Merton

Extension of Towards Employment Team (TET) Program: Providing employment support to economically inactive individuals. 

Work Experience & Skills Development: Programs in construction, green skills, retail, hospitality, health and social care, including specific projects like carpentry and railway skills. 

Life Skills and Career Support: Training for forklift operation, driving lessons, CSCS cards, and SES support.

Target Sectors: Construction, Green Skills, Retail and Hospitality & Health and Social Care 

Croydon

Croydon Works: Job brokerage service providing employment support and work experience opportunities for economically inactive Croydon residents. 

VCS Collaboration: Partner with the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) to run work experience and employment workshops. 

Successful Mums Program: Offer workshops, guidance, and placements for economically inactive residents, including business start-up opportunities. 

Career & Recruitment Events: Host four career events to provide work opportunities, skill development, and access to further education. 

Sector-Focused Programmes: Deliver targeted training with job outcomes in various sectors, including Gym Instruction, Retail, Health & Social Care, Transport, Security & Event, Film & TV, Hospitality, and Public Sector

Kingston

Employment Support for Economically Inactive: Focused on individuals aged 50+, women returning to work, people with disabilities, ex-armed forces, and those with criminal justice experience. 

Digital Enablement: Providing foundational skills, job search support, CV creation, online interview techniques, and access to digital equipment and connectivity. 

Workplace Exposure & Employability: Increasing opportunities for work experience for young people, older workers, and those facing additional challenges. 

Enhanced Interpreting Services: Support for migrants alongside digital enablement. 

Sutton

Employment, Skills, and Careers Hub: Establishment at Sutton College to provide tailored support for economically inactive and unemployed residents. 

Comprehensive Support: Includes mentoring, skills assessments, personalized plans, workshops, job search assistance, and access to courses. Focus areas include basic skills (digital, English, maths, ESOL) and life skills. 

Outreach and Engagement: Targeted efforts through community drop-ins, family hubs, and collaboration with local partners like St Mungos and Sutton Women’s Centr

Richmond

Outreach and Employment Support: In-house officers will provide one-on-one employment support, job searching assistance, and access to local vacancies, particularly for marginalized residents in deprived wards. 

Specialist Services: Commissioned services will engage homeless residents, care leavers, people with disabilities, refugees, and asylum seekers, providing tailored support to help them access employment opportunities. 

Training and Space Rental: Funding will be used for specialist training programs and renting space for delivering support services. 

Ingeus

Belina – GROW

The UKSPF funding is driving the success of the GROW initiative by empowering women, fostering stronger communities, and enhancing employability. With 90 participants enrolled in 12 short courses, including flexible online teaching qualifications, the program is equipping individuals with valuable skills while accommodating family responsibilities. Weekly CV writing and employability workshops, alongside 1-2-1 consultations, provide tailored support, and the GROW app ambassadors—women who have gained confidence through the program—further inspire and mentor others. This funding is enabling inclusive, impactful programs that promote personal growth, professional development, and community empowerment.

What People Are Saying

Merton

“The team make you believe that there are ways to overcome challenges and get into education and employment, even as someone with experience of care and the criminal justice system.” – Patrick

At 27, Patrick self-referred to Merton’s Towards Employment Team after growing up in the care system and having been known to offender services since the age of 13.

Whilst working with the Towards Employment Team, Patrick undertook voluntary work to build his experience and was directed to additional financial support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for a relevant training course, in which he excelled. After completing his course, the Towards Employment Team helped him apply for a paid position, and he eventually secured a part-time job.

Whilst in his new role, Patrick was arrested for a crime he had committed before reaching out to the Towards Employment Team. Throughout his sentence, the Towards Employment Team have maintained contact with Patrick, advocating for his transfer to a Category D prison to access day release for work. Eventually, he was moved to a lower-category prison and now works five days a week while he waits for his sentence to come to an end.

Patrick’s story is a prime example of how widening access to services like these can have life-altering effects on those who weren’t given the best start to life.

Previously, Patrick had felt that he never had anything or anyone to be ‘on the outside’ for, but that changed after starting to get his life back on track. He said that, for the first time in his adult life, he had a real future and wanted his child to have a different upbringing.

Sutton

I’m a relatively young man (23) who graduated in 2023 and recently concluded a temporary job in Summer 2024. Upon finishing my previous employment, I sought new opportunities. Having limited professional experience in the London job market in this economy is not a pleasant position, but I understood the importance to find new avenues to success before a cavity appeared in my CV.

In October, I prayed to find new work during a Bible studies session. One hour later, I discovered UKSPF outside the local library (Sutton) and met my UKSPF advisor, Noshir. He kindly gave me a spontaneous consultation despite arriving mere minutes before the closing time.

As I am writing this, I have been working with Noshir for around five weeks. During the first week, he helped to rearrange my CV, and since then he has been collecting and evaluating job opportunities for me.

Though I have yet to secure stable full-time employment, Noshir and I have yielded a few positive outcomes. I have found a voluntary role, freelance work relevant to my industry, and earned a London internship beginning in December. These opportunities will support my CV throughout 2024 and hopefully lead to my first permanent full-time job in the first half of 2025.

