 or email sam@illuminatecharity.org.uk

Address: 5 Acrefield Drive, Cambridge, CB4 1JW

Phase 4 Projects

Frolic

Project: Arts Map

This innovative project makes use of the best of digital technology to motivate, support and connect female lone parents into the work place. Activities will include training days, digital video blogs, a peer support forum to engage single mothers back into the workplace, and further training.

For more information please call Amanda Kellerman on 07505 584742 or email amanda@iamafrolic.com

Address: 17 Vicarage Terrace, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 2LU 

Phase 3 Projects

Andy's ARK Ltd.

Project Name:  Real Time Work Experience

Real Time Work Experience - Become a Motor Mechanic! Project helps disabled young people gain valuable work experience on how to become a car mechanic. The garage caters for people with all disabilities, as they have adapted the tools and teaching methods to suit the individual learning needs of each student. Through this project, disabled people are taught through innovative learning methods and practical skills around car repairs.

For more information, please contact: Andrew Kent, 01954 782666 - www.andys-ark.org.uk

Address: 6 Viking Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB23 8EL

DHIVERSE

Project Name:  The 'Positive Self' Project

'Positive Self' is a project for people living with HIV. This project is about believing in yourself and unlocking your potential. You will attend an 8 week programme with up to 6/7 other participants and each week we will explore a different issue that could be holding you back from living a happy, confident and fulfilling life and from finding a job or training course.We will work with you and support you in 'getting back out there and being part of the community again'. 'Positive Self' is about focusing on the present and moving forward to achieve ambitious yet realistic goals. We will support you every step of the way and track and plot your progress. The approach is dynamic and will support you to create structure in your life and allow you to accomplish your aspirations.

For more information please contact: Sharron Spindler, 07983 150524 - www.dhiverse.org.uk

Address: Office B, Dales Brewery, Gwydir Street, Cambridge, Cambrideshire, CB1 2LJ

FLACK Cambridge

Project Name:  FLACK FOR YOU

FLACK complements the services currently on offer to homeless people in Cambridge. We enable our members to recover from the damaging effects of homelessness through their involvement in a vibrant, multi-faceted social enterprise, centred on the production of FLACK magazine for sale to the public monthly. Unique to the 'street-paper' sector, the content for FLACK is created by people with experience of homelessness, and is local to Cambridge.  The FLACK FOR YOU programme is provided from our attractive base in central Cambridge. We offer individually-tailored training to our members and support and encourage them continuously. We value and celebrate their achievements. We work with them to consider how they might progress further into volunteering, accredited training, a creative, social or health challenge and employment. FLACK FOR YOU focuses on the potential of homeless people, improving their skills, self-esteem and developing their physical/mental health and wellbeing.

For more information, contact: Kirsten Lavers, 01223 366532 - www.flackcambridge.org.uk

Address: 30a Market Square, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 1JA

Lifecraft

Project Name: Branching Out

'Branching Out' is an innovative project offering floristry skills to support mental health recovery. It gives participants the opportunity to acquire skills in office and business administration. The project provides support for work readiness, which is individually tailored to build confidence and self-esteem. The project also supports people to explore work opportunities and take forward their employability goals.

For more information, please call Andrew Deller on 01223 566957 - www.lifecraft.org.uk

Address: The Bath House, Gwydir Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 2LW

Black and Minority Ethnic Network Eastern Region (MENTER)

Project Name: Time for Change

Time for Change is a Cambridge based project to bring real change in improving employment opportunities for some of the most disadvantaged communities. The project caters for unemployed people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. It is run by a regional Black/Minority Ethnic (BME) network, MENTER, which will use its expertise and knowledge of BME communities to help re-entry of the marginalised to the job market at a time of recession and spending cuts. A particular component will address the disproportionately high economic inactivity rates experienced by Bangladeshi and Pakistani women. MENTER's partnership work will support employers, public and voluntary sector organisations tackling systemic causes of race inequality and poverty, and will improve access to opportunities for BME communities.

For more information please call Ila Chandavarkar, 01223 355034 - www.menter.org.uk

Address: The Courtyard 21B Sturton Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 2SN

New Hope UK Charity

Project Name: Alternative Path to Entrepreneurship and Employment Skills Training (APEEST)

The project is aimed at individuals who are unemployed and enrolled in Path to Entrepreneurship Skills Training (PEST1). It also supports individuals who have been unemployed for a long period of time and are looking to re-enter the job market and are enrolled in Path to Employment Skills Training (PEST2).

For more information, please call Antonio Callisto on 01733 261869 - www.nhukcharity.org.uk

Address: Bretton Court, Rightwell East, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, PE3 8DU

Squeaky Gate

Project Name: A Summer of Music

Squeaky Gate presents a series of six one-day creative musical workshops for unemployed adults with mental issues. The project provides an opportunity for 40 participants to (re) discover their love of music and to share in the creative process in small group workshops, in a safe and welcoming environment. Workshops will include live performance, guitar and keyboard skills, drama, music, theatre, music production and offer the chance to record in Squeaky Gate's community recording studio. The project aims to increase the confidence and self-esteem of the participants, as well as improving communication, IT and social skills.

For more information, please call Jane Rich on 01223 361164 - www.squeakygate.org.uk

Address: Squeaky Gate, 47-51 Norfolk Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 2LD

The K9 Project

Project Name: Take the Lead

TAKE THE LEAD is a unique personal development programme, which uses the power of working alongside dogs to help unemployed adults get a paw hold back into the world of future training and employment. This dynamic 40 hour group work programme incorporates individual goal setting and planning, as well as increasing communication and teamwork skills. Feedback and motivation is provided by the team of ex-homeless shelter dogs who work alongside the participants as they develop increased confidence, self-esteem and enthusiasm.

For more information, please call Chris Kent on 01353 740843 - www.k9project.co.uk

Address: 40 Twentypence Road, Wilburton, Cambridgeshire, CB6 3RN

Dig It

The ‘Budding Careers’ Programme combines practical volunteer work, personal development support and job skills training to help people overcome their barriers to entering employment.  The programme is particularly targeted at people who have been unemployed for a significant period and have lost the confidence to re-enter the work market.  Participants work on their confidence and social skills by working together to grow fruit and vegetables at the Dig It Community Allotment, are given training and assistance with vital job skills such as CV writing and have professional help whilst they garden with other issues that impede their progression such as anxiety or depression.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Glithero on 07790 208074 or email rebecca@dig-itgardens.co.uk

Address: 2 Upper Square, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 2DY

Healthy Living Solutions

The Live & Learn Gateway supports people (mostly from deprived areas) to improve their chances of entering accredited training or obtaining work through discovering their innate potential and providing them with the skills, confidence and voluntary work opportunities that will help to secure a training or employment opportunity.

