Supporting people to return to education training or employment

Jobs and skills fairs

West Suffolk Council's Economic Development Team is working in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions to deliver jobs and skills fairs across West Suffolk. Our support for the event is part of our drive to support our residents learning new skills as well as finding employment.

We deliver jobs fairs in Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Mildenhall, and Newmarket. The next confirmed dates are: 

  • Wednesday 14 February, 10am - 12.30pm at The Jubilee Centre in Mildenhall
  • Tuesday 19 March, 10am - 12.30pm at Newmarket Memorial Centre in Newmarket
  • Wednesday 24 April, 10am - 12.30pm at Haverhill Arts Centre in Haverhill#
  • Wednesday 15 May, 10am - 12.30pm, venue to be confirmed
  • Wednesday 26 June, 10am - 12.30pm at Mildenhall Hub in Newmarket
  • Tuesday 17 September, 10am - 12.30pm at Newmarket Memorial Centre in Newmarket
  • Wednesday 2 October, 10am - 12.30pm, venue to be confirmed
  • Wednesday 9 October, 10am - 12.30pm, venue to be confirmed

If you are a business and would like to attend one of our jobs fairs, please get in touch. If you are a jobseeker, the events are walk-in and open to the general public. However, if you are claiming any benefits, please speak to your work coach and they will book you in.

For more information, please email skills@westsuffolk.gov.uk

Minding the Gap Local (MTG Local)

MTG Local is a youth employment project for 16-24 year olds residing in West Suffolk, Ipswich, Babergh and Mid Suffolk. It is delivered by Lapwing Education and provides targeted and intensive support for NEET young people (those not in education, employment or training). The sole purpose is to re-engage these young people in education or training and/or enable them to gain and the sustain employment. Participants are often hard to reach, unemployed, economically inactive, at risk of social isolation and face significant barriers to accessing employment.

West Suffolk, Ipswich and Babergh and Mid Suffolk Councils are funding MTG Local with money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which is a central pillar of the UK government's Levelling Up agenda.

Find out more, or make a referral, by contacting mtg@lapwingeducation.com or phone: 01473 621762.

One Step Closer - for people aged 16+One Step Closer logo

The One Step Closer team offer young people aged over 16 an opportunity to discuss how to help you reach your goals and give you skills and advice to make it happen. They can help with:

  • apprenticeships
  • traineeships - Pathways into apprenticeships
  • qualifications and courses - full time and part time options
  • job applications and interview skills
  • CVs, LinkedIn and maximising social media to apply for jobs
  • interview techniques
  • work tasters and industry placements

Find out more at: West Suffolk College - One Step Closer, email onestepcloser@wsc.ac.uk or phone 01284 716246

Haverhill Youth Skills - for people aged between 13-24Youth Skills logo

A service based in Haverhill, providing local support to 13-24-year-olds to encourage individuals to reach their full potential. The service is made up of different projects that meet both supportive needs and provide learning opportunities, as well as supporting individuals in taking their next steps. Work includes:

  • assisting young people in creating quality CVs, helping them to find and apply for suitable vacancies
  • advising young people and local employers with apprenticeships, providing a matching service to link them
  • coordinating training provisions to increase local opportunities
  • encouraging work experience and volunteering opportunities, helping young people to arrange this, and
  • supporting young people, who aren’t quite ready, with their wellbeing in award-winning support groups.

Find out more and receive support at: Haverhill Youth Skills, phone 07463 149045, email karen.chapple@haverhill-tc.gov.uk or Facebook.

Multiply Suffolk

Multiply Suffolk is here to deliver bespoke coaching, training, and mentoring to support you into learning and employment across Suffolk. Multiply Suffolk will provide opportunities for you to improve your knowledge, understanding and use of maths in daily life - at home, in learning and in work.

Eligibility criteria:

  • age 19+
  • live in a Suffolk postcode area
  • do not hold a Level 2 qualification or above in Numeracy (GCSE or Functional Skills)

Find out more at: Learn Suffolk - Multiply or register your interest in finding out more about Multiply in Suffolk by emailing multiplysuffolk@suffolk.gov.uk

Train for a career in technology

Scion Coalition Scheme (SCS):

  • The SCS is a joint venture between Netmatters and the Department for Work and Pensions - we take unemployed candidates for the Job Centre, train them, and get them jobs in tech.
  • Course introduction
  • Princess Royal Training Awards
  • These candidates need to be unemployed, on either Universal Credit or Job Seekers Allowance or similar, can be any age

Tech Skill Boot Camps:

  • Netmatters are forming part of the consortium to deliver the Departments for Education's - Skills Boot Camps in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.
  • We have been given the approval for 25 candidates, these must be: unemployed, 19 years old or more and have the right to live and work in the UK.
  • For the employed they must be 19 years old and over, and have the right to live and work in the UK.
  • An employer contribution to the course (SME's (approximately 10 per cent) £300 and Larger firms (approximately 30 per cent) £900):
    • This option is also tailored to the organisation's needs, ensuring the trainees get the exact skills the business needs
    • Please visit Netmatters Skill Bootcamps

Traineeships:

  • Netmatters are collaborating with CTG (Central Training Group) to deliver traineeships to young people between 16 and 19 years old.
  • Please see Central Training Group for more information.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - their offer to you

The DWP provide a huge number of services, all linked to protecting, supporting and creating jobs across the country. Their offer includes job fairs, schools advisors, disability employer advisors, the disability confident scheme and redundancy service. Find out more at DWP Offer.

JobHelp campaign

If you are looking for a new job or thinking about making a change, answer a few short questions to get personalised support, tips and advice. Take the first step towards your next opportunity with 'JobHelp' for you.

Find out more at: JobHelp - Support, training and advice on finding your next opportunity

Employment opportunities

Please see local job vacancies available on the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership website.

There are thousands of temporary jobs available, offering opportunities for those looking for work to gain experience and build skills. A temporary role can also help people get the experience they need when applying for future roles.