Work Academies
Train full-time. Gain qualifications. Get ready for work.
Work Academies are intensive programmes for unemployed and economically inactive adults, combining sector-specific training, recognised qualifications and employability support. With one or two weeks of full-time training followed by eight weeks of regular coaching, they’re designed to help you take the next step towards employment in construction, business and professional services, or care and childcare.
Whether you’re looking to start a new career, return to work, or build your confidence and skills for employment, our Work Academies provide practical training alongside support with CVs, applications, interviews and job searching.
Please note: enrolment on our Work Academies 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.
What’s included?
- Intensive full-time training in a specific employment sector
- Industry-recognised qualifications
- Support from experienced tutors and employability coaches
- CV, application and interview preparation
- Job search guidance and career planning
- Up to eight weeks of follow-up employability support
Our Work Academies
Construction Work Academy
Prepare for a career in the construction industry while gaining valuable health and safety knowledge and industry-recognised qualifications.
Business & Professional Services Work Academy
Develop workplace, business and digital skills that can support progression into office-based, customer service and professional roles.
Care & Childcare Work Academy
Gain an introduction to working in care and childcare, build sector knowledge and achieve a recognised qualification to support your next steps.
Who are these programmes for?
Work Academies are aimed at adults who are ready to take part in intensive full-time training and want to improve their employment prospects in a specific sector.
Learners join through referrals from Jobcentre Plus, but we also accept direct applications. If you do not yet have a referral, we’ll contact you with information about how to request one.
To be eligible, you must:
- Be aged 19 or over by the start of the academic year
- Be unemployed or economically inactive
- Be able to attend all scheduled sessions during the intensive full-time training period
- Have a referral from Jobcentre Plus
Why choose a Work Academy?
- Short, focused and intensive
- Designed around sectors with employment opportunities
- Gain recognised qualifications
- Receive dedicated employability support
- Learn alongside others who share similar goals
- Take practical steps towards employment in your chosen sector
WAES Work Academies are delivered as part of the government’s Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) initiative, which helps people develop sector-specific skills and prepare for employment. SWAPs combine training with employability support and are designed to help jobseekers take the next step towards work.
Find out more about Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs).
Referring claimants
If you work for a Jobcentre Plus in Greater London and would like to find out about referring a claimant for one of our Work Academies, please email Reshma D’Souza at rd’souza@waes.ac.uk
The Childcare Work Academy is an intensive programme designed to help you develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to take your next step into employment in the childcare sector. You will gain an introduction to working with children, develop your understanding of the sector and achieve a recognised Level 1 Award in Caring for Children. The programme combines sector-specific training with dedicated employability support to help you move towards work.
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.
- Highly qualified and professionally experienced tutors
- Accessible Central London centres with bespoke facilities and great transport connections
- A wide range of in-person, online, distance learning and community-based courses
- Unique work experience opportunities through partnerships
- Guest speakers offer introductions to career pathways in a variety of sectors
- Excellent progression to employment, apprenticeships or further learning including university
