Ways into Work Roadshow
The events programme for supported employment 2024 to 2025.
Spanning 6 months, starting late September/early October through to March 2025, centred around high quality information, aimed at young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) leaving education in the next couple of years and their families, young people and adults ready to move into work now and those who want to work but do not know how.
Events will be held during the year which bring together local services, providers, employers, young people and families to raise aspirations for paid work for young people with SEND, including preparation for work, where you can go for support and industry tips and advice.
Plans include events, videos, written format, webinars, drop-in sessions, online events, and involvement from our young pioneers supported by Wiltshire CIL to ensure we have information accessible to all in some way.
We hope to capture events running across the county by other organisations too, so this page will be the place to go for all the information you need to move successfully into work, whenever that will be now or in the future.
The Big Interview Event
Tuesday 28 January 2025, 10am to 3pm.
Location: The Corn Exchange, Devizes, SN10 1HS
The event is aimed at those with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities or young people (16 to 18 years old) who are not currently in education, employment or training looking to prepare for the world of work. What is covered in the course:
- mock interviews with employers and Wiltshire council job coach - practice an interview before going to the real thing, and get valuable feedback
- CV writing workshops and the opportunity to have your CV reviewed by a professional - please bring your CV along if you already have one
- there will be public speakers and stands offering information and advice to support you in reaching your career goals
Spaces will be limited so if you would like to attend, please contact: Nicole.anderson-potter@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) with an approximate number of guests.
Further details of time slots for our guest speakers will be confirmed shortly.
Workshop: Know your rights
Monday 3 February 2025, 10.45am to 12.15pm
Location: Fairfield College, Dilton Marsh.
Facilitated by Darren Barber, Employment Manager & Careers Lead at Fairfield College, this is one of three workshops.
Open to anyone who will be moving into work in the next two years, or recently started their first job.
There are 6 spaces available on this workshop. Please contact darren.barber@ffc.ac.uk (opens new window) to reserve a place.
You do not have to be a student at Fairfield to attend this session.
Wiltshire Employment Support Team: Skills Workshops
WEST Skills for Work will be holding four workshops across February to introduce and develop skills for specific employment sectors.
The workshops will include a mixture of information and hands-on activities designed to get you closer to being ready for work.
As well as the activities used in these sectors, we'll also be looking at attitudes and behaviours in work, industry standards and what will be expected of you as an employee.
Other dates:
- Wednesday 5 February 1.30pm to 3.30pm Retail and Customer Service
- Wednesday 12 February 1.30pm to 3.30pm Hospitality, back of house
- Wednesday 19 February 1.30pm to 3.30pm House Keeping, Cleaning
- Wednesday 26 February 1.30pm to 3.30pm Hospitality, front of house
Workshops will be held at Chippenham Rotary Hall, 18B Station Hill, Chippenham SN15 1EG.
You don't need to bring anything but if you would like to attend can you confirm by email to benedict.flanagan@wiltshire.gov.uk saying which workshop/s you want to attend.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Workshop: Employability Skills
Thursday 6 March 2025, 10am to 11.30am.
Location: Fairfield Animal Centre, Southwick.
Facilitated by Darren Barber, Employment Manager & Careers Lead at Fairfield College, this is one of three workshops.
Open to anyone who will be moving into work in the next two years, or recently started their first job.
There are 6 spaces available on this workshop. Please contact darren.barber@ffc.ac.uk (opens new window) directly to reserve a place:
You do not have to be a student at Fairfield to attend this session.
Bath Jobs Fair
Friday 13 September 2024, 10am to 2pm.
Location: Apex City of Bath Hotel, Bath, BA1 2DA.
For those of you living close to Bath, this careers fair is organised and hosted by The UK Careers Fair. The event attracts a wide range of businesses with a variety of roles and opportunities both part-time and full-time.
Employment and Skills Pod Celebration and Networking Event
Wednesday 18 September 2024, 11am to 1pm.
Location: Guildhall Bath, BA1 5AW.
Organised by Bath & North East Somerset Council. This event is open to the public, so if you live close by, it might be of interest to you.
Swindon Careers Fair
Thursday 19 September 2024, 10am to 2pm.
Location: The County Ground, Swindon, SN1 2ED
The UK Careers Fair is organising and hosting this event. It is open to job seekers of all backgrounds, levels of experience, and fields of interest. An opportunity for everyone to find potential employers or career paths.
There will be numerous job opportunities across different sectors where you can apply for various roles matching your skills in Swindon.
Swindon Jobs Fair
Tuesday 24 September 2024
Location: Swindon job centre, Spring Gardens House, Princes St, SN1 2HY.
