Rotherham Employment and Skills

29/07/2025

Celebrating 10 Years of Apprenticeship Excellence in Rotherham! 🎉

Apprenticeships are a great way to learn new skills, earn a wage, and work towards a nationally recognised qualification, all while gaining real-world experience.

This year marked the 10th Anniversary of the Apprentice of the Year Awards, held on 17th July 2025 at the iconic New York Stadium. It was also the second year we proudly included the Supported Internship category, highlighting even more inspiring journeys.

🏆 Congratulations to our 2025 Winners!

🔹Supported Intern of the Year: Joe Gressar – Rotherham Council & Landmarks Specialist College
🔹Highly Commended: Asia Munshi – Rotherham Opportunities College
🔹Logan Thornton – Rotherham College
🔹Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Idress Munir – Rotherham Council
🔹Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Ella Middlebrook – AESSEAL
🔹Higher/Degree Apprentice of the Year: Sheena Machon – Rotherham NHS
🔹Highly Commended: Max Brough – Airmaster Air Conditioning Ltd

👏 A huge thank you to all the employers who nominated their talented apprentices and interns, including:
En:Able Futures, Mears Group, University of Sheffield, Equans, ESH Construction, and many more.

The event was a true celebration of how apprenticeships and internships help individuals:

✅ Gain hands-on experience
✅ Build confidence
✅ Overcome barriers
✅ Take the next step in their career or into employment

🎤 Special thanks to our speakers and judges:
Lisa Pogson (Airmaster), Keith Richardson (South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub), Diane Keay (Mears Group), Simon Hartley (RNN Group), Steve & Carol Morris (Signs Express)

🙏 Organised by RiDO and the Rotherham Advertiser, with generous support from:
Airmaster, Mears Group, Equans, South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub, AESSEAL, RDaSH, Rotherham Opportunities College, RMBC Supported Employment

💡 Interested in an apprenticeship?

If you're 16–18, email: [email protected]
If you're 18+, contact: [email protected]

Learn more🔗
Apprenticeships – https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/ #
South Yorkshire Apprenticeships – https://www.southyorkshireapprenticeships.org/

22/07/2025

19/03/2025

🚀 Rotherham's Apprenticeship ‘Live’ Event 2025 – A huge success! 🎉

Last Wednesday (12 March), Aesseal New York Stadium buzzed with excitement as Rotherham held its second Apprenticeship ‘Live’ Event!

With over 400 visitors, including young people, parents, carers, and employment specialists, the event was all about unlocking opportunities, meeting local employers with live apprenticeship vacancies, and getting expert advice on kick-starting a career through apprenticeships.

⭐ A highlight of the day? Visitors had the chance to chat with six previous winners of Rotherham Apprentice of the Year and Rotherham Intern of the Year! These inspiring apprentices shared their journeys, proving that apprenticeships open doors to amazing careers.

💼 Looking for an apprenticeship in South Yorkshire? Explore vacancies and find out more at 👉 South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub - https://bit.ly/liveapprenticeshipvacancies

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing supporters:
🔹 South Yorkshire Apprenticeship Hub
🔹 Whyy? Change
🔹 Amazing Apprenticeships
🔹 Mears Group
🔹 Employment Solutions Team, Rotherham
🔹 National Careers Service
🔹 Rotherham Early Help
🔹 Department for Work and Pensions
🔹 Job Centre Plus

The future is bright for apprenticeships in Rotherham! 🌟 Were you there? Tell us about your experience in the comments! 👇

22/01/2025

Check out the good news stories from Employment Solutions Team, Rotherham. If you need support looking for work or developing your skills contact the Employment Solutions Team, Rotherham. You could be their next good news story!

T: 01709 249 600
E: [email protected]

15/01/2025

South Yorkshire held its Multiply celebration event delivered by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority in collaboration with local partners including, Barnsley Council, Doncaster Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, and Sheffield City Council.

The event was all about celebrating the success of Multiply, learners, tutors, and learning organisations who played their part in making the programme successful across South Yorkshire.