For more information, please contact Mike Harrison on 07748 116415 or email mike.harrison@healthylivingsolutions.org.uk or contact Sue Bayles on 07879 496195 or email Sue.bayles@healthylivingsolutions.org.uk

Address: Mousham Mill, Parkway, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 7PX

See Job Group

See Job Group has been established to create change in the job seeking community by the provision of high quality career/job coaching. Our approach is simple yet effective; Community Job Groups in which we value each person as unique and through our SeeChange plan providing job readiness workshops and individual coaching sessions tailored to transform job seekers into job keepers.  Not only do we work on job readiness skills, we also work on life skills, which are key to a successful application and retaining any job.

For further information, please contact Andrew Bater on 07572 213802 or email andybater@seejobgroup.com 

Address: 2a St. John's Stables, St. John's Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SS0 7JZ

Voluntary Sector Training

Building New Futures will support the development of skills and confidence for at least 48 disadvantaged individuals by increasing their personal skills, identifying options for development and increasing employment readiness.  Voluntary Sector Training will promote and arrange high quality, appropriate, engaging and supportive training sessions that will increase participants' skills and enthusiasm to progress towards their new future.

For more information, please contact Linda Riley on 01371 876747 or email linda@voluntarysectortraining.org.uk

Address: 45 Stortford Road, Great Dunmow, Essex, CM6 3JR

Phase 4 Projects

Basildon, Billericay and Wickford Council

Project: Pathway to Employment

Basildon CVS’s Pathways to Employment programme will provide a unique, innovative and holistic programme to make participants work ready. The programme includes workshops to highlight career pathways into the voluntary and community sector, the provision of volunteering taster sessions with local voluntary and community organisations, as well as providing activities to enable clients to focus on their transition into work through coping strategies to build their confidence and develop their resilience. The programme will be available to candidates who are either unemployed or economically inactive. It will focus on people who are experiencing ill health or who have a disability.

For more information, please call Chris Evans on 01268 294781 or email chris@bbwcvs.org.uk

Address: 1st Floor, George Hurd Centre, Audley Way, Basildon, Essex SS14 2FL

One Community Development Trust

Project: Headstart to Employment

Need a headstart to employment? Headstart to Employment is an intensive support programme from One Community Development Trust, specially designed for adults from ethnic minority communities in Thurrock who face particular challenges in moving towards employment. We will help you identify your strengths, develop new skills, build your confidence and get job-ready, through: 

• One to one mentoring
• Teamwork projects
• Interview preparation and practice
• Volunteer work experience
• Online job-search
• CV preparation

For more information, please call Ola Kanu on 01375 768233 or email info@onecommunity.org.uk

Address: 134 Dock Road, Tilbury, Essex RM18 7BJ

Signals Essex Media Centre

Project: Community Crew

Community Crew is an innovative project that uses media production to engage and develop skills.  The project is aimed at older people, the unemployed, disabled and non-working mothers with school age children in deprived, rural areas. It encourages participants to learn new skills relevant to the workplace and to volunteer in their local communities. It provides them with the skills and confidence to enter the workplace, training or to positively contribute and develop as volunteers in their local communities.

 For more information, please call Rachel Hipkiss on 01206 560255 or email rachel@signals.org.uk

Address: Victoria Chambers, St. Runwald Street, Colchester, Essex CO1 1HF

Phase 3 Projects

Dial Basildon & South Essex

Project Name:  Train to Perform

Our project, Train to Perform, will give disabled people and carers a sense of achievement, and the opportunity to develop skills and qualifications to help them back into employment following a long absence. Appropriate training and qualifications will allow them to enhance their life and the life of others, as well as improving personal development and social inclusion.

For more information please call Janet Stevens on 01268 294400/1 - www.dialbasildon.co.uk

Address: The Basildon Centre, St. Martins Square, Basildon, Essex, SS14 1DL

Signpost (Colchester) Ltd.

Project Name:  Employment Pathways

Friendly and professional help for all the residents of Basildon and nearby areas in creating CVs, cover letters, searching and applying for jobs online, developing interview skills, building confidence through customised courses run from the centre, information advice and guidance to help individuals reach their goals and get closer to obtaining paid employment. We focus on developing the individual and provide peer support/help with coping with the inevitable rejection experienced through sustained job searching.

For more information,  please call Artak Poghosyan on 01268 451456 - www.sign-post.info

Address: First Floor, The Library, Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3QE

TACMEP (Tendring and Colchester Minority Ethnic Partnership)

Project Name:  Pathway to Employment

The Pathway to Employment project will deliver structured employability sessions for 30 BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee) individuals. These sessions will be led by a Project Worker and targeted to the specific needs of each learner. These individuals will move closer to employment through a variety of methods including identification and existing skills, confidence building, development of job search techniques, producing CVs, completing job applications and developing job interview skills. By the end of the project, participants will have enhanced their employability through increased confidence, skills, motivation and direction.

For more information, please call Louise Bardell on 01206 500471 - www.tacmep.org.uk

Address: Winsley's House, High Street, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UG

Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions CIC

Project Name:  Working Lifestyle

The 'Working Lifestyle' programme is designed to bring vulnerable adults with learning differences close to the world of work by use of positive, confidence building, solution focused strategies, approved and tailored by disabled people as experts by experience. Through a mixture of workshop and real life work experiences, we aim to improve individuals' life prospects through the world of work; arming them with relevant CV, greater confidence, better self awareness, improved understanding of the work environment, and ultimately a paid job.

For more information, please call Neil Woodbridge on 07515 067277 - www.choiceandcontrol.co.uk

Address: 7th Floor, Thameside Complex, Grays, Thurrock, Essex, RM17 5DX

In 2 Beats Community Urban Radio Station

In2beats will seek to support and develop volunteers wishing to seek progression within the industry of radio production; which will give the individuals skills to access further training or work,  as well as employability support in CV writing & interview techniques. We are in a position to advertise a radio campaign on In2beats to recruit the remaining participants and we also have strong links with the YMCA and also The Princes Trust.

For more information, please contact Terry-Ann Burraway, call 01234 352244 or email terryb@in2beats.com

Address: 53 Harpur Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 2SR

Luton All Womens Centre

The Humari Aarzo , Our Aspirations project will help Women from minority communities to gain self esteem and improved self confidence. They will explore their roles as Women within their community, explore their values, beliefs and identity and identify barriers to them gaining new skills and experiences. The programme will support Women to participate in additional training and personal development and explore opportunities in the labour market or further education as a route into employment. The project will provide the opportunity for Women to gain volunteering experience by planning and delivering a community project that will engage and benefit their community.