I appreciate that my UKSPF advisor has taken the effort to understand my preferences, talents and objectives. This is reflected in the types of roles he sends me. Moreover, Noshir keeps me motivated and accountable. He is sympathetic when things don’t work out, and creative at exploring new, less-conventional avenues to early career success. It was upon his recommendation that I sought out volunteering, internships, and freelance opportunities to demonstrate activity on my CV. As such, even if I do not land a full-time role, my portfolio can still progress. I feel that Noshir is genuinely invested in my future and bases his personal professional success on how much he can support my career prospecting journey.

The job search can be emotionally taxing, especially with panicking parents who worry that your career success is long overdue. It has benefited my wellbeing having a calm, stable voice in my corner to steady the ship. Correspondence with my UKSPF advisor has sustained my morale throughout the many inevitable job rejections.

I feel like I’m getting closer to my big breakthrough moment.

When it comes, I will use my first paycheque to buy Noshir a champagne of his choice.

Kingston

Stay Nimble- 45+ Year old careers support 

“I attended the Job Searching training class, and the experience was transformative. The comprehensive lessons and practical guidance helped me prepare my job applications with confidence. Remarkably, I secured a job even before the class concluded. This training has been instrumental, and I believe it has the potential to benefit many others in our community. Supporting this program will provide valuable opportunities for job seekers to enhance their skills and achieve their career goals.”

Armed Forces & Criminal Justice Experienced 

Fundraising for Children’s Youth Group: During one of our events, we raised funds at a stall for the local children’s youth group. All proceeds from this initiative were donated to support their summer activities, further strengthening our community ties.

Family Day and Community Gardening Event: We also attended and participated in a family day event and a community gardening project. These events provided an excellent opportunity for networking, community building, and promoting the Keepability project.

Ingeus

I wanted to share with you my positive experience with Ingesus, so far, I have been on the programme for 3 months now. Under the guidance of Jessica Ogbeta, I received excellent support throughout. I first encountered Jessica at the Purey JCP, where she provided me with invaluable information about joining this program. My primary goal upon joining was to enhance my skills and secure employment within sectors such as Real Estate, Administration, and related roles. The program has been incredibly beneficial in helping me work towards these objectives.

I attended the Civil Service & Employability course Level 1 with Strive Training for one week (from 9:30 to 16:30) in Croydon. The location was near to my home, so it was an easy decision. I didn’t expect much in the beginning but let me tell you that at the end I felt proud of myself, motivated and happy. We had a nice and patient tutor Roz and a class with 27 people, all from different backgrounds and all searching for a job. The course was long and difficult because we had to implement the four units: searching for a job, applying for a job, interviewing skills, and safe learning in the workplace. During the units we had an online meeting with civil service employers and had the chance to ask them questions, Roz prepared us for interviews by making mock interviews in groups, and we prepared our CV, Cover Letter and all the necessary steps to be ready for an interview. Strive Training is sending us the certificate after 2 months and is there for us after finishing the course in case we need any help before an interview, can send a reference. After finishing the course, I went to an interview for business admin with NHS in Wembley and I met Jack from Strive Training he was very helpful giving me advice and telling me exactly what to do at the interview. I felt great at the interview knowing that they had my back, so I was confident, and I got it! Thank you, Strive Training and Jessica!

Richmond – Work Match

“Thanks to the Work Match programme, I’m on my way to a career in the construction industry.”

Jake registered with Richmond’s Work Match programme in June 2024 and completed an Action Plan with Richmond’s Talent Management Officer (TMO) the following day, where his passion for construction was clearly outlined. Having gained experience labouring for his father, a plasterer, Jake developed a strong interest in the construction sector. This experience motivated him to enrol in a construction course starting in September 2024, but he knew that obtaining a CSCS card would give him a solid foundation for his future career.

Following his Action Plan session, Richmond TMO referred Jake to the Work Match Construction team, where he enrolled onto a CSCS course in July. Since then, Jake has successfully completed the course and earned his CSCS card and certificates.

In September, Jake began his construction studies and, with his CSCS qualification, has been able to take on more responsibilities while continuing to work alongside his father. The qualification has allowed him to gain hands-on experience in more skilled areas, giving him the chance to explore different aspects of construction. Jake is now fully focused on his studies and plans to return to Work Match for further employment support once he’s clearer on the specific construction path he wants to pursue.

Croydon: Croydon Works

Croydon Works, Croydon Council’s Job Brokerage Service, is a dedicated hub for jobs, training, and career progression within the vibrant borough. With a team of experienced Brokerage Officers, it is engaging with local businesses to provide Croydon’s residents with priority access to career opportunities across a range of industries including construction, healthcare, hospitality, retail, and the public sector.

Through the UKSPF funding, Croydon Works has been able to broaden its support for the community, launching new initiatives to help residents thrive. Its Successful Mums Programme is a specialised employability programme to help women with young children transition back to work and rebuild their careers. It is also partnered with the NHS, Westfield and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), David Lloyd and Pure Gym to offer training, apprenticeships and opportunities across healthcare, retail and health and wellbeing, respectively.