We know that the cost of training can be a huge obstacle to accessing the skills needed to get into work. This makes it even more challenging to those already facing barriers in society. That’s why over 20 years ago we established our bursary programme: to support those in financial need to access training and development which will lead to sustainable employment.
We focus particularly on awarding funding in sectors where more skilled workers will be needed in the future. So when we heard that Catch22 were focusing on identifying entry-level green jobs and upskilling individuals to work in these roles, we knew this was a good fit for our bursary programme.
Catch22 is a social non-profit organisation that designs and delivers services that build resilience and aspiration in people and communities. One of the ways they do this is through delivering high-quality training programmes to people facing barriers and supporting them on their journey to employment.
Providing green skills and employability support since 2020, when building out this offer Catch22 realised that there was a stock and flow issue, with a lack of entry-level pathways into the sector. Other key barriers they identified included a lack of education on green jobs – what they are and how to get into the sector – and crucially the cost and time needed for training. Many of the roles they researched required a certain level of qualifications yet for every technical role, such as an off-shore wind engineer, you need an entry-level position to support it. Catch22 developed a training programme with City & Guilds Foundation, as a way of supporting individuals to be able to both find and undertake these entry-level green roles which are crucial to the achieving net zero targets and more broadly, the UK-economy.
Catch22 launched the Green Spark training programme in May 2023. Through their relationship with Job Centre Plus and from exhibiting at careers fairs, 41 individuals who have faced barriers to work enrolled onto the programme with the cohort including a high number of BAME participants, individuals with convictions and a number of participants who have previously served in the army. The training included learning what a green role is, specific training around how to find and tailor applications to roles within the sector, employability skills and interview preparation and support. 26 individuals completed the training and 15 of these went on to become accredited by City & Guilds.
Catch22 continued to support participants following the training on their journey towards their primary aim, to enter sustained employment. Eight learners are now in full time employment or self-employed in roles including as a health and wellbeing practitioner, a bus driver, one participant is working in the UK health and security sector, one is self-employed making and selling sustainable products, another is working as a scaffolder and one trainee is interning in a digital organisation. From delivering Green Spark Catch22 recognise that there is still the need for: a greater awareness around what a green job is and which entry-level opportunities are available, collaboration across sectors so that people can get into these jobs quicker, which crucially how to transfer existing skills.
Catch22 Training Manager Amanda Luxton says:
At Catch22 we are continuing to work with employers across many sectors including green and digital so that the people who we support can access the future world of work. In
addition to upskilling individuals to meet real sector gaps, we ensure the training undertaken provides the best possible chance of securing employment. In the last year they have supported over 4,000 individuals with almost 2,500 becoming gaining employment.
For more information on Catch22’s work visit: https://www.catch-22.org.uk/