SWAPs
What is a Sector-Based Work Academy Programme?
Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes (or SWAPs) are courses that we run in partnership with employers in order to train potential candidates for new job opportunities. The model works well because it allows us to tailor our delivery to the exact specifications of your potential Employer; which in turn means you are working towards becoming the perfect fit for their needs.
Employers
Who do we work with?
We have delivered SWAP courses in everything from Catering to Care Work. We are always looking to work with new partners and feel this is the best way to ensure our learners have access to a large number of opportunities. We have already teamed up with a number of well-known brands and companies - including, Alternative Futures Group, Capita, CIC, CR Steel, McDonald's, NHS Hospitals, Parkhaven Trust, Pizza Express, Shawton Ltd, and Tesutti - to deliver quality candidates that are ready to hit the ground running in the workplace.
Jobs
What roles are on offer?
We have trained Administrators, Call Centre Operatives, Catering Assistants, Care Workers, Fibre Optic Engineers, Support Workers, NHS Ward Assistants, Medical Nurses, Special Educational Needs Tutors, Warehouse Operatives, Restaurateurs, IT Specialists, Retailers and many, many more. Put simply, we are flexible about what we do and try to focus on a variety of different sectors. This means that, even if we haven't got a SWAP that is right for you at the time of reading, the chances are we will have an opening that does interest you in the future.
Success Story
SWAP Argos: Rachel's Confidence Boost
When Rachel arrived at our SWAP Argos programme in Widnes, she was low on confidence and desperate to make a fresh start. A single mother, Rachel had not long moved back to the Liverpool City Region from London, but the transfer had been quite a bit more difficult than expected.
From the off, it was clear that Rachel had a lovely manner of communication and a real passion for customer service. However, it was quite a surprise to learn that she was also the brains behind some pretty big music festivals… particularly as it wasn’t mentioned anywhere on her CV!
Rachel used her time on the course to address this and – with the help of her tutor – identified the transferable skills she had developed and how they would apply to a customer service role with Argos. She also researched the employer and was given step by step support on the application process; from her initial assessment right through to her telephone interview.
All of her hard work definitely paid off because, a week or so after the course finished, Rachel was hired as an Argos Customer Service Advisor.
*some names and details have been changed