SWAP Success

Northern College launched a partnership in collaboration with Calderdale College and Job Centre Plus to recruit students into roles within SEND.

Calderdale College had a range of Learning Support Assistant vacancies and approached Northern to train a group of students to be interview ready and to fill the SEND vacancies within its Inclusive Learning department. 

A total of 14 students from Northern College completed a Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) at Calderdale College in Halifax, with a remarkable 11 individuals gaining permanent employment at the college and one securing a role within the Civil Service.

The students undertook an intensive two-week course covering many aspects of education, including safeguarding, EDI and ASD.

Mandy Charlton, Inclusive Learning Manager at Calderdale College, said:

“The partnership working between the two colleges and the job centre was extremely successful and the calibre of candidates was excellent. The intense training programme worked really well and the students had the opportunity to meet me and my team during the process, which helped prepare them for roles and responsibilities for working in a further education college.

“I would recommend this type of collaborative working to any other college looking to fill job vacancies.”

Steph Eyre, Curriculum Manager – Northern College: “It was a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with a Further Education college and utilise the knowledge, skills and experience of our staff which has led to positive outcomes and further career development opportunities for the local community within Calderdale.” 

About SWAPS at Northern College

Sector-Based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) helps people who are receiving unemployment benefits prepare for and find jobs in different industries.  

For jobseekers, SWAP offers training and work experience in specific fields, making them more qualified for jobs in those industries. It helps them shift careers and improve their chances of landing a job. 

Employers benefit too. They get access to a pool of potential employees who are trained and ready to work in their sector. This helps them fill job openings quickly and ensures they have skilled workers for the long term. 

So, if you’re on unemployment benefits and want to switch careers, or if you’re a business looking for skilled workers, SWAP might be the solution for you. 

To discuss further contact referrals@northern.ac.uk