New Opportunities Hubs will help South Somerset residents’ access free support to find work
Released On 14th Feb 2022
South Somerset District Council has opened three dedicated employment and skills hubs that offer free tailored support to all South Somerset residents aged 16+. Known as ‘Opportunities Hubs’ they are based in Chard and Yeovil Library and Wincanton Balsam Centre,
The coordination, delivery, and continued development of the new Opportunities Hubs is being delivered by Abri, one of the south of England’s largest housing providers. Abri’s employment service are sharing their expertise to develop staff, volunteers, tools and systems at the hubs to provide a creative, flexible and resilient employment support and service.
Where are the new Opportunities Hubs and when are they open?
- Chard Library Holyrood St, Chard TA20 2YA
- Wincanton Balsam Centre Balsam Park, Wincanton BA9 9HB
- Yeovil Library King George Street, Yeovil BA20 1PY
Check out the Opportunities Hub website for opening hours here.
Who can use the new Opportunities Hubs?
The hubs are open to ALL South Somerset residents 16+. This includes:
- People who are currently unemployed and looking for work
- People who are looking to upskill or retrain
- People who want to change jobs
What will the new Opportunities Hubs offer:
FREE Qualified employment advice to discuss your options
Work on your CV and help to apply for local jobs
Meet local businesses who are hiring
Receive mentoring support
Develop an action plan to get you into work
Find out more:
For more information or to make an appointment with an advisor pop into one of the Opportunities Hubs or visit the new website www.opportunitieshubsouthsomerset.com/. The brand new website also promotes and exhibits opportunities and take the next step to advance your career, whether you are looking for a new job, training opportunities or want to improve your existing skills.
Talking about the new hubs, Councillor John Clark, SSDC Portfolio Holder for Economic Development including Commercial Strategy said, “The opening of the hubs reflect the importance that your District Council places on skills and employment. It is vital that we upskill to increase wages for our community and productivity for our businesses, and the hubs provide an important step.”
Debra Scarratt, Head of Employment and Education at Abri, said, “We know that securing training opportunities or sustained employment is more than just skills and experience. We want to create a community, working with our partners and other agencies, to not only offer support but also bring residents together. That is why we will also have learning opportunities and training to help people develop financial independence and encourage good health and wellbeing. It’s what our Community Strategy, and five-year £15m investment is all about - creating thriving communities and empowering people.”
Councillor David Hall, Somerset County Council’s cabinet member responsible for libraries, said: “We are delighted to host the Employment Hubs in two of our libraries, which always provide supportive and safe spaces for anyone to access. The Hubs complement our popular iPad loaning scheme for jobseekers, as well as free Wi-Fi, bookable library computers and of course, our excellent range of books to support people looking for employment or setting up a new business. I would encourage people to visit their local libraries and speak to staff, who will always be happy to help them access any of our services”
