Opportunity Sheffield

Opportunity Sheffield is the employment and skills service within Sheffield City Council.
Group of people at a stall with purple Opportunity Sheffield branding

We help out-of-work South Yorkshire residents to find and stay in employment. We also  work with employers to identify, recruit and retain employees and build a stronger team.

Our work with local and regional partners identifies gaps in employment and skills services and aims to fill them.

Our support offer

Finding a job or apprenticeship

If you’re out of work and seeking a job or apprenticeship in Sheffield, we can offer information, advice and guidance, as well as practical support to help you prepare for the workplace.

We commission specialist employment support projects to help those facing challenges such as:

  • long-term economic inactivity or unemployment
  • poor physical or mental health
  • learning difficulties and Autism
  • language and/or cultural barriers
  • refugee status
  • criminal records
  • a lack of accommodation
  • care or childcare responsibilities
  • experience of living in local authority care
  • a lack of qualifications or work experience

Training for employment

We deliver employability and sector-specific training courses to help people who are out of work to prepare for employment.

Opportunity Sheffield training courses include:

  • construction skills
  • youth employment and skills (16 to 24 years)
  • adult employment and skills (18 years and over)
  • rail track maintenance

Our short, intensive training courses include initial classroom study. This is where you’ll gain the skills and qualifications needed to get into work and active in the workplace.

Career progression and training

If you’re in work and aiming to progress further or change your career, we can help you upskill or reskill.

Our business development officers can:

  • identify relevant courses
  • identify qualifications
  • secure funding to support your learning
  • support professional development

We can also advise on accredited and non-accredited training, along with other opportunities to advance in the workplace.

If you're thinking about advancing in work or switching careers, we can offer information, advice and guidance on a range of industry sectors and potential job opportunities.

We can also help sharpen up your skills in areas such as job searching, CV writing and interviewing to increase your chances of landing your desired job.

Building a stronger workforce

If you’re a local employer, we can assist with both staff training and recruitment.

Our business development officers can do a training needs analysis of your organisation and use this to create a workforce development plan for you.

We can also navigate the skills programmes, funding and grant schemes that exist and suggest upskilling, reskilling and professional development opportunities.

If you’re looking to hire, we can connect you with a large pool of jobseekers across the city.

If you want to give back to your community as part of your corporate social responsibilities, we can support you in:

  • recruiting an apprentice
  • offering work experience
  • volunteering placements
  • engaging with local schools

Careers support in schools

We work with schools across Sheffield to inform pupils about post-16 and post-18 opportunities, such as:

  • apprenticeships
  • T-Levels
  • traineeships
  • entry into the world of work

Each year, our Apprenticeships: Be Inspired Careers Fair connects around 1,000 young people who are considering an apprenticeship with up to 100 employers. We allow them to meet in person to discuss industry options, career paths and upcoming vacancies.

We co-ordinate work experience placements for many local schools, including traditional work experience and project-based employer interactions. These placements ensure young people have the chance to develop employability skills in the workplace.

Green skills and sustainability

Many job roles and responsibilities are changing as businesses consider their impact on the environment. This is making green skills increasingly important in the workplace.

We can help introduce you to the training needed to reskill your workforce, both to futureproof jobs and career paths, as well as to meet the ever-increasing demand for specialist skills. This can ensure profitability and sustainability within a low-carbon economy.

We are creating opportunities for local people to gain core skills in emerging sectors and innovative technologies by working in partnership with local industries, educators and the training sector.

Contact us

Email: opportunity@sheffield.gov.uk

Tel: 0114 229 6188