Have-a-go hub at the Ladder Skills Academy

The Ladder Skills Academy provides a one-stop shop for skills and training, offering groups of young people aged between 16 to 29 the chance to try out career routes and find out more.

We are working to raise aspirations, offering independent and appropriate information and guidance to develop the next generation of skilled workers, leaders and entrepreneurs.

Ladder Skills Academy

Schools are offered the opportunity to bring groups of students from Year 11 upwards to undertake have-a-go sessions outside the traditional academic setting, promoting all career pathways and giving practical experience of the opportunities open to them.

The have-a-go hub provides young people with the opportunity to experience a working environment and the jobs carried out in a wide range of sectors before they decide on their future career.

Ladder Skills Academy have-a-go hub

Ladder Skills Academy visitors can gain hands-on experience within their chosen field.

Find out more about the range of opportunities on offer.

Oral health care

Hospitality

Retail

Early years

Engineering and manufacturing

Business and professional 

Construction

IT and digital

Hair and beauty

Oral health care

If you are interested in a career in dentistry, have a go at the Academy hub. There are a range of apprenticeships available, including dental nurse (integrated) (level 3), which will train you in assisting dental health professionals, providing chair side support and a high level of patient care. Other apprenticeships include enhanced clinical practitioner (level 6) which help learners develop the skills to provide a high standard of health care.

Ladder Skills Academy
Ladder Skills Academy

Hospitality

Areas have been set up to replicate a hospitality workplace including a fully working kitchen so those interested can learn how to serve, use a barista coffee machine, practice customer service and dress a table. The apprenticeships include hospitality team member (level 2), which trains holders on carrying out a range of general roles within hospitality businesses, including bars, cafes, conference centres, restaurants and hotels. Holders of hospitality manager (level 4) are trained to focus on excellent customer experience.

Retail

The hub area helps people taste the training needed to work in retail organisations such as department stores, garden centres, high street chains, supermarkets and online and mail order businesses. Retailer (level 2) apprentices can work as in roles including cashier, retail assistant and shopkeeper. Holders of retail leadership (integrated degree) (level 6) can act as a brand ambassador to lead a team of retail-based employees, to deliver sales and profit targets.

Hiring an Apprentice
Ladder Skills Academy

Early Years Care

If a career working with children appeals to you, you can find out more at our have a go hub. With an early years practitioner (level 2) apprenticeship, you will be qualified to work and interact directly with children on a day to day basis supporting the planning of and delivery of activities. At a higher level, holders of early years lead practitioner (level 5) are able to work directly with children, skilfully leading day to day practice.

Engineering and manufacturing

A career in engineering is open to anyone who wants to take up an apprenticeship so the hub is here to give you a taste of the work routes ahead if you decide to proceed. You may be looking at an engineering operative (level 2) apprenticeship, which involves carrying out a range of engineering operations. There are a range of level 2, 3 and 4 apprenticeships open. You may even progress up to building services engineering site management (degree) (level 6).

Ladder Skills Academy
Ladder Skills Academy

Business and Professional Services

Our hub area can help you understand the varied business and professional services apprenticeship roles out there for you. Business administrator (level 3) apprentices learn about supporting and engaging with different parts of the organisation and interact with internal or external customers. At the higher end, business to business sales professional (integrated degree) (level 6) apprenticeships enable learners to develop the skills to sell products and services to other businesses.

Construction

Construction offers opportunities for apprenticeships to provide entry to the industry, as well as upskilling and career development. Level 2 apprenticeships include construction plant operative, construction assembly and installation operative and construction equipment maintenance mechanic. Higher level apprenticeships include building control surveyor (integrated degree) (level 6) and construction quantity surveyor (degree) (level 6).

Ladder Skills Academy
Ladder Skills Academy

Hair & beauty

If a career in hair and beauty appeals to you, visit the have a go hub to find out about the wide range of  apprenticeships. A beauty and make up consultant (level 2) apprenticeships gives you the skills for selling beauty products, while a hair professional (level 2) gives you the skills for working as a barber or hairdresser to provide hair cutting, styling and grooming services. Level 3 apprenticeships  hone these skills, giving you advanced training to develop your career.

IT and digital

There are a wealth of IT and digital apprenticeship training opportunities available, taking in sectors such as IT development through to gaming. By visiting the have a go hub, visitors can find out more about the possibilities in this fast growing sector. With apprenticeships ranging from cyber security technician level 3 to artificial intelligence (AI) data specialist level 7, plus everything in betweem, there has never been a better time to start out.

Ladder Skills Academy
Ladder Skills Academy
Lorraine Gregory, director of CECA
Spar
Skills Academy

Our impact

“The Ladder Skills Academy will form part of the Ladder legacy in Birmingham, working with over 70 partners including independent training providers, colleges, universities and employers.”

Kevin Davis

Chairman, Ladder Foundation

“We link up employers, training providers and candidates to allow learners to sample paths to upskilling and employment.”

Justine Johnson

Ladder Manager, Ladder for Greater Birmingham

“The Ladder for Greater Birmingham has been a key to the delivery of GBSLEP’s strategy to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”

Henriette Breukelaar

Chief Executive, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership

“By visiting the Academy, you can sample some of the options available to prepare to step into a career, change career path or enhance career progression.”

Rob Colbourne

Ladder Foundation

have a go areas

visitor spaces

Partners

Academy Opened

Skills Academy partners

 

The project has been funded by Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) through its £3m Recycled Growing Places Fund.

Contact the Ladder Skills Academy

Get in touch to find out more

01217262111

Millennium Point, Curzon St, Birmingham, B4 7XG

Working to upskill the region
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