What is the course about?
The Business & Professional Services Work Academy is a two-week intensive programme designed to help you build the skills, confidence and knowledge you need to move into work.You will gain recognised Level 1 qualifications in Business and Retail and Cybersecurity, alongside practical employability support to help you prepare for your next step.The programme is designed for people who are unemployed or economically inactive and are ready to take practical steps towards employment in business, administration, customer service, digital, office-based and professional roles. You will also receive eight weeks of follow-up employment support, including help with your CV, job applications, interview preparation and job searching.
Please note: enrolment on this Work Academy requires a referral from Jobcentre Plus. You are welcome to submit an application, but a place cannot be confirmed until your eligibility has been checked and a valid referral has been received. If you do not already have a referral, we'll contact you with information about the next steps.
You will work towards Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Award in Business and Retail and Gateway Qualifications Level 1 Award in Cybersecurity.Both are Level 1 qualifications, and you do not need previous qualifications or experience in business, retail or cybersecurity to join the course. The Business and Retail qualification has no prior qualification or specific prior skills requirements, while the Cybersecurity qualification also has no specific prior skills or knowledge requirements.However, because the programme is designed to prepare you for employment, you will need: A good level of spoken and written English. Some basic digital skills and confidence using a computer. The ability to participate fully in classroom learning and complete written and digital tasks. A commitment to attend the full two-week programmeYou do not need previous experience of working in business, administration or cybersecurity.
The course combines business, digital, cybersecurity and employability skills, including:Business & professional skillsCommunication and working in a business environmentCreating business documents and using digital softwareCustomer service, telephone calls and business meetingsPresentation skills, digital marketing and social mediaTeamwork and workplace health and safetyCybersecurityCybercrime, online fraud and digital threatsProtecting individuals and organisations from cyber threatsPasswords, user access controls and permissionsCybersecurity legislation, testing and ethical conductEmployabilityCV development and job applicationsInterview preparation and job searchingCareer planning and identifying suitable vacancies
The course is delivered as an intensive, full-time programme over two weeks, Monday to Friday, 9:30am–4:30pm. Full attendance is required.You will be taught by experienced tutors using a mixture of classroom teaching, practical activities, discussions, exercises and workplace-focused tasks. Learning is designed to be practical and relevant to the skills employers are looking for.You will also receive support from a dedicated employability coach to help you prepare for work.Your qualifications are assessed through a portfolio of evidence. This means you will complete a range of tasks during the course to demonstrate what you have learned, rather than sitting one large final examination. The Business and Retail qualification is assessed through a portfolio of evidence, as is the Cybersecurity qualification.
All the learning resources and equipment you need for the programme will be provided. It might be useful to bring something to write with and a notepad.
By the end of the programme, you should have:Gained two recognised Level 1 qualificationsDeveloped practical business, workplace and digital skillsImproved your understanding of cybersecurity and how to stay safe onlineDeveloped your communication and customer service skillsIncreased your confidence in using digital technology in the workplaceCreated or improved your CVDeveloped your job application and interview skillsImproved your ability to search and apply for suitable jobsIncreased your confidence and readiness for employmentDeveloped a clear plan for your next step into workThe overall aim is to help you build your skills, boost your confidence and get into work. The Work Academy approach is specifically designed to help learners take practical steps towards employment.
Following the two-week programme, you will receive eight weeks of ongoing employability support, with two hours of support each week. This will help you search for vacancies, complete applications, prepare for interviews and move towards securing employment.Potential employment areas include:Business administrationOffice and administrative rolesCustomer serviceBusiness supportDigital and office-based rolesEntry-level professional services rolesRoles where basic cybersecurity and digital awareness are valuable
