Supporting local residents into work
Following the opening of the new Job Shop in West Orchards Shopping Centre on 10 July 2024, the number of residents engaging with this element of our Skills, Employment and Adult Education Service continues to increase.
Over the 2024 to 2025 financial year, the Job Shop supported 16,242 residents on their journey to accessing employment and training in the 2024 to 2025 financial year to date, with 9,221 of these entering positive destinations such as paid work, volunteering, work experience or training.
One-thousand, six-hundred and thirty-three Job Shop customers gained employment during 2024 to 2025 because of the support they had received, a notable increase from 818 in 2023 to 2024.
Other highlights of the work to support residents:
- the Launch of Coventry’s Job Rotation Pilot in August 2024, which provides employed individuals with an opportunity to step away from their current roles to upskill, offers employers a replacement for the staff who will be absent for training, and provides a temporary paid placement for jobseekers to gain experience and better prepare for the labour market. Over 20 employers attended the Launch event, with flagship businesses having already taken on placements thereafter
- working with the NHS Coventry & Warwickshire Integrated Care Board and Warwickshire Skills Hub, we have been a deliverer of the Coventry & Warwickshire WorkWell Pilot, which connects people that been diagnosed with a mental health condition, and who are unemployed or at risk of unemployment due to their condition, to local support services to help them overcome barriers to employment
- a “New Beginnings” Jobs Fair in September 2024, which attracted over 20 employers and training providers, and enabled over 500 local residents to learn more about vacancies and training opportunities
- we hosted an exclusive event for female customers at Coventry Job Shop on 5th March 2025 as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations that was attended by over 200 women. The “I Can” event highlighted women’s roles in male-dominated industries such as construction, logistics, and digital software engineering, and featured established female leaders from various fields, aiming to motivate Coventry residents to explore new sectors
Young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET)
In 2024, 4.1% of Coventry’s 16- and 17-year olds were classified as NEET (either confirmed or unknown status). This is an increase from 3.5% in 2023 but remains a low proportion compared to regional and national averages. Coventry’s NEET rate has been better than both the England and West Midlands averages for 7 years in a row.
Coventry City Council works with Prospects (part of Shaw Trust) to track and engage NEET young people. This partnership supports young people to achieve positive outcomes through:
- systematic tracking and follow-up
- strong partnerships with schools, colleges, the Coventry Job Shop, and training providers
- high-quality careers education, advice, and guidance in schools and colleges
These efforts help Coventry’s young people access the right education and training, seize opportunities, and reach their full potential.
| Year | England total (%) | WMR total (%) | Coventry total (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 6.0% | 7.3% | 6.8% |
| 2018 | 6.0% | 6.4% | 5.4% |
| 2019 | 5.5% | 5.3% | 5.4% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | 5.3% | 5.0% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | 5.7% | 4.4% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | 5.0% | 3.9% |
| 2023 | 5.2% | 5.2% | 3.5% |
| 2024 | 5.4% | 6.1% | 4.1% |
The amount transferred in 2024 to 2025 increased to £97,956 from £32,459 in 2023 to 2024. This amount may reduce for 2025 to 2026 following a government change to extend fully funded apprenticeships from 16- to 18-year olds to 16- to 21-year olds.
Levy Transfer case study – CMC Partnership Consultancy Ltd
One company that has recently accessed the apprenticeship levy funding is CMC Partnership Consultancy Ltd, an SME consultancy firm that specialises in delivering change and transformation services for public and private sector organisations. The levy was used to fund a Business Analysis apprenticeship.
Since starting the apprenticeship, the apprentice has seen a significant boost in her confidence, both professionally and personally. It has provided her with the opportunity to deepen her understanding of business analysis and helping her to flourish in her consultancy career. Her recent work on a public sector client project was so highly regarded that she received a commendation, with the client calling it “the most thorough and well put together piece of work they've ever seen”.
Her journey exemplifies the power of apprenticeships in bridging skills gaps, building confidence and boosting personal growth. It also highlights how the impact of apprenticeships extends beyond the personal and professional growth of the individuals participating in them;– in this case contributing towards positive change within key public sector organisations.
Commenting on her apprenticeship experience, she said:
“This apprenticeship has been an incredibly stimulating experience. It’s helped me to grow as a business analyst and provided opportunities for professional development that I hadn’t imagined when I first joined.”
The Head of Business Analysis at CMC Partnership Consultancy Ltd, added:
“The apprenticeship programme has been a fantastic opportunity for her to expand her skills further while supporting our clients with high quality business analysis services. We are excited to see how she continues to grow in her role.”