This event is open to anyone in receipt of Universal Credit. Please book in directly with your job centre work coach.
Number listed for enquiries is: 0800 169 0190
Salisbury Jobs Fair
Wednesday 25 September 2024
Salisbury job centre, Summerlock House, Summerlock Approach, Salisbury SP2 7RW
This event is open to anyone in receipt of Universal Credit. Please book in directly with your job centre work coach.
Number listed for enquiries is: 0800 169 0190
Southwest Careers Bus Roadshow
Tuesday 1 October 2024
The Guildhall Square, Salisbury
Join us for Free, impartial information, advice and guidance to help you plan your next steps and progress your career. Come and meet our expert careers advisers who are skilled and here to help you on your career journey.
This is a public event open to everyone.
The bus will be outside of the Guildhall.
Trowbridge Jobs Fair
Tuesday 1 October 2024
Trowbridge job centre Aplin House, Bythesea Rd, Trowbridge BA14 8XR
This event is open to anyone in receipt of Universal Credit.
Chippenham Jobs Fair
Wednesday 2 October 2024
Chippenham job centre Cyppa Court, Ave. La Fleche, SN15 3LH
This event is open to anyone in receipt of Universal Credit.
Swindon Jobs Fair
Friday 4 October 2024, 10am to 1pm.
Location: The County Ground, Swindon, SN1 2ED.
If you can get to Swindon for work, and are looking for work in the near future or now, then this is a platform for speaking to recruiters, finding out the sort of jobs available either now or in the future.
Growing Up and Moving On
Monday 7 October 2024, 9.30am to 1.30pm
Location: Civic Centre, Trowbridge.
Wiltshire Council is hosting this event for young people from Year 9 upwards with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) or My Support Plans.
Beverages will be available throughout the morning, however lunch will not be provided. You are welcome to bring your own lunch if you wish.
Devizes Jobs Fair
Wednesday 9 October 2024.
Devizes job centre, Maryport Street, Devizes, SN10 1AH.
Highways and Transport Careers Fair
Wednesday 16 October 2024, 1pm to 4pm.
Location: County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN.
Open to anyone interested in pursuing a career in the highways and transport sectors. This includes students, recent graduates, professionals looking for a career change and individuals currently employed in related fields.
A chance to network and explore exciting career paths in highways and transport.
Meet with teams and leading external partner organisations and contractors to discover how you could contribute to maintaining and enhancing the Wiltshire community.
Exploring my skills
Monday 21 October 2024.
Online course, 1 day.
Online training session offered by Family and Community Learning at Wiltshire Council.
The course is free if you are 19 years old and over and have been a resident of the UK for 3 years.
Self-Employment Information Session
Wednesday 23 October 2024, 1 to 3pm.
Location: Committee Room B, Monkton Park, Chippenham.
Self-Employment Information Session
Part of Wiltshire Employment Support Team, a self-employment programme offered to young people who are excited and motivated to run their own business or work in a self-employed way.
This is time limited support, and each customer will have different support needs along the way.
Open to young people with an EHCP and people with autism aged between 16 and 25.
Supporting my Teen with Transitions to Adulthood
Monday 18 November 2024, every Monday 10am to 12 noon.
Upcoming dates: 25 November, 2 December, 9 December and 16 December.
Location: online course.
This five session course is useful for parents and carers of children from about 14 years and above. It looks at teenagers' emotional wellbeing and encourages learners to consider how changes can be used beneficially. The course explores employment, study and training opportunities for post 16 year olds, and looks at ways to support teenagers to gain financial understanding.
Course is free if you are 19 years and older and have been a resident of the UK for 3 years.
To book and find out more information please contact familyandcommunitylearning@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)
Reverse Job Fair
Tuesday 19 November 2024, 11pm to 12.30pm, then 1.30pm to 3pm.
Location: County Hall Atrium, Trowbridge.
For more information visit:
WPCC SENDIS Information Event
Friday 28 November 2024, 9am to 2pm.
Location: Corn Exchange, Devizes.
An event for parent carers and professionals. The event will showcase Local Offer provision across Wiltshire and provide an opportunity for parent carers and professionals to access information in a more interactive way.
The theme of the event is 'Planning for Adulthood', with the aim to provide a range of information to help parent carers understand some of the choices and options available for their child as they support them to prepare for their adult life.
Working in Early Years
Every Monday and Friday, 10am to 12 noon. Next course date is: Friday 6 December 2024.
Location: online course.
Feel more confident about applying for jobs in the early years setting.
