Programme funders
We have multiple funding streams that allow us to deliver our projects.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government's Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
More information: UK Shared Prosperity Fund: prospectus
Employment Kirklees
Employment Kirklees can support Kirklees Residents to break down any barriers they may face when moving into employment, progressing within their career and developing their required skillset. Residents can access bespoke support, tailored specifically to their needs and future aspirations. Whether they need help developing their CV, practising interview techniques or would like support in building confidence to secure that dream job, we can help.
We can also offer information and guidance to employed residents who are looking to improve their job status, helping them to assess future career plans, supporting them in identifying qualifications, sourcing better work opportunities, helping to find their next job role or career challenge and ensuring they have the skills needed to develop and thrive.
This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Project Empowerment
Some of our Kirklees residents are far from the labour market and have health challenges, and this programme aims to support them in moving towards employability support.
The target audience are unemployed and inactive residents who are need of support with breaking through barriers to mainstream employability support, helping them to addressing health issues, build confidence for work, search for jobs and develop their skills (life skills and moving toward education and training).
This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Local Supported Employment
LSE is aimed at helping adults with learning disabilities, autism or both into employment and providing the support they need to maintain that employment ('Supported').
The long-term ambition for DWP is to provide evidence to LAs of the value of Supported Employment.
This project is funded by The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP provided grant funding for 24 local authorities in England and Wales to deliver the Local Supported Employment (LSE) Initiative totalling £7.6m.
Multiply
Multiply is the free, government funded, adult maths support programme and aims to boost people's ability to use maths in their daily life, at home and work.
People can get support with improving household finances, helping children with homework, making more sense of the facts in the media, or improving numeracy skills for a specific line of work. All adults (19 years and over) who need to improve their numeracy (up to and including level 2 or equivalent) will be able to access free flexible courses. These courses have been designed to be fun, engaging and most importantly to build your confidence with maths.
This project is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Digital Hubs
Our digital hubs are based in local community venues and offer a range of support to help you on your digital inclusion journey. They have free courses or community cafes available which will help to improve your digital skills and our hubs and libraries can also offer the loan of a Chromebook device to those who may be digitally excluded.
This project is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Participation in the Arts and Creative Economy (PACE)
PACE provides an opportunity for people to develop their creative talents, provide more supported pathways into creative careers, build on success and create entrepreneurship.
Participants will learn about the many roles and opportunities available to them, learn sector-specific skills and gain experience that could lead to work, complete volunteering or further learning opportunities. They will also be able to access information and advice on self-employment and setting up their own business.
This project is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) - New to English
Kirklees Employment and Skills Service offer the ESOL New to English project which includes short unaccredited courses in ESOL, community cafes or meet/try/learn activities to help people to learn English. We know that learning English can help people to participate in their communities and reduce isolation, as well as boost employment opportunities. Our provision can be first step with the aim of progressing learners to accredited provision with wider partners in Kirklees.
This project is fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Adult and community learning
Adult Learning Kirklees offers first step, short, mainly unaccredited provision to Kirklees' residents aged 19+ who have been a resident in the UK for 3 years or more, targeting those who are unemployed, below level 2 or those who have a significant barrier to learning. A variety of courses are offered throughout Kirklees and delivered by our trusted partners in local venues. We offer many courses which may help to boost confidence and wellbeing, increase your digital skills, help with employability skills or volunteering or with your English, maths or ESOL needs.
This programme is funded through the devolved Adult Education Budget for West Yorkshire. The Mayor of West Yorkshire and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are investing £65 million a year to improve skills across West Yorkshire - particularly among those who need it most.
Skills Bootcamps
Skills bootcamps are short training courses for adults aged 19 and over, that takes up to 16 weeks to complete. Designed to equip learners with the knowledge, practical experience and employability skills necessary to secure roles in high demand. They help you develop new skills that employers are looking for and are great opportunity to train in a new industry or progress in your current career.
Skills Bootcamps are part of the UK Government's Lifetime Skills Guarantee initiative, aimed at helping individuals gain the skills needed for high-demand jobs and supporting the economic recovery.
