The Workforce Development Trust publishes annual impact report
The Workforce Development Trust has published its annual impact report covering the year to 30th September 2023.
The report demonstrates that the charity, which is the parent organisation of Skills for Health, Skills for Justice, SFJ Awards and People 1st International has delivered specialist, targeted skills interventions to support a variety of frontline public services.
Throughout the year, the Trust’s group of companies enabled 138,000 individuals to improve their skills, including tens of thousands working for the NHS.
In the same period, The Workforce Development Trust played an important role in helping to expand the public sector workforce in key areas, with 850 new probation officers, 700-plus emergency services staff and 600 custody and detention workers having joined their respective services.
This year, the group spearheaded plans to deliver an additional 1,000 new apprenticeships in the NHS each and every year, as well as developing the Peer Worker apprenticeship, which will help those who have experienced health or social problems to move forward into employment by providing peer support and trauma-informed care.
Adding to these accomplishments, the Trust successfully completed Apprenticeship End Point Assessments for 448 firefighters, 87 police community support officers, 126 emergency service contact handlers, and 596 custody and detention staff. This ensures that individuals in challenging roles are well-equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and behaviours crucial for delivering frontline services vital to public safety.
In a commitment to diversity and empowerment, the Trust partnered with Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Women of Colour in Policing (WoCiP) to develop a talent management programme. In 2023, the program trained 55 women, resulting in six promotions and four individuals reversing decisions to leave law enforcement. This initiative represents a significant stride in elevating women from diverse ethnic backgrounds within policing.
Expanding its impact globally, the organisation collaborated with governments in Latin America and the Caribbean to empower disadvantaged youth and women.
John Rogers, Chief Executive of The Workforce Development Trust, comments:
“We are proud to be working alongside organisations to help them navigate the rapidly changing landscape, co-creating transformational solutions to build a skilled, resilient and sustainable workforce. Our impact report provides a glimpse into the many ways that we have supported the skills development of individuals and teams across a broad range of sectors, both in the UK and internationally over the past year.
“Our success demonstrates the tremendous range of experience and capabilities of our team who work with integrity, passion and purpose, aligned to our values and charitable aims.
“Through our brands under the Workforce Development Trust, we have a deep history of supporting employers to improve skills and enhance jobs. I am very proud of what we’ve collectively achieved this year and the role we have played in influencing and increasing the effectiveness of workforce development practices and learning strategies”