The online courses will cover:
- roles and responsibilities
- behaviour management
- SEN
- Five to Thrive
- ways to promote wellbeing, safety and learning
- how to use statutory and non-statutory documents for guidance
- GDPR and record keeping
Course is free if you are 19 years and older and have been a resident of the UK for 3 years.
To book and find out more information contact familyandcommunitylearning@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window)
Information day for the services and support offered by Wiltshire Employment Support Team and Community Connecting
Tuesday 3 December 2024, times as follows:
- 10am to 12 Noon (professionals, referrers and employers)
- 1pm to 2pm Quiet hour (limited number, that must be booked please), Reserved for those with very high anxiety or sensitivities
- 2.30pm to 5pm (Young people, schools, parents, carers)
Location: Conference Suite, County Hall, Trowbridge
In the style of a careers fair, there will be information stands and literature to take away with you. This is a chance to speak to the team directly, ask questions, or simply drop in to say hello.
Information and staff will be available for:
- Community Connecting offers and support
- Early Intervention
- Get Connected
- Travel training
- Wiltshire Employment Support Team
- Self-Employment offer
- Supported Internships
- Skills for life and work (new offer for November 2024)
- Apprenticeship support
- Supported Employment job coaches
You can also find out more about:
- the NEET project, both WEST and Community Connecting delivery
- Ways into Work Roadshow
- Wiltshire's SEND employment forum
- there will also be a 'Question corner' if you have anything specific you would like to discuss
We would appreciate knowing a rough idea of numbers. Please contact joanna.a'court@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) to let her know if you are coming along, and if you have any access requirements of adjustments to your visit, so we can organise one of the team to meet you at county hall reception and take you to our event space.
This event is for:
- young people with SEND who will be leaving education in the next 2 to 3 years and their families
- professionals
- stakeholders and referrers to learn about the new offers
- employers who want to find more about the support we can offer to successfully move young people with special educational needs and disabilities into a successful working life
- anyone who wants to find out more about our services
If you are unable to attend in person, we are happy to set up an online time to let you know what is on offer for our SEND young people in Wiltshire.
Workshop: Behaviour at Work
Thursday 12 December 2024, 10.45am to 12.15pm.
Location: Fairfield College, Dilton Marsh
Facilitated by Darren Barber, Employment Manager & Careers Lead at Fairfield College, this is one of three workshops.
Open to anyone who will be moving into work in the next two years, or recently started their first job.
You do not have to be a student at Fairfield to attend this session.
Discovering Confidence online course
Tuesday 7 January 2025, 10pm to 12pm.
Location: online course.
Make small changes for a brighter future. This course will help you:
- see your strengths
- learn to believe in yourself
- achieve your goals
This course is free if you are 19 years old or more, resident in the UK for over three years, have a Wiltshire post code, and meet any of the following criteria: earn less than £25k per year, in receipt of benefits, military family, foster carer/care leaver, have a disability.
Wiltshire Employment Support Team: Self-Employment Networking Event
Tuesday 21 January 2025, Civic Centre, Trowbridge
12:00am to 14:00pm
Networking is a great way to learn more about self-employment; learning from the people that are already doing it.
You will be hearing talks and success stories from people who have set up their business through the Wiltshire Employment Support Team self-employment support offer and how it helped them. We will have guest speakers who can offer advice and inspiration through their own journeys.
A great opportunity for you to ask the questions, talk about the possible challenges, what the business costs might be or how you declare your earnings.
If you have your own business idea and would like to share this on the day you are more than welcome to. The event is also good for those who are just exploring the idea of going self-employed and would like to find out more about life being self-employed.
This event is aimed at young people with special educational needs, disabilities and autism, between 16 and 25 years old and their families.
You are welcome if you are older than 25, but you may not be eligible for WEST support.
Wiltshire Council in-house careers fair
Thursday 23 January 2025, 11am to 4.30pm
Location: County Hall, Trowbridge, BA14 8JN.
This will be held in the Atrium at County Hall and is open to any member of the public who wishes to attend.
A chance for people to find out about apprenticeships, work experience, flexible working opportunities, full and part-time roles at Wiltshire Council and gain CV advice.
There will be representatives from 25 areas of the council on hand to showcase the breadth of opportunities available, including HR & OD, Social Care, Data & Insight, Highways & Transport, Finance & Procurement, Electoral Services, Family & Community Learning, Multiply, Public Health, ICT, Libraries, Environment, Building Control, Families & Children's Volunteering and Apprenticeships.
For more information about Supported employment visit:
Wiltshire Employment Support Team (WEST)
For more information about Community Connecting visit:
Further supporting web links and web sessions you can watch will be published here during September 2024.
Wiltshire Employment Support Team (WEST)
Community Connecting
Employment 16+
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