For more information, please contact Melanie Skyers, on 01582 416783 or email melanie@lawc.org.uk

Address: The Spires, Suite 2, Adelaide Street, Luton, Beds, LU1 5BB

Youth Inspired

An exciting new Art programme for adults with learning difficulties or mental health conditions. Activities will include; training in different art disciplines, the development of a personal art portfolio, visit to a local art gallery, the opportunity to gain an Arts Award qualification and participation in an art exhibition for friends, family and supporting agencies. Each course will be delivered 1 day per week for 8 weeks by experienced tutors and visiting artists from our training facility in Bedford town centre.

 For further information, please contact Benjamin Clive Just Simpson on 01234 480980 or email benjamin@youthinspired.org.uk 

Address: 1 Newnham Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 3JR

Phase 4 Projects

Dallow Development Trust

Project: Community Volunteer Work Experience Programme

Dallow Development Trust was established as a not-for-profit community enterprise and charity in Luton in 2000. It serves its 14,000+ culturally diverse constituents in the ward of Dallow - which has areas in the top 10% most deprived in the country. Its mission is to work together cooperatively to provide activities and projects that promote regeneration in the area, economically, socially and environmentally. With the continued support of ESF Community Grants it will further develop its successful Community Volunteer Work Experience Programme, aimed at unemployed or economically inactive residents of Luton, supported by experienced project staff. There is a clear demand for a project of this kind, which provides much needed opportunities for varied work experience and skills attainment in an area where deprivation generally, and unemployment in particular, are high and increasing.

For more information, please call Haroon Ahmed 01582 410333 or email haroon@dallow.org.uk

Address: Dallow Learning Community Centre, 234 Dallow Road, LUTON, Bedfordshire, LU1 1TB

Family Groups

Project: Checkout a Career in Childcare

Checkout a Career in Childcare courses is for women who live in Bedford, who are not currently in employment and are considering a career in Childcare. The courses will provide an insight into skills and procedures used in Childcare and each participant will complete 5 hours work experience in our crèche settings. We will also provide language support for Bengali speakers. Learners will build up a Personal Development Portfolio to evidence their learning and they will receive individual support to help with job search, volunteering and further educational opportunities.

For more information, please call 01234 316801 or email ddynes@familygroups.co.uk

Address: Raleigh Centre, Ampthill Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9HE

Luton in Community Education Training CIC

Project: Know more, Do more, Work more

The Luton in Community Educational Training course “Know More, Do More, Work More” provides pathways into customer service in the Hospitality, Leisure, Travel and Tourism industries. The course prepares and supports participants who are eager to make their first career step into work with training, an apprenticeship or further education. The course includes sector taster days, work experience, assisted job search, Interview preparation, feedback and CV development.

For more information please email Mamun Reza info@licet.org.uk.

Address: Temple Chambers, 68-72 Stuart Street, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 2SW

RAMDA

Project: Employability Support Project

The Somali Lone Parents and individuals Employability Support Project is designed to provide targeted personal development and practical employability skills support. This is essential in helping Somali women in Luton to overcome their barriers and enabling them to enter the labour market.

For more information please call Ismail Hussein on 01582 967996 or email info@ramda.org.uk

Address: 134 Biscot Road, Chaucer House, Suite 101 Luton, Beds LU3 1AX

Transe Academy

Project: IT Works for Us

The Transe Academy project, IT Works for Us, will offer candidates the opportunity to focus on the IT industry. Candidates will be a mixture of:

• Workers who are from ethnic minorities who have an interest in IT.
• Single parents who are yet to enter the workplace, who have an interest in IT.

Transe Academy will adapt the project to meet the differing needs of candidate groups, including those with limited qualifications.

For more information please call Lester Membe on 01582 877077 or email transeltd@gmail.com

Address: 40 Bury Park Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 1HE

Phase 3 Projects

Bedfordshire African Community Centre (BACC)

Project Name: Community Empowerment

Project aims to empower and support 20 African Migrants and Refugees including lone parents, not in employment, education and training, and other BME's living in Luton, Dunstable, Houghton Regis and surrounding areas. The project is tailored to the needs of hard-to-reach members of the African community through the provision of interpretation and translation services, which stand as a barrier in their journey to employment. It will address issues and barriers that prevent working, stress and domestic abuse among the BME community, low achievement among Africans, lack of community engagement, child poverty and low self-esteem.

For more information please call Mr Ayodele Daoudu on 01582 484807 - www.africancentre.org.uk

Address: The Basement, Aldwyck House (Dunstable Place), Upper George Street, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 2RB

The Polish British Integration Centre Ltd.

Project Name: Migrant Skills Register (MSR)

Through skills assessment, "Your skills are valued" workshops, the entering onto the skills database and referrals to further IAG sessions, the migrants will learn of career opportunities in the areas they are best skilled at. They will also develop awareness of their value as skilled workers. The project would be a good start to producing a map of migrant skills and needs. Through employers' involvement, it will allow those unemployed or in low-skilled insecure positions to find work which they will feel valued for.

For more information, please call Robert Brady on 07845 771774 - www.pbic.co.uk

Sandy Helping Hands

Project Name: Fifty and Further

Our proposed project aims to enhance and support all client users to move forward in a more positive and healthy way, to overcome small and larger barriers to employment. It will allow client users opportunities, to use the resources available to them which the centre offers and to bring about a better quality of life, to add to their skills and personal development. Its focus is on including clients as a part of a community, to bring confidence and make them more 'fit for life', and to support them, not just as a short-term situation, but as a longer term vision by helping them with core issues and values, which will hopefully sustain them throughout the rest of their lives. The project also hopes to empower all individuals, promoting more autonomy and helping them make healthy choices.

For more information please call Laura de Quency on 01767 690050

Address: 30a Market Square, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 1JA

The Multi-Heritage Organisation Limited

Project Name: Elevation

The Elevation project will encourage and empower young people from the ages of 19 to 25 years to make decisions that will shape the future of their lives and raise their hope for a better life. Our target groups will be lone parents and people from ethnic minorities' background. The project will inspire them to have self-worth, confidence and feel capable of doing something worthwhile with their lives.

For more information please call Dr Pamela Bernard on 01234 364248 - www.multi-heritageorg.co.uk

Address: Clifton House, 4A Goldington Road, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 3NF

The Polish School in Bedford CIC

Project Name: ESOL, employability and self development workshops for migrant parents

The Polish School in Bedford offers an innovative ESOL, employability and self-development program aimed at unemployed migrants in Bedfordshire. 24 migrants will benefit from a 20 week development program increasing their confidence, employability skills and motivation, as well as language skills. Individualised support through one to one guidance sessions will ensure that specific barriers are addressed and clients progress into employment or further learning. 80% of beneficiaries will progress into positive outcomes.

