Get help with your job search in youth friendly Somerset West and Taunton

Somerset West & Taunton Community Employment Hubs

The Employment Hubs are a free employment support service covering Taunton, West Somerset and Wellington.

They can help you with:

• Guidance on opportunities for learning, training and work
• Confidence building to return to work
• Help with job applications, covering letters, CVs and interview skills
• Funding to access employment and learning opportunities (e.g transport, PPE and books)
• Referral for further support including IT, Citizens Advice, apprenticeship advice, Citizens Advice and positive mental health
• Links to volunteer work
• Identify any other barriers that stop you from progressing
• Regular one to one support for as long as you need it

Local Employment & Learning Fund

The Access to Employment and Learning Fund has been developed to help address barriers that prevent local residents from accessing employment and learning opportunities.

The support is open to people living in the Somerset West and Taunton District and has been provided as part of the Department for Education’s Opportunity Area funding.

You can apply to get help with things like:

• Transport – to assist with getting to an employment or learning opportunity
• Essential work equipment and work wear – ie Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or interview outfit
• Childcare costs (where these are not covered by existing government initiatives)
• Costs of training or learning

The National Careers Service

The National Careers Service can provide advice and guidance to all people aged 18 and over

Skill Up Somerset

Skill Up Somerset is great for young people who are looking for jobs.

You’ll find support with boosting your skills – like online courses you can go on. You’ll also find great info about traineeships and events like virtual careers fairs.

Skill Up Somerset also has its own jobs board for apprenticeships. You could find a local opportunity that’s perfect for you. With an apprenticeships, you’ll get paid AS WELL AS studying towards an industry-recognised qualification.

Jobcentre Plus

Jobcentre Plus can do a lot more for young people than you might think. As well as look for opportunities, you can upload your profile and CV to their own jobs board to have those jobs come to you. You can use Jobcentre Plus to find work experience, traineeships, apprenticeships, graduate schemes and all kinds of early careers. They can also help if you want to start up your own business. With quite a few options available, it’s worth speaking to your careers coach there.