Strong partnerships and employer-led training have helped ten local residents secure employment with the new Marks & Spencer Foodhall in Godalming.
The successful recruitment programme was delivered through a collaboration between Functional Skills UK, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Marks & Spencer, helping jobseekers develop skills, gain workplace experience and progress into employment.
Responding Quickly to Employer Need
With the new M&S Foodhall due to open in June, the partnership worked at pace to design and deliver a tailored Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP) that met the recruitment needs of the store.
Led by Kyle Young, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Functional Skills UK, regular planning meetings took place with DWP colleagues and the M&S management team to ensure the programme could be mobilised quickly and provide local people with genuine employment opportunities.
The strong collaboration between all partners helped create a clear pathway from training into work.
Preparing Learners for the Hospitality Sector
Following three group information sessions, 28 customers initially signed up for the programme.
Learners completed a bespoke Hospitality Skills Passport SWAP delivered by Functional Skills UK, which included:
- Level 2 Customer Service and Hospitality training
- Food Safety qualifications
- Employability and interview preparation
- Team building and confidence development
- Industry knowledge linked to retail and food service environments
- UKHospitality Skills Passport content
The programme helped learners develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to work within a busy customer-focused environment while also building confidence and creating a supportive learning community.
As the programme progressed, 18 learners completed the training element and moved forward to the next stage.
From Training to Real Work Experience
All 18 learners attended an experience day with Marks & Spencer, providing valuable insight into the business, expectations of the role and the culture of the organisation.
Following this, every learner was offered an interview and 11 individuals progressed onto a two-week work experience placement.
At the end of the placement period, one learner chose to withdraw, leaving ten participants who completed the programme.
Celebrating Success
At a celebration event held at the Guildford store, all ten remaining learners were offered employment with Marks & Spencer.
The successful group included:
- Two learners aged 18-19
- Seven further learners aged under 25
- One learner aged 40
Nine of the ten successful candidates were aged between 18 and 24, demonstrating the impact that targeted support and employer partnerships can have for young people entering the workplace.
More Than Just a Job
While gaining employment was a fantastic outcome, learners also spoke positively about the friendships and support networks they had built throughout the programme.
Many learners celebrated together after receiving their job offers and exchanged contact details to stay connected.
For many people, employment provides much more than financial security. It offers confidence, routine, purpose and valuable social connections.
A Message from Kyle Young, Strategic Partnerships Manager
“This programme showed what can be achieved when employers, DWP and training providers work closely together with a shared goal.
The speed at which the partnership came together, combined with the commitment shown by learners, created some fantastic outcomes. Seeing ten people leave with job offers and new friendships was a real highlight for everyone involved.”
Kyle Young, Strategic Partnerships Manager
Working Together to Transform Lives
Functional Skills UK would like to thank the teams at Marks & Spencer and the Department for Work and Pensions for their support throughout the programme.
Together, we are helping local people develop skills, gain confidence and progress into sustainable employment.
Because at Functional Skills UK, we believe learning should lead to opportunity.