For more information please call Lucyna Ratajczyk on 07840 107510

Address: 1 Lurke Street, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 3TN

Voluntary and Community Action South Bedfordshire

Project Name: Springboard for Women Returners

The Springboard for Women Returners project will deliver two courses for women who are not currently in employment who wish to return to work or improve their economic well-being. The courses will enable women to assess their skills, aspirations and life goals. They will develop a personal action plan that will take them on a pathway to achieving their aspirations, including options leading to further education, training, paid work and/or volunteering.

For more information please call John Gelder on 01525 850559 - www.voluntaryworks.org.uk

Address: Bossard House, West Street, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, LU7 1DA

TCHC Opportunities for All CIC was set up to assist individuals and organisations within the community who need guidance, support and practical solutions, enabling them to develop skills and competence to fully engage in society and embrace responsible citizenship.

But help is out there for those who are made redundant, thanks to workforce development specialist TCHC.  The company’s Response to Redundancy package includes advice, guidance and re-training opportunities to help individuals prepare for a new job, a new career path or a business start-up after redundancy.

The employment contract between an apprentice and employer exist when an employer agrees to teach the apprentice a trade and the apprentice agrees to learn and serve. The contract should contain details relating to what training the apprentice will be undertaking and how this will take place for e.g. college release days etc. The contract should also make clear what is expected of the apprentice, and what will need to be demonstrated in order to pass the scheme. Please note that apprenticeship contracts must be formed in writing, unlike a contract of employment, which can be formed orally.

When training is provided by a third party it is advisable that you set up an agreement that outlines what the apprentice can expect from the training provider. At the very least it should outline what training requirement the third party is responsible for. This will ensure that you don’t leave yourself exposed to claims when the third party does not provide adequate training.

There is an expectation that an apprenticeship contract should also contain basic details of the role, working hours, rate of pay and holiday entitlement as well as any other benefits. It’s important to note that an apprenticeship contract is not a fixed-term contract, even though it is for a limited period. Under the law there are therefore special provisions for ending an apprenticeship contract.

Generally your apprentices should get the same benefits as other employees unless you can otherwise justify not providing such benefits, failure to do so can lead to discrimination claims.

Holidays and working time

Employers are obligated under the Working Time Regulations to provide rest breaks and paid holidays, as well as the usual health and safety obligations that is provided for all staff.

If you are interested in employing an Apprentice, but you’d like more information regarding the process or possible programmes, please contact us by dialling 01923-698430 today. Or alternatively, complete the form below and we will contact you.

Research by Popolus conducted in 2008 on behalf of the LSC revealed:

• 77% of employers believe Apprenticeships make them more competitive
• 76% say that Apprenticeships provide higher overall productivity
• 80% feel that Apprenticeships reduce staff turnover
• 83% of employers rely on their Apprenticeships programme to provide the skilled workers that they need for the future
• Two-thirds of respondents believe that their Apprenticeship programme helps them fill vacancies more quickly, whilst
• 88% believe that Apprenticeships lead to a more motivated and satisfied workforce
• 59% report that training apprentices is more cost-effective than hiring skilled staff, with 59% believing that Apprenticeships lead to lower overall training costs and 53% feeling that they reduce recruitment costs
• In terms of the return on investment linked to Apprenticeships, 41% say that their apprentices make a valuable contribution to the business during their training period, while a further third (33%) report that apprentices add value within their first few weeks (or even from Day One)
• 57% report a high proportion of their apprentices going on to management positions within the company
• Over three-quarters of respondents expect apprenticeships to play a bigger part in their recruitment policy in the future.

(Source: National Apprenticeship Service)

If you are interested in employing an Apprentice, but you’d like more information regarding the process or possible programmes, please contact us by dialling 01923-698430 today. Or alternatively, complete the form below and we will contact you.

Employer contributions for Apprenticeship training will vary and is dependant on the age of the candidate, geographical location and the sector your business operates in.

Funding for age groups can vary from provider to provider but typically it's as follows:

• Apprenticeships for 16-18 year olds – training costs are fully funded
• Apprenticeships for  19-24 year olds – up to 50% of training costs will be funded
• Apprenticeships for individuals who are aged 25+ - funding contribution will vary between sectors and geographical location.

If you are interested in employing an Apprentice, but you’d like more information regarding the process or possible programmes, please contact us by dialling 01923-698430 today. Or alternatively, complete the form below and we will contact you.

The service can help you:

• Find the right Apprenticeship candidates for your business
• Identify the most appropriate Apprenticeship programmes for your existing employees
• Up-skill your workforce to give you a competitive edge
• Simplify the process of employing an Apprentice, saving you time, effort and money
• Identify the most cost effective and efficient Apprenticeship options for your business.

Apprenticeship Matching
01923-698430

Why choose TCHC?

• We have ongoing relationships with a large number of Apprenticeship providers which will help save time in finding the correct Apprenticeship for your business
• Our service to employers is free of charge, which will provide you with maximum return on investment
• We facilitate quick turnaround from training providers to ensure you receive the training support you need, when you need it.

For further details please contact our Apprenticeship team on 01923 698430. Or alternatively, complete the form below and we will contact you.

We offer a cost effective and easy to use Apprenticeship matching service to training providers.

Our service can help you:

• Place your existing learners into appropriate employment
• Source companies that are looking to recruit people to place on an Apprenticeship programme
• Ensure that you are in contact with the recruitment decision maker from the outset which will significantly reduce turnaround times
• Initiate the sales process with your course information being sent directly to the employer
• Offer a diary management service ensuring your employer engagement advisers have the required number of visits with employers in order to meet targets.
• Facilitate the customer journey process as an optional extra through follow up activity.

Why choose TCHC?

Apprenticeship Matching
01923-698430

• TCHC has an ongoing relationship with a large number of employers which will help you maximise reach
• Our established protocols and processes monitor and record each engagement, making sure that you are always informed about progress
• Our service is cost effective, efficient and provides maximum return on investment.

For further details please contact our Apprenticeship team on 01923 698430.

We bring employers, apprentices and training providers together to provide and deliver high quality and skilled apprenticeships, which add value to the individual, the employer and the apprenticeship provider.

Please click on the appropriate button below for more information about our Apprenticeship matching services.

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Are you considering self-employment or starting your own business? Looking for expert business start up advice?

Practical Skills for Business is a unique business start up course that can help you develop your business idea into a sound, sustainable business plan. Practical Skills for Business is a structured programme of support for would be entrepreneurs, and consists of a series of modules and additional expert start up advice from experienced Enterprise Facilitators.

Results of the TCHC Apprenticeship Survey 2011 have come hot on the heels of the news that 40,000 new roles will be funded by the Government in 2011/12.

Dale is an entrepreneur with vision and the commitment, drive and determination to excel in demanding roles.

