Employment Hubs: supporting local communities across Devon

Devon County Council is set to expand its network of Youth and Adult Employment Hubs across the county to support people into employment and training.

Working in partnership with four district councils (East Devon, Exeter City, Mid Devon and North Devon), the County Council already has a number of Hubs in operation at Barnstaple Library, Cullompton Library, Exeter Library, and at the Beehive Community Centre in Honiton. Now, two more Hubs are set to open at the Family Hub in Ilfracombe and the Old Heathcoat School Community Centre in Tiverton.

What are Youth and Adult Employment Hubs?
The Youth and Adult Employment Hubs provide one-to-one skills and employment support to individuals aged 16 and over who need help to enter work and prepare for the future. The service is joint funded by Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Mid Devon District Council and North Devon Council, largely through the Government UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Hubs have a 'one front door' approach, providing a fixed location where different partners, County Council services, community projects, employer and business support can interact with local communities.

The aim of every Hub is to act as a local resource where those who are seeking support, employment or training can access information and guidance. All Hubs will help those who face barriers to work due to disability, health condition or other reasons.

The Hubs are open to the public, both online and in-person (Barnstaple, Cullompton, Exeter, Honiton, Ilfracombe and Tiverton).

Hubs can also support employers and businesses, working to help organisations meet their skills and workforce goals through a variety of programmes that are available to develop organisational and employee skills.

What support is available?
Each Hub is staffed by advisers who can offer one-to-one guidance to those in need of help. They provide an informal environment to support the journey into employment and further education.

The team provides a triage service, directing people to the most appropriate route and where appropriate act as caseload officers, continuing to support the individual until they achieve their goals. The Hubs offer a range of services, such as:

• Career guidance and advice
• CV and interview skills
• Training and qualifications
• Work experience and volunteering opportunities
• Apprenticeships and traineeships
• Supported employment
• Employer and business support

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills, said: “It’s excellent news that our network of Employment Hubs is growing and more communities will be able to benefit from the services they offer. Each Hub will act as a central place of support, especially for those in harder to reach communities.”

District Councils involved are fully supportive of the hubs in their area, providing funding and local information to ensure each service is linked into available community support.

Leader of North Devon Council, Councillor David Clayton, said: “We are delighted to see the expansion of the Employment Hub network into Ilfracombe, providing support to our residents who are looking for employment and training opportunities in addition to the hub in Barnstaple. We are committed to working with Devon County Council and other partners to ensure everyone in the community has the chance to develop and learn new skills.”

Councillor Paul Hayward, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy and Assets, said: “In our UKSPF Investment Plan, we made a firm commitment to strengthen local employment and skills provision to grow the local economy. I’m delighted to see our plans are now being realised. If you’re an East Devon resident wanting to know more about local employment options, retraining or getting back to work, I urge you to access this free one to one support.”

Exeter City Council Leader Phil Bialyk said: “The Exeter Hub is a lifeline for anyone who needs help finding employment, careers advice, training or volunteer opportunities. The Hub is an invaluable asset for Exeter and it’s wonderful to have so much knowledge and expertise right on your doorstep.”

For more information about the Hubs, visit: www.devon.cc/skills or email: employmenthub@devon.gov.uk