About Skills for Work
Who are we and what do we do?
Skills for Work is a training provider working in the Bradford District. We offer a range of courses such as:
- adult learning (aged 19+)
- functional skills
- vocational courses
- apprenticeships
- workplace skills
Our experienced and highly-qualified staff supports adults and young people facing barriers to employment, and also provide Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) services to help people into work.
On these web pages, you will find details of the courses we currently offer. If you don't find what you are looking for, please get in touch as we can often tailor courses for employers and companies.
We are regularly monitored by external agencies, and you can find details of these below.
We produce an annual accountability statement in which we set out how Skills for Work is meeting the skills needs of the District, and how our work links to the Local Skills Improvement Plan priorities.
The statement is a requirement for all FE colleges, 6th form colleges and Local Authorities who deliver adult skills. It demonstrates how our work:
- focuses on the skills needed to get a good job
- has a clear focus on impact and job outcomes
You can read about the experiences of some of our learners, by following the link to Success Stories below.
We are proud of the quality service we provide for our customers, and we are regularly monitored by external agencies to ensure that the service we offer is of the highest possible standard.
Our most recent Ofsted inspection took place in December 2017. Skills for Work was rated Good.
The report stated "The Skills for Work provision has established a well-articulated vision and a clear strategy which clarify how the service will contribute to two of the six strategic priorities in the Bradford Council Plan. You have maintained the strengths identified at the previous inspection and made good progress in addressing areas for improvement".
Ratings achieved were:
- Overall effectiveness Good
- Outcomes for learners Good
- Quality of teaching, learning and assessments Good
- Effectiveness of leadership and management Good
Further information about how inspection judgements are made can be found at the Ofsted website
The Matrix Standard is a national quality framework for information, advice and guidance (IAG) relating to learning and work.
Skills for Work achieved the standard in 2005 and has succeeded in gaining re-accreditation in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020 and most recently in May 2023.
It is important to Skills for Work that everyone has access to information that is up-to-date, easy to understand, and addresses the wide range of questions and concerns people have about engaging in learning, skills development and employment. Our customers receive support which is individually tailored to meet their specific needs.
Should cases arise in which we're unable to meet a customer's individual needs, we will refer them to other relevant organisations.
Some people need advice to help them to overcome their barriers to learning and work. We support them to make realistic and well-informed choices that can enable them to achieve their potential and aspirations.
We aim to deliver a high-quality experience to our customers by focusing on the needs and well-being of the individuals we support.