He has a history of successful sales, marketing and financial management, coupled with excellent business acumen and commercial awareness. Dale ran his own businesses for 27 years before joining the London East Training and Enterprise Council in 1997 as a Business Adviser.

As a result of his strong networking abilities, experience and wealth of business contacts Dale was promoted to Head of the Small Business Service before leaving in 2001 and moving on to create a similar team for Reed in Partnership PLC.

Dale set up The Consultancy Home Counties Ltd (TCHC) after he won a contract to deliver the Employer Training Pilot in 2003 as an Embedded Broker. Because of his "hands on" knowledge he has subsequently won and delivered three other contracts for the LSC prior to being awarded the Train to Gain contract in the East of England.

After many successful years as TCHC’s Chief Executive, Dale has recently been appointed Chairman of TCHC Group.

Rose Lavin – Chief Executive Officer

Rose began her career in teaching and moved into training in the late 70s where she managed adult and youth provision in east London. Since then she has gained a wealth of experience in employer engagement and workforce development.

She has run her own training company specifically developing bespoke training for businesses and delivered these successful programmes nationally including Liverpool and London Docklands development corporations.

Within the LSC Rose developed, implemented and project managed the London Employer Training Pilot, Profit from Learning, 1 of 18 ETP pilots in the country, on behalf of the LSC. Rose has successfully worked with brokers, providers and partners to deliver qualifications for 1,800 employers and 18,000 learners.

Rose has been a well-known advocate for Train to Gain sharing ETP best practice nationally at conferences and with Ministers as well as supporting the development of Train to Gain processes and practices within the LSC.

After being Managing Director of TCHC successfully implementing its diversification, she has recently been appointed Chief Executive Officer of TCHC Group.

Barbara Morgan – Director

Barbara has wide experience in sales & marketing, setting up and running her own promotion & marketing company which she developed and sold in the early 90’s.

She has a keen interest in Psychotherapy and is trained and qualified in that field. Barbara has a wealth of knowledge and experience in counselling and development having trained for 5 years at the Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy (CCPE) in London.

She started her working life as a dancer on cruise ships and has more recently worked for the NHS as a Psychotherapist at Watford General Hospital. She was also a Governor of a local school in Watford.

Lorraine Gimson - Employer Engagement Director

Lorraine is a business professional with a background in Further Education out of which grew a passion for Employer Engagement and workforce development.

She has since worked in commercial training and has experience brokering a full and flexible range of scheduled and customised full cost training solutions. Through this experience Lorraine has developed good communication and customer service skills and strives for the highest standards.

Her expertise is in Work based Learning, Apprenticeship training, NVQ assessing and participation in a Skills for Life brokerage service pilot. She enjoys working with the Trades Union Learner Reps and has participated in endorsing the Lifelong Learning strategy.

In recognition of the high standards she has set Lorraine was promoted to Employer Engagement Director and is a member of TCHC's Board of Directors.

Courtney Lee - Director

Courtney started her career as a hairdresser in a top salon in Mayfair where she was hairdresser to the stars.

Courtney made a decision to change careers in her 20s and joined TCHC in 2010. She has had a variety of jobs in the organisation from starting in Gateway to Recruitment, Employer Engagement and Workforce Development Adviser.

In the last seven years she has held a number of senior positions and in 2017 became a TCHC Company Director.

As a successful Project and Programme Manager she has led on several of our most successful programmes including, support for ESF clients through our OnTrack Programme, 50+ Skills Support, Wellbeing Support and Lone Parent and Carers Employability Support.

Courtney has helped develop TCHC Employability Programmes which are now Operational with the DWP in Essex, East Anglia and the Midlands. Recently she has developed some new programmes working closing with the DWP to supporting people with mild to moderate mental health issues through the Think Positive programme.

Courtney believes that everyone should have the chance to achieve their career goals, no matter what difficulties they face and she is dedicated to helping them achieve this.

Michael Schneider -  Business Development Director

Michael began his professional career by setting up community-based anti-truancy programmes in disadvantaged areas of south County Dublin, Ireland, where he developed a keen interest in creating strong partnerships by finding and implementing solutions to local issues.

Following his relocation to the UK, Michael initially worked years as the manager of Government-funded employability schemes across Cambridgeshire where he built excellent relationships with local Jobcentre Plus offices and training providers before joining the East of England Development Agency in 2006 as their Regional ESF Co-financing Manager. He was responsible for the design, commissioning, auditing and evaluation of European programmes and took a leading role in the drafting of the Regional Framework for the East of England.

Michael joined TCHC in 2012 as Business Development Director to identify, exploit and create new opportunities that will enable the organisation to grow in line with its corporate aims and values.

Dominic Wade  – Director of Gateway Services

Dominic heads up the operation of Gateway, the Central Support Services for the TCHC Group. Gateway provides Inbound and outbound communication for all TCHC Group programmes. Dominic’s team support recruitment of learners onto provision, management of adviser diaries, employer engagement, and progression of learners into work experience and employment. Gateway also supports Apprenticeships and Traineeships.

Dominic joined TCHC in 2006 and helped build the Gateway team and was awarded Hertfordshire Graduate of the Year for his efforts.

Dominic is a successful Project and Programme Manager, managing contracts and advisers. Dominic has supported TCHC to meet delivery targets for contracts supporting employers with training, and individuals move from redundancy or unemployment into employment. Dominic has wide experience of delivering presentations to employers, offering advice and guidance to staff helping them find employment, and delivering training to staff going through redeployment or redundancy. Dominic has also capacity built voluntary and community groups through the management of ESF Community Grants

Mark Williams - Director of Quality

Mark began his career in education as a FE College lecturer moving quickly into management and developing new provision throughout Merseyside working to support a wide range of learners from hard to reach NEETs to HE students embarking on foundation degrees.

He took up a brand new Senior Management role at TCHC as Head of Gateway and Facilities back in 2006 designing, implementing and developing TCHC’s inbound/outbound activities to support a variety of programmes such as; Train to Gain, Business Interchange, Leadership & Management, Skills for Jobs, Response to Redundancy and Integrated Brokerage. It was during this time that Mark also got involved in business development and played an important role in supporting the bid writing team as well as taking part in implementing new contracts.

We have been influential in helping to create and promote new ways of engaging with employers and individuals on the benefits that improved skills can bring to both businesses and careers. Our independent status has always offered our contractors a flexibility and impartiality that has helped to raise standards within the industry.

We have gained a reputation for our quality of work, our ability to meet challenging targets and our proactive and innovative approach. We have found ourselves in increasing demand, especially in helping failing projects meet their targets. Successive project evaluations have praised TCHC for our quality, cost-effectiveness and our imaginative approach to problem solving.

