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Employability

It can feel pretty tough to find good work, education or training these days. Maybe you don’t know what you want, or you don’t know where to get started. You might have barriers getting in your way, such as transport or mental health.

That’s why Sheffield Futures offers employment guidance – not instructions, because your employment journey is your own. We’re here to help you discover the options available to you and take steps together to get you on the path you want to be on.

Find out more
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Referrals are currently closed while we deliver the Summer Jobs Programme.

For further updates on Employability, keep an eye on our social media.

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We deliver various programmes throughout the year focused on supporting local young people to find good work, education or training. Check out our current programmes to see what’s right for you.

In every programme, you’ll work with a dedicated Employment Coach, who will spend time getting to know you and understanding your situation and your hopes for the future.

Current programmes:

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How does it work?

Find out more

Our Employability Team

  • A woman with short brown hair, glasses, and a fair complexion smiling, wearing a light blue turtleneck sweater with a blue patterned yoke, standing against a plain light gray background.

    Charmaine Myers

    Service Coordinator

  • A woman with long blonde hair smiling at the camera, wearing a black top, standing against a plain, light-colored background.

    Jane Dyson

    Project Coach

  • A woman with blonde hair smiling, wearing a beige shirt with leopard print detail and a blue zip-up hoodie, standing outdoors against a brick wall.

    Gemma Nally

    Project Coach

  • Blue circular icon featuring a light blue star with white outline and reading lines indicating shining or highlighting.

    Chelsea Wilkins

    Project Coach

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I’m a young person looking for careers advice. Is that something you offer?

Yes! The first step is to check with your Careers Lead or Head of Year to see if Sheffield Futures already work in your school.

If that’s the case, ask them to arrange an appointment or let you know about any upcoming drop-in sessions we’re running.

You can find out more on our Careers page.

Go to Careers
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Real people, real stories

Featured
Wellbeing, Counselling, Employability
Harry’s Story
Wellbeing, Counselling, Employability

Harry entered the Feel Well, Work Well programme through a Job Fair held by the local Job Centre. He was unemployed, having finished his degree the year before but since struggled to find the motivation to look for work. At the time of our first meeting, Harry was also being supported by Door43 with some telephone support sessions as he was experiencing anxiety and low mood.

Read More →
Wellbeing, Counselling, Employability
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Ruby’s Story
Wellbeing, Employability, Careers

When Ruby came into the Ambitions project, she told us she lacked motivation. She’d been out of work and education for a while and had lost any sense of structure or routine to her day. She hoped that getting back into some form of education or training would provide her with this structure, and that this in turn would help with her mental health.

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Employability, Careers
Lloyd’s Story
Employability, Careers

Lloyd was a Y11 student facing Post-16 options, a situation hundreds of students are currently experiencing across the city. It’s a daunting time when the world suddenly starts opening up in front of you, especially if you don’t know which path to follow.

Read More →
Employability, Careers
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Joseph’s Story
Employability, Wellbeing, Careers

Joseph was in foster care when he joined Project Apollo. He was isolated, suffered with anxiety and had been diagnosed with Autism. Together, we explored ideas and visited training providers until we found one where he felt comfortable.

Read More →
Employability, Wellbeing, Careers
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Positive mental health is key to seeking, starting and maintaining employment.

That’s why wellbeing is an integral part of our employment work, and why we link to and from our mental health and wellbeing service, Door 43.

Find out more
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Find out more
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Summer Jobs Programme

Our Summer Jobs Programme is a six-week paid initiative taking place over this Summer, for young people aged 16-20.

  • The Summer Jobs Programme is a six-week initiative for young people aged 16-20 at risk of violence, helping them gain skills, confidence, and a brighter future. It includes a one-week pre-employment training for the young people, followed by a five-week paid work placement.

    The programme is part of a study to help us understand if young people benefit from this programme, and whether it’s a good idea to offer it to even more young people in the UK. The information we collect helps government and organisations supporting young people make decisions that can improve life for you and other young people.

  • Referrals for the Summer Jobs Programme 2025 are now closed.

    To qualify for the programme, young people must have met the eligibility criteria.

    This year, the programme is also running as a Randomised Control Trial (RCT). This means that if they registered following referral, young people will be randomised into either a control group of the intervention group, with a 50% chance of a summer job. 

    However, a referral does not guarantee a place on the programme and not everyone who is referred will be registered to the programme.

  • The Summer Jobs Programme aims to build evidence on the best ways to support the most vulnerable young people in our country by keeping them safe and improving their future involvement in education, training, and employment.

    The programme successfully engaged 500 young people in 2024, and this year the programme is expanding with the inclusion of a Randomised Control Trial (RCT).

    • Young people have a 50% chance of paid work experience (as long as there are placements available). A computer programme with randomly place them into one of two groups:    

    • Group 1: This group of young people will receive a placement with Summer Jobs    

    • Group 2: This group of young people will not receive a placement with Summer Jobs.  If you are placed in this group, Sheffield Futures will continue to support you on your journey through our regular employability offer.

    For more information, visit UK Youth’s website.

  • The full list of criteria can be found here.

    To be accepted onto the programme, the young person must meet all of the criteria in Column 1 and at least 1 of the criteria in Column 2.