EMBARK Learning has gained huge experience and expertise over the years delivering Sector Based Work Academies (SBWA) these programmes are delivered working closely with Job Centre Plus to ensure that learners pick up genuine skills and qualifications to enable them to obtain employment. Our MY CARE PORTFOLIO programmes are ground-breaking with staggering success.

EMBARK Learning has grown out of our desire to attract and find solutions to those who have struggled into employment, to support them on their learning journey and to give hope and opportunity by providing information, advice and guidance to all. We have identified many people who have had barriers of entry to learning or employment and we have developed them via our unique programme.

As part of our ‘My Care Portfolio’ SBWA, we deliver employer ready skills, hands on care courses that allow people to gain employment within the Health and Social Care Sector. People that are eminently experienced in life but not necessarily in paid employment. Many of these people are often overlooked. We have had huge success in spotting care talent and nurturing those skills and identifying compassionate, naturally caring people and allowing them to EMBARK on their very own journey.

Embark Learning Care Academy

Recruitment, retention and training are without a doubt the biggest issue for the Adult Social Care sector. Having sufficient levels of the right people with the right skills is absolutely fundamental to providing quality care and support for the nation as a whole.

The recent National Audit Office report into the Health & Social Care Workforce in England (published Feb 2018) concluded The Department of Health and Social Care is ‘not doing enough to support a sustainable social care workforce. The number of people working in care is not meeting the country’s growing care demands and unmet care needs are increasing’.

The Fairway Academy was created in 2013 with its primary objective to offer Sector Based Work Academies that recruit, train, nurture and develop a highly skilled workforce of carers employers in the West Midlands region.

EMBARK Learning leads on this Academy, but many stakeholders feed into and support it. These include Clarion Housing, who have many residents spread across the West Midlands region and have identified Embark Learning as partner to reaching some of their hardest to reach residents. Clarion have stated:

“We have always found Embark Learning to go above and beyond to support their learners and to provide advice and guidance that is tailored to each learner. The programme offers a full 360-degree support service, ensuring that the learners have the skills and knowledge required to the best quality of care. Learners are not only offered employment, but a career which from Clarion Futures perspective is key to ensure all learners gain sustainable employment.”

Zoe Lee, Employment Support Officer

Accord Housing Group are another supporter and has been employing graduates from the academy. We work very closely with DWP and they have the following to say about our SBWAs:

“The Black Country District Jobcentres have been engaging with Embark Learning, on a SBWA basis since November 2017. I am now of the opinion that they are the very best at delivering their care offer compared to any other care organisation that I have ever engaged with. Their training package is excellent and really does prepare the candidate for work in the care sector.”

David Brooks, Employer Advisor

Other stakeholders that have been involved with or collaborated with the Academy are local colleges, Talent Match and many other local referral agencies who have made all contributed to its success and more importantly its ability to provide employment opportunities for local residents.