In our history, TCHC has been responsible for the delivery of a variety of different projects, which has helped  thousands of people learn new skills they otherwise would not have had the opportunity to acquire.

Through the highest quality Information, Advice and Guidance from our highly trained, professionally accredited advisers we have helped people from the hardest to reach companies, people facing redundancy, job-seekers, senior managers and directors as well as working people from businesses of all sizes.

TCHC has played a big part in the success of flagship programmes such as Leadership and Management, Skills Support for Redundancy, and the Youth Contract in the East of England, helping to co-ordinate a programme that has benefited thousands of businesses and individuals. Our support has helped them survive this recession and develop vital skills and knowledge that will benefit our economy in the future.

In delivering all its contracts, TCHC has shown it can work within the stringent management and quality assurance processes set down by the respective Public and Private sector organisations.

In 2015 the company acquired All Trades Training Ltd (ATT), an outstanding training organisation that delivers Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Vocational Qualifications. ATT now forms part of the TCHC Group of companies.

TCHC is now looking forward to the future and building upon its successes to date. It has made big strides in boosting skills, but there is plenty more work to be done and it will continue to devote its full support and expertise to helping people and businesses to grow.

Please click on the name to read any of the following policy documents:

• Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy
• Customer Complaints Procedure
• Environmental Management Policy
• Environmental Sustainable Purchasing Policy
• Subcontracting Supply Chain Policy.

The company is also accredited with the Matrix Standard. This national quality standard is for any organisation that offers information, advice and guidance on learning and work.

TCHC is a company which takes pride in developing effective strategies to improve its performance and quality through its people.

The objectives of our quality policy are to:

• Achieve and maintain quality which enhances our reputation with our customers, stakeholders and all those who come into contact with us during our day to day work
• Set up systems by which quality can be defined, measured, monitored and improved, and by which information about quality can be captured
• Ensure full compliance with the law and with the auditing, monitoring and performance requirements of our customers
• Maximise customer satisfaction with our services.

TCHC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion for all clients, partners and the public. We expect all staff and subcontractors to share this commitment.

• Are easy to access - no more than a phone call or a mouse-click away
• Provide independent, high quality training, advice and guidance relevant to the needs of any business in any sector
• We employed competent and highly trained individuals who are given the encouragement to develop their skills and reach their potential
• Complement and add value to other business support services in the region: we are committed to evaluating and improving on our own practice and learning from the good practice of others
• Are trusted by employers, providers and stakeholders alike.

TCHC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion for all clients, partners and the public. We expect all staff and subcontractors to share this commitment.

Information Collection and Use
We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit or use our pages. We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the page you requested.

We may use this information to contact you.

Information Sharing and Disclosure
We will not sell or rent your personally identifiable information to anyone. We will send personally identifiable information about you to other companies or people when:

• We have your consent to share the information
• We need to share your information to provide the product or service you have requested
• We respond to court orders or legal process or
• We find that your actions on our web sites violate the above terms of service, or any of our usage guidelines for specific products or services.

Cookies

Cookies are a standard method of registering user preferences when people use websites, to ensure a better and more personalised experience. These preferences are stored in a file on your computer's hard disk drive.

Our website uses both persistent and session cookies. Persistent cookies are cookies that stay on your computer permanently until you "manually" delete them. Session cookies delete themselves automatically when you leave a website and go to another one or shut down your browser.

Our website uses the following third party cookies:

• Google Analytics to track website traffic
• twitter.com, to display our @tchc_east twitter feed on some pages
• Facebook.com to display our Facebook page feeds on some pages.

For more information about cookies, including how to enable cookies, change your browser settings and find and delete cookies on your hard drive, please refer to your web browser's help menus or visit www.aboutcookies.org.

Terms and Conditions

By accessing this site, you agree to the following terms and conditions and other applicable law. If you do not agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, please do not use this site. All the information and material provided on this web site is solely for illustrative purposes. It is not intended to and does not create any business, contractual or employment relationship with TCHC. All the information, contents, text, images, including but not limited to html code, photography and buttons is the property of TCHC and may not be copied, reproduced, republished, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way without our express, advance, written consent.

All trademarks used or referred to in this site are the property of their respective owners. The information on this site is provided free of charge and for informational purposes. Links on this site may lead to services or sites not operated by TCHC.

We assist governments, their departments and local authorities with:

Grant Administration

In the past four years we have acted as a conduit for in excess of £26 million of business support grants from funding bodies and local government across the United Kingdom.

Contract and project management for business support, educational and vocational projects

The projects and contracts we manage are delivered on time, within budget and we always meet or exceed our delivery targets.

Project delivery

Our roject delivery includes:

• Soft skills and employability support
• Information, advice and guidance sessions
• Personal development plans
• Functional skills training
• Training needs analyses
• Organsiational needs analyses
• Marketing and client relations to create awareness and increase take-up of projects
• Programme management

Consulting, feasibility studies, pilot projects and knowledge transfer

We believe that effective delivery that fosters long-term economic growth starts with the planning, feasibility and pilot stages of any project. Our proven experience, systems and processes can assist you to deliver cost effective business support, education and vocational programmes that makes a positive impact on the economy over the long-term.

TCHC provides a seamless service to employers and individuals, joining up both pre-employment training and in-employment training offered through the Employer Responsive stream. Training and support activity is flexible to support individual employability and social mobility.

Think Positive

The Think Positive project and the people who run it are brilliant. It has definitely made a difference to me.

• Karlene Francis-Downes
• Sarah Aberdeen
• Michelle McIlkenny
• Carl Marshall

Employability Support for ESA Claimants

Geraldine Clements

Enhanced Employability Skills for JSA Claimants

Karen Stopp

Skills Support for the Unemployed

Barbara Roddis

The in-house training I received was excellent and gave me the confidence to apply for other forms of employment and attend interviews.

• Melanie Cook
• Anthony Humphrey
• Liliana Jeuken
• Shajidur Kamali

Skills Support for Redundancy

• DHL Freight UK
• ATB Group UK Ltd

I was impressed with the professionalism and determination to offer meaningful support.

Jeyes Ltd, Eduardo Cesari

My TCHC adviser kept in regular contact with me and answered any questions that I had.

• Boeing Defence

Community Grants

New Hope UK

I would like to thank Antonio Callisto personally for his one-to-one attention and inspirational manner. I would highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to gain, as the charity suggests, hope. John Polkey, Self-employed

• Sharing Parenting
• Cambridge Women’s Resources Centre
• Button Media and Administration Support Limited
• Take the Lead
• Be Your Own Boss
• HCMA Experience Counts
• Bangladeshi Support Centre
• Voluntary and Community Action

Business Start-Up

smallcarBIGCITY - Leisure and Tourism - St Albans and Wandsworth

The Practical Skills for Business course, run by TCHC, provided me with the skill set and the acumen to successfully bring my business to market.
Robert Welch, Managing Director, smallcarBIGCITY

• Adrian Liley
• Lisa Stubbs
• Melissa Frayn
• Stacy Beattie

MyGaps - Youth Programme

The tutors were great, the classes were small and I could concentrate.

