Five free initiatives for jobseekers from careers in coffee to creative skills and energy conservation
THIS may be the season for thinking of others, but specialist schemes across the country help struggling jobseekers all year round.
With the number of job vacancies dropping steeply, these programmes can be vital to those facing barriers in finding work.
Here we focus on five free initiatives — so sign up with them today . . .
SUPERDRUG LIFESKILLS PROGRAMME
HEALTH and beauty retailer Superdrug has a target for care leavers to make up five per cent of its workforce by 2030.
The chain is also providing them with access to its Life Skills programme, and working with the Care Leaver Covenant to assist young people into roles. Support includes career guidance and writing applications.
Superdrug people director Amy Davies said: “Our aim is not only to give care leavers the best entry into retail that we can, but also to help them develop in their roles, so that they choose to progress their careers within our businesses.”
Apply at mycovenant.org.uk.
ACCOR & SAIRA HOSPITALITY
HOTEL chain Accor has partnered with not-for-profit Saira Hospitality to provide training for people who have recently been homeless.
Over the past two years Saira has trained 146 candidates in London, with 70 per cent going on to find work.
Trainees are temporarily housed in a hotel and learn a range of hospitality-focused life skills. Candidates also have a guaranteed job interview after the programme ends. You can apply here.
CADENT FOUNDATION GREEN DOCTOR ACADEMY
AS households struggle with fuel bills, there is also a shortage of energy conservation skills.
To help with both problems, the charity Groundwork has partnered with the Cadent Foundation to offer a 12-month energy adviser traineeship. You can apply now at groundwork.org.uk/green-doctor-academy.
THE KING’S TRUST & ADOBE DIGITAL ACADEMY
AROUND 7.5million adults lack the essential skills needed in today’s workplaces. So this year technology giant Adobe gave a major grant to The King’s Trust to help train 1,000 young people in digital and creative skills.
The initiative is supporting new Coursera certificates with scholarships for learners.
There are also free creative and marketing skill bootcamps with coaching centre General Assembly. King’s Trust chief technology officer Julia Beaumont said: “By combining our expertise in supporting young people with Adobe’s industry-leading tools and training, we can help more unlock their potential and pursue careers.”
You can find out more about what opportunities are available at kingstrust.org.uk.
WELL GROUNDED
BASED in London and Bristol, the social enterprise runs Coffee Training Academies for adults who are out of work and looking for a new career in coffee.
Trainees gain technical accreditations and barista experience, but also receive employability support, job coaching and mentorship. After graduating, trainees can progress to managerial positions.
The sponsor, food and drink company Alpro, also provides training in making coffees with plant-based alternatives to milk, and it has supported 46 people through the course.
Well Grounded chief commercial officer Sonja Wittenberg said: “Our graduates are the greatest testament to our impact, as 76 per cent go into work, further education or training and 83 per cent are still in work six months later.”
See wellgrounded.org.
JAYDEN WILSON is autistic and joined Well Grounded after a mental health crisis.
The 28-year-old Londoner enjoyed the programme so much that he wrote a song about his experience, which he played at his graduation.
He said: “Well Grounded isn’t just any social enterprise, it’s become a home for the hearts of many in the coffee industry, myself included.
“It’s a place I looked forward to attending every single week.
“I would wholeheartedly recommend Well Grounded. The programme offers something truly invaluable, something that can’t be bought and isn’t easy to attain – a sense of confidence, self-esteem, acceptance, community, purpose and appreciation.”
USE THE QUIETER SEASON
BOSSES may frown on staff taking it easy in December, but, in fact, the so-called “Christmas coasting” season could be good for your career.
Workplace expert Sharon Armstrong, from Armstrong Appointments, says: “The Christmas coasting period is a golden opportunity to recharge, refocus and strategically prepare for the year ahead.
“By using this time wisely, employees can put themselves into a better position to progress in their careers and find greater success in the new year.”
Here, she shares her expert advice . . .
1. SPEND DECEMBER LEARNING A NEW SKILL: If you want to earn a promotion in the new year, this quieter period is the perfect opportunity to improve your skill set in a way that will benefit your progress and at the same time support your employer’s goals.
Have a conversation with your manager about what learning opportunities you could take advantage of.
2. DEVELOP WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS: The holiday season, and especially your work Christmas party, are great opportunities to build bonds within your team.
With a lighter workload, use the time to connect with others, decompress and strengthen those working relationships.
3. DON’T FEEL AT ALL GUILTY FOR WANTING TO DISCONNECT: If your workload eases as the holidays approach, take the opportunity to give yourself time for stress relief.
It’s important to recharge, which will help you return to work in January with renewed energy and focus on the jobs and challenges in hand.
4. REFLECT ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR: At the end of December, think about how your career has advanced over the last 12 months.
The holiday is a useful time to also look at what you could improve on in 2025 to get to that next level.
Taking a moment to acknowledge your successes not only boosts your confidence, it also prepares you for any upcoming performance reviews with your line manager.
JOBSPOT
HEATING specialist Daikin UK has launched a Level 3 Low Carbon Heating Apprenticeship programme with Bolton College.
Apply by today at tinyurl.com/5fjyp3nv
HO-HO-HOME TIME
WORKERS switch off for Christmas by on average December 17.
Three in ten admit avoiding big or complex tasks, a poll from business-sales data website Sopro found, while a fifth shop online at work.
Nearly one in four also take longer lunchbreaks or finish earlier, while almost two in ten admit “shelving all work until the new year”. Workers in the South West are the first to down tools, by around December 15, while millennials are the generation to do this the earliest – on average by December 16.
A Sopro spokesman said: “This potentially means productivity is down for at least five entire working days for many businesses in the lead-up to Christmas.”
JOBSPOT
CONSUMER goods giant Procter & Gamble has over 600 vacancies including in sales, IT and marketing. See pgcareers.com/uk/en
BASH THE BLUES
WORK Christmas bashes can be just the tonic if you feel lonely during the festive season, it seems.
Fifty-six per cent of us reckon they can combat feelings of isolation, a study from business site Virgin StartUp found.
Almost three quarters feel the bashes build team spirit, while 54 per cent see them as a way to toast achievements. Under-35s are the biggest revellers – 39 per cent would otherwise fear missing out, but just three per cent of those aged 55 to 64.
The research found the UK’s 3.1million sole traders can feel down, for lack of an office do.
Andy Fishburn, MD at Virgin StartUp, said: “My feed is often full of selfies of founders at this time of year experiencing Christmas party FOMO.”