In April 2022, two complementary adult employability and education programmes joined forces to bring together the wider adult support community for the benefit of jobseekers in the Black Country. 

Mel Dovey, Partnership Coordinator for Serco’s Restart Scheme in the West Midlands worked with Sian Breese from Sandwell Adult and Family Learning (SAFL) to provide an upskilling information event in Tipton.

SAFL, who deliver adult and community learning to those aged over 19, provide enriched learning activities to encourage adults to upskill. With a course list spanning subjects from English to Maths, ICT and First Aid, to Sewing, Painting and Flower Arranging; there is something to spark an interest in further learning for everyone. 

Mel and Sian saw a clear correlation between the two programmes and delivered the joint event on 14 April, bringing together 11 complementary organisations who, together, offer holistic support to jobseekers within the community. 

The SAFL and Restart Scheme Coordinators and their marketing teams worked to produce promotional material and publicise the event to their networks across Tipton, Sandwell Council, local Jobcentres, and the Restart Scheme’s local employability providers. 

The 11 organisations who attended (see below) provided information about the holistic support that attendees can tap into, with some organisations already seeing referrals from interested attendees following the event. 

Josie Kelly, CEO of Access to Business, said:

“Access to Business were really pleased to have been invited to the Serco/SAFL event in Tipton. It was great to network with the many providers that attended and not only showcase our own services, but to find out about some of the many partner services available across the Black Country. 

“Since the event we have already received referrals, and we have promoted other partner services to enable our own Clients to progress onto further support. Events such as this really do promote partnership working.”

Looking ahead, the Serco Partnership Team will continue to build a network of local provision that focuses on skills and training, health and wellbeing and wrap-around support services including volunteering, work experience, financial inclusion, housing, mental health and addiction support. 

Currently, the Restart Scheme hosts a regular Local Engagement Meeting, which is a virtual forum for support services and stakeholders, at every level, to learn about one another and discuss pertinent issues to the benefit of delivery in the West Central region. 

Bolstering a network of holistic support in the Black Country

Organisations in attendance at the Tipton SAFL/Serco employability event included:

• Black Country Mental Health Group - Mental health support.
• Vocational Skills Solutions - Funded training in Construction and Forklift Training.
• Access to Business – Self-employment support. 
• Ideal for All - Disability advice, employment and skills, health and wellbeing, independent living.
• Connexions - Careers Advice and Guidance. 
• Serco Employability and Skills - Representatives from the Restart Scheme, Adult Skills for the Workforce, and Skills for the Workforce programmes
• Job Change - Functional skills, ESOL, IAG, First Aid courses, employment and skills support.
• Sandwell College – Offering sector-based training bespoke to employers, ESOL, Functional Skills and more.
• Back 2 Credit - Money advice.
• Black Country Impact - Supporting 16-29 year olds into Traineeships, Apprenticeships, Coaching, Work Placements, Self-Employment, and more.

[Image: Serco Partnership Coordinators, Mel Dovey and Dom Murphy with Kam Lalli at the event]