• Keenan
• Kelsey

Youth Support and Mentoring

No one has ever helped me like Natalie has. No one has stuck by me and called me all the time, and helped me get an interview.

• Brian
• Liam
• Samantha
• Sarah
• Chelsea
• Marcus
• Emily

Leadership and Management

• A1 Stretch Limos - Hertfordshire
• Maldon Emporium - Retail - Essex
• Pitstop Out of School Club - Childcare - Suffolk
• Britten-Pears Foundation - Music & Heritage - Suffolk
• Russen & Turner - Property & Construction- Norfolk
• Lily Pins - Care Home Hairdressing - Hertfordshire
• East of England International - Export Support- Cambridgeshire

We have gained a reputation for our quality of work, our ability to meet challenging targets and our proactive and innovative approach to delivering Government Funded Training Programmes.

We always look to work with best-in-class people and are interested to hear from like-minded organisations that are just as passionate about skills, leadership and learning as we are.

Why partner with us?

• We have extensive experience in the skills, employability and business support arena
• We have proven and quality assured systems and processes
• Innovative approach to project delivery
• Quick mobilisation of project teams to meet any challenge anywhere
• Open and transparent processes and partnering opportunities, ensuring our supply chain is maximised throughout.

What do we look for in a partner?

We look for many qualities in our partners but most of all we look for organisations with values and objectives similar to our own.

We are looking for partners who value:

• Simplicity
• Exceptional customer service and quality
• Passionate delivery
• The use of innovation and technology
• Personalised products and services
• Value for money

The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) requires all colleges and other training organisations that sub-contract SFA-funded activity to publish the actual funding paid and retained for each of their sub-contractors in the funding years 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015:

Please click here to see all SFA funding that TCHC has received and sub-contracted through end-to-end delivery to partner organisations between 2013 and July 2015. No payments have been to partners made for sub-contracting SFA funding between August 2015 and July 2016.

TCHC is a signatory to the principles of the ‘Common Accord’ in the Working of Supply Chains in the post-16 Learning & Skills Sector’ and has requested that all its supply chain partners are also signing up to these principles.  Signatories to the Common Accord commit to principles, including that the supply chain seeks to optimise the impact and effectiveness of service delivery to the end user, that TCHC will at all times undertake fair and transparent procurement activities, conduct robust due diligence procedures on potential subcontractors, that funding for learning that is retained by TCHC must be related to the costs of the services provided and that supply chain management activities should align with the principles of best practice in the skills sector.

For partnering opportunities with All Trades Training visit the ATT website

TCHC
2nd Floor, Suite A3
Gresham House, 53 Clarendon Rd
Watford
WD17 1LA
Tel: +44 (0)1923 698430
Fax: +44 (0)1923 211687

info@tchc.net

TCHC
Unit 6, Zone A
Chelmsford Road Industrial Estate
Great Dunmow
Essex
CM6 1XG
Tel: +44 (0)1371 879273
Fax: +44 (0)1371 859300

We are pleased to have worked with just under 7000 businesses since 2008, when the current contract began, and we are happy to say we have consistently been amongst the top three performing regions within the UK.

The Outset Norfolk team have been asking people who have run their own businesses, or who have skills and experience if they are willing to share to help others on the enterprise journey and to donate a little of their time for free to the Outset Norfolk Time Bank.

“Impressive company with impressive people.”

The Work Programme, which will be delivered by private and voluntary sector providers, will be the largest ever introduced in the UK and has been designed to replace all current back to work schemes.

Dale was particularly keen to raise the issues of apprenticeships and start up business advice and support

As part of the new plan to support local economic growth, it was also declared that the £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund would be put to use with immediate effect. The fund will be used to fund the creation of more private sector jobs, with particular focus on the regional areas that are particularly reliant on the public sector.

Research by the Institute of Leadership and Management suggests that poor leadership could be stifling a significant proportion of young workers and putting them off becoming the business leaders of the future.

The programme offers funding to develop the strategic capacity of senior management teams from SMEs (5-249 employees) through training or coaching.

In an increasingly competitive world, where it is thought that around 70% of customers choose a company – not on price or quality of goods but on quality of service – good customer service has become the key way for a business to distinguish itself and stand out from the competition.

ISO 27001:2005 is an internationally-recognised standard that gives a seal of approval to companies that manage sensitive information and data effectively.

As training levels drop in the wake of the recession, business advice expert Dale Morgan urges employers not to underestimate the value in up-skilling their workforce to improve efficiency.

Companies across the region looking to take on extra staff are invited to join The Consultancy Home Counties (TCHC) no-charge event on Thursday 11 February from 9.00 a.m. until 11.30. The event, held at the SmartLife Centre at Cambridge Regional College on Kings Hedges Road in Cambridge, CB4 2QT will show local employers how motivated, skilled and committed employees can be recruited without paying any recruitment fees.

Sponsoring the award for ‘Enterprising Challenge’ at this year’s coveted Enterprising Women Awards 2009 held at the Menzies Cambridge Hotel & Golf Club, TCHC, a company that specialises in business and workforce development solutions, was delighted to present the award to Julie Jones, founder of Changes Forever and MNC Developments.

With news of redundancies continuing to gain momentum, and jobs in the East of England being shed in large numbers, understandably public attention is on the number of redundancies and the people losing their jobs. Yet, according to TCHC, the impact on those remaining employees can also be traumatic and can often hinder a company’s ability to move forward and survive the difficult times ahead if not managed properly.

The effects of the recession in the parliamentary constituency of Upminister has led to an 85% increase* in unemployment over the past 12 months. However, for the fortunate people who come through the doors at Trade Skills Academy, the future is looking much brighter.

Bedfordshire companies that employ an Apprentice have an immediate advantage over competitors that don’t, according to new research carried out by YouGov. 65% of people in Bedfordshire are more likely to use a business if it offers apprenticeships to young people and an impressive 89% believe it’s important for companies to take on apprenticeships during the recession.

The Chamber of Commerce has recently teamed up with TCHC to offer members a helping hand to improve their Leadership & Management skills. TCHC is a new member of the Chamber and we would like to take this opportunity to welcome them and tell you a little bit about the funding you can receive for training as a result of our new partnership.

TCHC runs the Leadership and Management Advisory Service across the East of England. Since its launch, the service has benefited over 3,000 businesses in the region helping them access £1.3 million towards the cost of training.

