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 dates for 2024 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 at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds
- Wednesday 26 June, 10am - 12.30pm at Mildenhall Hub in Mildenhall
- Tuesday 17 September, 10am - 12.30pm at Newmarket Memorial Centre in Newmarket
- Wednesday 2 October, 10am - 12.30pm at Haverhill Arts Centre in Haverhill
- Wednesday 9 October, 10am - 12.30pm, at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds
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
Thrive: Suffolk Skills and Employment Service
Thrive gives adults and young people in Suffolk the tailored support and skills they need to take a first step into employment, education or training.
Bringing together voluntary sector specialist organisations and the county’s community colleges, Thrive provides bespoke support for you to access the right employment, education and training opportunities for you.
Visit Thrive for more information.
Lapwing Education
Lapwing is a specialist therapeutic education provision working with disadvantaged young people aged up to 25 years offering highly personalised education programmes including:
- academic qualifications
- employability
- life skills
- personal development
- therapeutic interventions
- transition programmes
- vocational skills
- work based learning
Visit Lapwing Education for more information.
Haverhill Youth Skills - for people aged between 13-24
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:
- Link businesses and young people to provide mutual benefits in terms of opportunities for jobs, apprenticeships, and work experience.
- Offer 1-2-1 mentoring support to encourage young people to reach their full potential, as well as workshops and guidance on CV writing, interview techniques, and job applications.
- Successfully win grants to enable bespoke work to be carried out to match our community/clients’ needs.
- Work with schools and targeted groups of students to ensure they are informed and are aware of their choices.
- Provide local training opportunities by working closely with both young people and businesses, helping to tackle skills gaps at both the business and individual level.
- Provide a programme of local events to offer inspiration, experience, advice and guidance.
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
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