Youth Progression Coach

Key Responsibilities

• Group Learning Delivery: Design and facilitate engaging, interactive group sessions that build practical life, workplace and employability skills, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, resilience, digital skills and workplace behaviours.
• One-to-One Support: Provide tailored one-to-one coaching and guidance, helping young people understand their strengths, identify goals, overcome barriers and develop realistic progression plans.
• Youth Employability: Support young people to understand the world of work, develop confidence and workplace readiness, and build the skills and behaviours needed to secure and sustain employment.
• Job Search & Career Skills: Deliver learning around CVs, applications, job search, interview preparation, transferable skills and understanding employer expectations.
• Sector Tasters: Work closely with Employer Partnership Managers to prepare participants for employer-led sector tasters, helping young people explore different industries, job roles and career pathways through meaningful exposure to local employers.
• Employer Collaboration: Work alongside Employer Partnership Managers and employers to ensure learning reflects current local labour market needs and provides participants with relevant insight into workplace expectations and opportunities.
• Wellbeing & Caring Responsibilities: Deliver appropriate wellbeing interventions and practical support for participants whose progression may be affected by childcare or caring responsibilities, confidence, wellbeing or other personal circumstances.
• Local Support & Referrals: Identify additional learning, skills, wellbeing and support needs and work with Employer Partnership Managers to connect participants with appropriate local services, community organisations, learning providers and specialist support.
• Participant Progression: Monitor engagement and progress, provide feedback and adapt learning or support to ensure each participant receives the right intervention at the right time.
• Collaboration: Work collaboratively with Employer Partnership Managers, colleagues, employers, Jobcentre Plus, training providers, community organisations and other partners to provide holistic, person-centred support.
• Resources: Develop and maintain engaging learning materials, guides, handouts and other resources that support young people’s personal development, employability and progression.
• Records & Outcomes: Maintain accurate records of participant engagement, learning activity, referrals and progression, contributing to programme performance, quality standards and contractual outcomes.
• Continuous Improvement: Gather and respond to participant and employer feedback, contributing to the continuous improvement of the service.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Level 3 Award in Education and Training (AET) or equivalent teaching/training qualification (Essential)
• GCSE Maths/English or equivalent (Essential)
• IT qualification and/or equivalent experience (Essential)
• Experience working within youth employment, employability, welfare-to-work, education, skills, careers or community programmes.
• Experience supporting young people with childcare or caring responsibilities, wellbeing needs or other barriers to employment.

• Experience delivering engaging group learning, workshops or training to participants with different abilities, confidence levels and support needs. (Essential)
• Strong facilitation and presentation skills, with the ability to engage, motivate and build confidence within a group setting. (Essential)
• Experience supporting young people, particularly those who are unemployed or at risk of becoming NEET, through employability, learning, coaching, youth work or similar interventions. (Essential)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to provide empathetic, practical and strengths-based one-to-one support. (Essential)
• Experience helping people develop employability, workplace or life skills and overcome barriers to employment, education or training. (Essential)
• Understanding of the challenges young people can face when entering the labour market, including limited work experience, confidence, skills gaps, caring responsibilities and wellbeing barriers. (Essential)
• Ability to build positive relationships with young people and work collaboratively with Employer Partnership Managers, employers and external support services. (Essential)
• Good organisational skills, with the ability to plan and deliver group sessions, manage individual support and maintain accurate records. (Essential)
• Passionate about helping young people overcome barriers and reach their potential, with a genuine commitment to tackling youth unemployment. (Essential)
• Empathetic, patient and approachable, with a flexible and inclusive approach to supporting young people from diverse backgrounds. (Essential)
• Results-driven, with a focus on helping participants achieve positive progression and employment outcomes. (Essential)
• Adaptable and flexible, able to respond effectively to changing participant needs and programme requirements. (Essential)

• Understanding of barriers facing unemployed young people (Essential)
• Knowledge of employability, job search and interview preparation (Essential)
• Understanding of safeguarding and participant wellbeing (Essential)
• Knowledge of local education, training and employment pathways (Essential)
• Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion principles (Essential)
• Knowledge of Youth Guarantee objectives and delivery models (Desirable)
• Understanding of labour market intelligence and growth sectors (Desirable)
• Knowledge of apprenticeships and vocational training routes (Desirable)
• Understanding of local support services and community provision (Desirable)
• Knowledge of funded employment and skills programmes (Desirable)

• Experience supporting young people into employment, education or training (Essential)
• Experience delivering group workshops, learning sessions or employability activities (Essential)
• Experience providing one-to-one coaching, mentoring or guidance (Essential)
• Experience managing participant caseloads and action plans (Essential)
• Experience working with individuals facing barriers to progression (Essential)
• Experience within Youth Guarantee, NEET, employability, welfare-to-work or skills programmes (Desirable)
• Experience working with employers and employer engagement activities (Desirable)
• Experience delivering sector tasters or work experience programmes (Desirable)
• Experience supporting young people with wellbeing, caring or childcare responsibilities (Desirable)
• Experience working to contractual targets and performance outcomes (Desirable)

Benefits

• Flexible working including home-based, centre-based, or hybrid job role dependant
• Up to 26 days annual leave, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days
• Pension scheme to support your long-term financial wellbeing
• Training and professional development, including CPD workshops and professional qualifications
• Westfield Health Scheme with benefits including 13 healthcare services, cashback towards essential health bills, counselling and therapy treatments, fast access to MRI, CT, and PET scans, and discounted shopping vouchers
• Wellbeing initiatives including Wellbeing Wednesdays and the Mental Health at Work Pledge
• Disability Confident Leader, Menopause Workplace Pledge, Armed Forces Covenant, Ban the Box Employer, and secure prayer spaces
• Annual paid volunteering day and charity initiatives
• Cash incentives for Employee of the Month and Employee of the Year awards
• £500 Recommend a friend scheme