For many businesses, this cost is too high and may even put employers off expanding their workforce. Thankfully, TCHC, a company working on the East of England region’s Skills for Jobs programme, can help companies find job ready candidates with the correct skills for their vacancy. The service is a government-funded initiative, which comes at no cost to the employer or potential candidate.

With an increasing number of families being affected by the continuing credit crunch, the need for mums (or dads) to get a job once their child starts full time school in September has never been greater. For many, the prospect of going back into employment after many years caring for young children can be challenging and one of the greatest fears is that their skills won’t be up-to-date.

With unemployment in Britain at its highest level since 1995 and the Office for National Statistics announcing that the jobless rate is 7.8% of the workforce, the East of England is just one of the regions in the country that has been hit by widespread redundancies. But thanks to a £6 million redundancy support package* TCHC is able to offer individuals who are at risk of redundancy and those who have been made redundant, a FREE Response to Redundancy package. In the East of England 4,500 people have already benefitted from redundancy support.

According to the East of England Development Agency, claimant unemployment rates in the East of England have more than doubled since April 2008*. TCHC, a company specialising in business and workforce development solutions, is helping to tackle this growing problem head-on with a range of Government-funded advice and training and support opportunities.

One of the providers for the ‘Skills for Jobs’ programme is Work House, a training, research and social marketing consultancy. The success of Work House’s ‘Springboard to Work’ programme, a free back-to-work initiative was recognised earlier this month when MP Barbara Follett came to see how it is helping people develop skills, improve confidence and find employment.

The Minister for the East of England visited participants of the project in Cromer, meeting some of the clients and also hearing first-hand from TCHC, the importance of developing skills and raising confidence for the unemployed.

Rose Lavin, Operations Director at TCHC, explained, “Barbara spent a long time chatting with the clients and hearing some of their inspirational stories. Although growing unemployment is an issue in the current economic climate there is help out there. TCHC can provide a whole host of funding through organisations such as EEDA, European Social Fund and the Learning and Skills Council.”

Rose continues, “Anyone facing unemployment should contact us direct and we can put them in touch with a vast range of providers across the East of England. Most courses attract funding and are great at raising confidence and improving skills. We also have a number of partnerships with organisations such as Job Centre Plus and are contacted directly by employers with recruitment needs. This enables us to provide the unemployed with a complete back to work package. ”

In just 9 months, TCHC’s Skills for Jobs programme has supported more than 1,020 beneficiaries. In these support sessions, participants learn to identify their skills, manage their time, and receive help with their CV and advice on interview techniques. As a result, 80% of participants are doing further skills development training, including English, Maths, ICT and Business Administration courses, and over 150 are back in work or volunteering.

According to Jenny Eaton from Work House, participants develop the confidence they need to approach potential employees. Jenny said, “When people are unemployed, morale and self-confidence is often very low. Our job is to support people and help them get their self-belief back. We are also there through the job hunting process and even after clients find employment.”

To find out more about Skills for Jobs call 01923 698 457, email s4j@tchc.net or visit www.tchc.net

-ends-

Editor’s Notes:

TCHC (www.tchc.net)

TCHC is a company specialising in business and workforce development solutions throughout the East of England. It has contacts with the Learning and Skills Council, East of England Development Agency, European Social Fund and others to engage with employers and employees to discuss Government-funded training and support opportunities.

For further information, please contact

Justine Smith

PR Manager, Black Pig

T: 01763 222 333

E: justine.smith@blackpig.co.uk

Springboard to Work

Springboard to Work, created and run by Norwich-based consultancy Work House, gives clients practical advice and support. Springboard is a Skills for Jobs project, funded by the European Social Fund and the Learning and Skills Council.

For further information, please contact

Jenny Eaton

T: 01603 251707

E: jenny@work-house.org

W: www.springboardtowork.org

* EEDA report Recession in Rural England (26 May 2009)

TCHC has turned my redundancy into a very positive experience that has opened up exciting opportunities for me.
Julie Curl - Specialist Consultant - Norfolk

Is your organisation making staff redundant?

If so, we understand that this may be a difficult time for you, but our Redundancy and Outplacement Support Service can help you turn misfortune into opportunity.

The Redundancy and Outplacement Support Service can offer you and/or your staff Skills Support which includes advice, guidance and re-training opportunities to help prepare for a new job, a new career or business start-up after redundancy.

Our redundancy outplacement service provides:

• One-to-one advice and guidance where we will discuss options with you

During the confidential one-to-one session you will receive career guidance and formulate a career and job search action plan. The session can be scheduled at your place of work or off-site

• Employability skills training including CV writing, interview techniques or job search training

Optional Workshops available:

• Social Media
• Skills Health Check
• Presentation Skills
• Introduction to Self Employment
• Introduction to Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) at Work
• One-to-One Careers Coaching and Support Consultation

Cost of Service

TCHC Redundancy and Outplacement Services are designed to support both internal and external transition stages within an individual’s career. We offer bespoke individualised packages at competitive prices and, where possible, we can offset the cost with funded suppo

For up to date information on potential job roles please visit the National Careers Service website.

If you would like to receive a call-back or would like more information, please call us today, email tchcoutplacement@tchc.net or complete the form below.

TCHC offers a range of government-funded services to employers, employees and jobseekers throughout the East of England (Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk).

Our advisers are ready and waiting to offer you all the advice and help you need to move your career and your business forward. They can identify any funding available to support your objectives.

Currently our programmes include:

• Redundancy and outplacement support for employers and individuals
• Grants for small community and voluntary organisations
• No fee recruitment service for employers
• Training and support for jobseekers
• Business start-up training for jobseekers or those affected by redundancy
• Training and support for young people not currently working or studying.

We have built excellent relationships with an extensive network of training providers across the region who can offer you a choice of training and business development services, which will enable you to achieve your development objectives.

Browse through our list of  programmes above to find out exactly what TCHC has to offer. You can click on 'View Case Studies' on the side of the screen to view examples of our work.

Alternatively, find out more by ringing 01923 698 430 or by completing the form below.

Our vision is to be the provider of choice for the delivery of employability and skills development for the public and private sectors. We plan to do this through the employment and development of best in class people, processes and partnerships.

About Us

TCHC offers practical business and workforce development solutions across all industry sectors.

Our current portfolio includes a mixture of commercially available training courses as well as publicly funded training and advice services.

TCHC has a wealth of experience in the field of workforce development. To date TCHC has supported tens of thousands of businesses in developing tailored support packages to improve morale, productivity and turnover.

TCHC has also helped thousands of people facing redundancy and unemployment to re-train, improve their skills and confidence, and find rewarding new work.

Whatever challenges you or your organisation may face at the moment, TCHC are here to help. Please explore the rest of the site to find out about the ways we can do this.