Skills Work Academy
Local and National Employer Engagement
A one-stop local and national employer partnership for employer-led training, work and recruitment — a mix of fully funded and self-funded provision aligned to employment outcomes, apprenticeships, work placements, jobs and social value, across all sectors.
A Partnership Designed Around the Employer
Skills Work starts from the employer's own vacancies, sites, project phases, workforce plans and social value commitments — not a fixed intervention. We design the recruitment, training and engagement activity around what the employer actually needs to deliver.
Starts with Demand
We begin with the employer's live vacancies, sites, project phases and workforce plans rather than a pre-set programme.
The Right Mix
We blend recruitment, training and engagement activity — fully funded and self-funded — to match the employer's needs.
Outcome-Focused
Every intervention is aligned to employment outcomes, apprenticeships, work placements, jobs and social value.
Our Legacy
Although Skills Work Academy is a new enterprise in training and employment, our legacy spans over 30 years. We are a social enterprise where all profits and assets are used for public good.
Our journey began in 2002 in the construction and allied sectors, from a portacabin in Canary Wharf, London. Our founders and director were part of the original Partnership between the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, local labour in construction, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), docklands recruitment and London Borough Newham.
With extensive experience working across local authorities, education, skills, employment, we bring decades of expertise in delivering training that drives growth for both individuals & employers.
A Social Enterprise
All profits and assets are used for public good — a 30-year legacy of putting people and communities first.
Rooted in 2002
Our journey began in 2002 in construction and allied sectors, from a portacabin in Canary Wharf, London.
Decades of Expertise
Working across local authorities, education, skills and employment to deliver training that drives growth for individuals and employers.
National Vacancy Promotion & Candidate Reach
Skills Work connects employers to a broad, job-ready candidate base — from entry-level through to higher-skilled — supporting inclusive recruitment and diverse talent pipelines across the country.
Every Skill Level
From entry-level and pre-employment candidates through to higher-skilled and experienced workers, matched to the roles employers need to fill.
Diverse Talent Pipelines
Inclusive recruitment that reaches under-represented groups and builds diverse, sustainable workforces for employers.
National Promotion
Vacancies are promoted across our national candidate network to maximise reach and fill roles faster.
A Site-by-Site, Phase-by-Phase Strategy
Every development is different. We build a five-step strategy around each site and project phase, turning planning and social value commitments into practical employment and skills outcomes.
MAP
Review the employer's sites, project phases, anticipated roles, recruitment dates, social value commitments and relevant employment/skills targets.
PLAN
Build a delivery calendar around quick job outcomes, future vacancies, apprenticeships, work experience, short courses, workshops, employer sessions and recruitment events.
PREPARE
Run pre-employment training before recruitment so candidates arrive better prepared for the employer's roles.
CONNECT
Bring the employer into the programme through site insight, role briefings, mock interviews, talks or job fairs — then move suitable candidates into interview and vacancies.
EVIDENCE
Capture activity and outcomes the employer can use as part of its own social value and employment-and-skills reporting.
One Employer Partnership — Every Sector
The offer is not construction-only. Skills Work works with employers across hospitality, retail, health and social care, early years and education, warehousing and logistics, customer service and contact centres, digital and technology, professional services, facilities and cleaning, construction and green skills. We start with the employer's actual workforce need and build the right recruitment, training and engagement solution around it. One conversation about vacancies, workforce challenges, locations, growth plans and Social Value priorities — then we agree the most useful mix of recruitment, training and engagement activity.
From Activity to Evidence
Social value is strongest when the employer can show what was committed, what was delivered and what happened next. Skills Work supports an evidence-minded approach by agreeing useful measures at the outset. The exact measures used should be agreed against the employer's contract, planning obligation, tender commitment or internal ESG/social value framework. Skills Work can provide programme information and delivery insights; formal compliance sign-off remains with the relevant employer, client, contracting authority or planning authority.
Agree useful measures at the outset
Formal compliance sign-off stays with the authority