EBC's National Open College Network accredited learning with WNF

EBC is now delivering its latest project for adults - Essential Steps to Employability - thanks to funding from Sunderland City Council's Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF).  It is one of the many activities being run across the city under the Just the Job initiative - designed to get people back into work.

One of the programmes being delivered through Essential Steps to Employability offers a vaste suite of accredited learning opportunities through the National Open College Network at levels to meet every participants' needs.

NOCN (National Open College Network)

Skills Towards Enabling Progression (Step-Up) Qualifications

The suite of Step Up qualifications offered through the National Open College Network (NOCN) is devised to progress learners into further learning or employment.

The use of the units allows EBC to create individualised learning programmes tailored to participants needs whilst enabling learners to achieve or work towards a national qualification and improve their opportunities for progression.  The qualifications are particularly designed to:

The benefits of this suite of qualifications to the targeted beneficiaries are that they offer the greatest flexibility for learners, enabling them to achieve the size and level of qualification most suitable to their needs and relevant to their stage of learning.  In particular:

There is a large range of units on offer in this suite of qualifications, from which appropriate units can be selected to make up a qualification.  These include:

• Time management in the workplace
• Introduction to using the internet
• Operating a computer
• Spreadsheet software
• presentation software
• Building a personal career portfolio
• Group work
• Making choices
• Developing a personal learning programme
• Skills for employability

Each cohort will be able to select those units that best fit with their skills and aptitudes. As the work towards securing a qualifications draws to a close Education Business Connections Limited will liaise with the core Working Neighbourhoods Fund employment service providers such as Job Linkage, who will be invited along to meet up with beneficiaries and discuss with them their next steps.

OCN Accredited learning in pictures

You can see members of North East Disability Resource Centre at work on their OCN qualfications by viewing their photo album

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Partnerships in Action

EBC is working with a number of key partners to make sure we offer the activities being delivered under Essential Steps to Employability to those most at need of our support and help. 

These include:

• Stonham Housing - The UK's largest provider of supported accommodation for social excluded and vulnerable people and their families.  
• North East Disability Resource Centre - A specialist provider of day care support for adults with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities.
• Riverside Consulting CiC - An organisation that works with ex-offenders to support them back into the labour market, education or trainig through its links with public and voluntary sector organisations.
• The Salvation Army - An international faith based organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and social injustice.
• South Hylton Tansy Centre - Since it opened for business in 2008 it has become a magnet for courses and programmes designed to meet the need of those at risk of social exclusion.
• NECA - North East Council on Addictions - which delivers effective interventions on drugs, alcohol, mental health, gambling to adults and young people.
• NERAF - North East Regional Alcohol Forum - an independent peer support charity established to provide long term aftercare and support to those affected by alcohol misuse.
• Norcare - which provides a range of support services and accommodation for people aged 16 and over who are currently socially and economically excluded.

The essential skills for employability

Essential Steps to Employabilty offers a number of innovative, practical and interactive programmes and activities designed to build up key employability skills needed by everyone - whether they are in work, looking for work or just taking their next steps to finding work. 

These skills are recognised by both leading employer groups and the Learning and Skills Council as essential for anyone either wanting to enter the workplace or already employed.  They include:

• Punctuality
• Respecting others and valuing their contributions
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Adaptability and willingness to learn new skills
• Team work and ability to ask for help when needed
• Creative thinking and problem solving
• Ability to take responsibility and to show initiative

To get an overview of all our work with adults click here

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Phone: (0191) 516 6411  Fax: (0191) 516 6412.

Email: info@ebcltd.org.uk  Alternative email: educationbusiness@hotmail.com