Grace Woodger was awarded the Progress to Success in Rotherham. Grace took part in the five day Numeracy for Care course delivered by OneCare Academy. Within two weeks she had an interview and secured a role in the care sector.

‘I was amazed by the confidence with which Grace spoke about Care and the maths involved following the Multiply course.’ – Michelle Grace’s work coach.

Joshua Gurnhill from Rotherham received the Outstanding Achievement award. He started his Multiply journey by accessing one-to-one Maths support delivered by Pivotal Health. Joshua now volunteers at Pivotal Health’s gym, his confidence has grown, and he is now a valued member of the team.

Find out more about Multiply or courses available in Rotherham email [email protected].

07/01/2025

Each year in Rotherham, the LEAF Job and Careers Fair is held in the Great Hall of Magna Science Adventure Centre and is attended by the secondary schools, colleges and SEND schools of Rotherham along with jobseekers and the general public.

This year’s event had 54 exhibitor stands and with nearly 1,000 visitors attending. Many of the exhibitors brought interactive items to engage with visitors including VR Headsets, a Play Station, games as well as sector specific equipment.

The event is a great opportunity for exhibitors to speak with young people about career pathways in their organisations. Stands included the NHS Foundation Trust, The Army, Rotherham College, Mears, Henry Boot, which students said were their favourite stands.

LEAF will be back next year on 22nd October 2025.

Find out more about LEAF Jobs and Careers Fair https://bit.ly/aboutLEAF and follow us on Facebook https://bit.ly/leafcareersfacebook.

19/12/2024

When Carl Goodman launched his back in 2020, he operated from a summer house in his back garden. Since calling on help from Launchpad: Sheffield City Region the business quickly expanded into new premises at Rotherham's Eastwood Trading Estate.

Today Sustainable Aquatics Rotherham stocks hundreds of varieties of sustainably sourced tropical, freshwater and pond fish and has seen aquarium lovers travel the length and breadth of the UK to tap into Carl and business partner Lee's wealth of knowledge and expertise.

Like many Carl built his business around a passion which dated back to his childhood, it's been great to see how the business has developed over the past three years!:

13/12/2024

13/11/2024

Are you looking to improve your health and wellbeing, and gain confidence to kickstart your career or stay in work? If you're 25 or over, the fully funded Empower course by Endorphins Group can help you. Read RT's story below to see the massive impact the course has had on him.

“I have gained more confidence in myself and by learning about my hidden transferable skills/strengths I have developed my self-esteem and now hold a more positive attitude to what I can achieve in my life. I have gained employment since the Empower course with Best Connection working at FPS Distribution, Hellaby.”

To find our more and sign up for the course email [email protected] or visit Endorphins Group's website - https://endorphins.uk/empower-south-yorkshire/.

25/10/2024

Listen to how the Supported Employment project has had a major impact on providing residents working opportunities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zDYB2Yaqr0

Supported Employment help any resident aged 18+ with a diagnosis of autism, ADHD and / or a learning disability.

You will be assigned an officer who will work with you to understand your skills, ambitions and needs in order to help you on your journey to employment.

You and your officer will look at matching your ambitions to local employers and will approach employers on your behalf for employment opportunities. We will assist you to build your skills and readiness for work as well as helping with job searching and CV writing.

We will also support you in the first 6 months of employment, extending our support to you and your employer during this time.

Telephone: 01709 249600 Email: [email protected]

Ronda talks about her experience with the Supported Employment team and her role at Maltby Leisure Centre.

15/10/2024

Rotherham Council's Supported Employment team works with colleges for people with SEND to access Supported Internships. These are great opportunities to improve the life chances of young people with SEND by supporting them into sustained, paid employment.

Listen to the positive impacts of Supported Internships from current and former interns who now are in paid employment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udx_IKxZYXY&t=1s

If you have an Education Healthcare Plan (EHCP) and interested in Supported Internships contact the Employment Solutions Team, Rotherham.

T: 01709 249 600
E: [email protected]

Three young people talk about their experience with the Supported Internship team and how their help led to them getting an internship at Rotherham Council.