Strong partnership working between Functional Skills UK, Aramark and the Department for Work and Pensions has helped ten local residents secure employment opportunities linked to Thorpe Park.
The Sector-based Work Academy Programme (SWAP), delivered in March with support from Staines Jobcentre, was designed specifically to meet the recruitment needs of Aramark, who provide hospitality and catering services at Thorpe Park.
Responding Quickly to Employer Demand
Working closely together, Functional Skills UK and Aramark designed a bespoke programme that aligned directly with the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for customer service roles within the busy visitor attraction.
The flexibility of the SWAP model allowed all partners to respond quickly to employer demand while creating valuable opportunities for local jobseekers.
A Programme Designed Around Employment
Fifteen learners joined the programme following referrals from Staines Jobcentre.
The training programme was jointly designed by Functional Skills UK and Aramark to ensure learners developed the skills needed to succeed within customer-facing hospitality environments.
The programme included:
- Customer service training
- Food Safety qualifications
- Employability skills
- Interview preparation
- Confidence building and teamwork activities
- Industry knowledge linked to hospitality and visitor attractions
Additional qualifications and added-value activities helped learners build confidence and prepare for work.
Excellent Outcomes for Learners
All fifteen learners completed the training programme and were offered interviews with Aramark.
Following the recruitment process, ten learners successfully secured employment opportunities linked to Thorpe Park.
The programme demonstrated how employer-led training can create clear pathways into sustainable employment.
Partnership Working Making a Difference
The success of the programme was praised by Amar, DWP Manager at Staines Jobcentre, who highlighted the strength of the partnership between all three organisations.
Amar commented that opportunities like this had not always been available in the past and praised the ability of partners to work together quickly to support both employers and local customers.
The success of the programme demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when employers, Jobcentres and training providers share a common goal.
A Message from Kyle Young, Strategic Partnerships Manager
“The Thorpe Park programme highlighted the value of strong partnerships and the importance of creating clear routes into employment.
Working alongside Aramark and DWP allowed us to respond quickly to employer demand while supporting learners to gain the skills and confidence needed to succeed.
The SWAP model continues to deliver fantastic outcomes and we look forward to creating many more opportunities for learners and employers in the future.”
Kyle Young, Strategic Partnerships Manager
Looking Ahead
At Functional Skills UK, we believe that strong partnerships create stronger outcomes.
The success of the Thorpe Park programme is another example of how collaboration between employers, DWP and training providers can transform lives through learning and help individuals progress into meaningful employment.
As demand from employers continues to grow, we look forward to delivering many more successful SWAP programmes across the South East.