Developing confident, work ready young people for the future workforce
Our Transferable Skills Academies are intensive, person centred programmes designed to support young people aged 16 to 19 who are not currently in education, employment or training.
The academies combine industry specific training, recognised qualifications and real world experience to help young people build confidence, develop essential workplace behaviours and move successfully into employment, apprenticeships or further learning.
All academies are fully publicly funded, making them accessible at no cost to eligible participants.
What makes Transferable Skills Academy different?
Our approach goes beyond qualifications. We focus on the whole person, supporting young people to understand their strengths, overcome barriers and build belief in what they can achieve.
Person centred from day one
Every learner completes an initial assessment to identify strengths, interests, goals and any barriers to progression. This allows us to tailor support and learning pathways to each individual.
Recognised qualifications and transferable skills
Participants work towards industry relevant qualifications and SQA units including Employability, Dealing with Work Situations, Team Working, Client and Customer Communication Skills and Working Safely, Digital Skills and AI Training These skills transfer across sectors and last a lifetime.
Real world, practical learning
Young people learn best by doing. Our programmes include hands on training, practical projects, work placements and community volunteering so learners gain meaningful experience and confidence in real working environments.
Confidence, wellbeing and work readiness
Alongside technical skills, we focus on resilience, communication, teamwork, reliability and professional behaviours that employers value. Wellbeing is embedded throughout the programme to support positive mental health and adaptability.
How the Transferable Skills Academies work
Our academies typically run for 13 to 16 weeks and are delivered through a flexible blended model:
- Group based training sessions
- One to one coaching and mentoring
- Practical workshops and industry tasters
- Work placements and volunteering
- Access to an online learning portal to build digital skills
The first phase focuses on building foundations through training, self awareness and employability skills. The latter stages support progression into work, apprenticeships or further education.
Our Trasnsferable Skills Academy sectors
Hospitality Skills Academies
Delivered in partnership with leading hospitality employers, our hospitality academies provide real world training in customer service, food and beverage, housekeeping and front of house roles. Many participants move directly into employment or apprenticeships with our employer partners after they complete their work experience.
Customer Service and Retail Academies
Combine employability training, recognised qualifications and hands on experience to help young people thrive in customer focused roles. The programme builds confidence, resilience and workplace behaviours valued across the retail and service sectors. At the end of their work experience many participants move directly into jobs.
Customer Service and Retail Academies
Working with local construction companies, these academies introduce young people to trades such as joinery, plumbing and heating. Learners gain hands on experience through practical projects and outdoor community volunteering, while developing health and safety awareness and site readiness. They work towards their CSCS Card and Site Safety qualifications.
Health and Social Care Skills Academies
Our Health and Social Care Skills Academies are delivered in partnership with the NHS, providing young people with a supported and realistic pathway into healthcare careers.
Learners begin with classroom training and then we add ward based volunteering, allowing them to build confidence, understand healthcare environments and develop professional behaviours before progressing into NHS skills simulations. These simulations provide a safe, supportive setting to practise essential skills and workplace expectations.
Following this, participants move into real world work experience within NHS settings, gaining valuable insight into day to day healthcare roles. The academy supports progression into jobs and Modern Apprenticeships, creating clear pathways into a wide range of NHS careers.
We are aiming to run a specific Health and Social Care Academies to work in partnership with care providers, where these academies will prepare young people for roles within healthcare environments.
Outcomes that matter
Our academies are designed with clear outcomes in mind:
- Increased confidence and self belief
- Improved employability and workplace behaviours
- Industry recognised qualifications
- Real work experience
- Progression into jobs, apprenticeships or further learning
We work closely with employers, partners and funders to ensure our programmes respond to real labour market needs and create genuine pathways into sustainable employment.
Who our academies are for
Our Transferable Skills Academies support young people who:
- Are aged 16 to 19 with some provision supporting older clients
- Are not currently in education, employment or training
- Want to build confidence, skills and experience
- Are ready to explore career opportunities in key sectors
No prior qualifications or experience are required. Motivation, curiosity and a willingness to learn are what matter most.
