• Professional Development
  • Medicine & Nursing
  • Arts & Crafts
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Personal Development

851 Educators providing Assistant courses

Raise Up Business Club (Silke Thistlewood)

raise up business club (silke thistlewood)

Cheshire

I (Silke Thistlewood, that’s me on the left with my 2 girls) set up a local networking group for mums in early 2017 after returning from (self employed) maternity leave and feeling decidedly isolated. I had lost my business mojo, felt pretty lonely, and couldn’t make any of the existing networking meetings (no babies allowed, too early, too late etc) so I decided to start my own. I called it Tonbridge Mums in Business and its facebook group grew to 500 members within just a few weeks (it surpassed 1,000 quite some time ago now). We’ve been having regular meetings ever since and the facebook community has grown from strength to strength, with the Thursday promotional thread having become a thing of legend. You have to see it to believe the amount of local talent! And now RuBC_LogoFinal_White_Rose.png In early 2019 I felt is was time to raise the bar and level up - in my own businesses and for the group. I had for some time been wanting to add more value for members - more structure, support and resources (mailing lists for meeting reminders, access to talks members can’t attend, accountability, goal setting etc). With 2 other businesses to run and young kids to look after this was logistically and financially not possible on a voluntary basis (paying for the yearly website subscription alone made my eyes water…..) so I made the decision to introduce a membership structure and a charge for the meetings. I very much hope that the pricing structure I have decided on reflects the value current members have gained from the group and the meetings, and the fact that most of us are working with small margins and reduced working hours crammed around child care and other responsibilities. To set the group apart from other networking meetings in the area, which are confusingly similar in name, the group has been re-branded and has a new name that I feel embodies what the group and community are - supportive, encouraging, non judgemental, inclusive, friendly and quite frankly, magical. I am blown away at each and every meeting by the friendships and kindness that members show each other. What you can expect Community, support, encouragement, friendship, collaborations, inspiration, education - online and in real life across both communities. Weekly check-ins, accountability prompts in the membership community to keep you on track, inspired and safe in the knowledge that this group of women will always have your back. We also co-work in real life and on zoom, go on walks together, discuss books and have coaching sessions with the one and only Action Woman. A wider community of businesses in the free facebook group with the chance to promote your business each Thursday, as well as getting to know others and forming friendships and a basis for collaborations. Someone will always have an answer to any questions you might have - business or otherwise. Regular networking meetings with expert speakers, mingling and cake and/or wine - and not an elevator pitch in sight (so no need to feel nervous). Easy going networking, without the need to “work the room” or hand out business cards at super sonic speed. Our meetings are informal but effective. Low key but inspirational, educational and supportive. Some kind words from business women in the community “There is always a warm excited, inclusive buzz within the group, with many friendships that have been formed over time and I know that some of us have started either using each other’s products or services – or formed collaborations with each other. It’s like a girls night out every month in Tonbridge! SAM HOGWOOD, ESCAPE FROM THE CITY This group has been very welcoming from my first step into my first meeting. I have found everyone in the group to be friendly and supportive of each other and encouraging of the development of one another's businesses. The facebook group and meetings have allowed for shared knowledge and experience in developing each others businesses. I have made great business links and come into work through the group, both paid and through joint collaborations. I have also made some lovely friends through the group which has been a really lovely added bonus CLAIRE READER, CAPTURE ME HAPPY PHOTOGRAPHY I started my Virtual Assistant business in the middle of last year and I am a regular on the weekly Thursday updates. These updates are great as not only do people learn how your business is growing but you can support and find out about other local businesses on your doorstep. I have not made it to one of the networking events that Silke kindly arranges yet, but I will, and when I do, I am sure it will be even more beneficial to my start up business than the group has been so far. EMMA HAGGART, KENT VIRTUAL ASSISTANT Since setting up my hypnotherapy business in 2018, I've found the support of this talented and diverse group to be wonderful. It's great knowing I am not alone in being new to setting up a business, and coming up against many of the same issues as others in the group. This is so reassuring, and I have really benefited from the shared knowledge, passion and experience of everyone in the group. Meet ups are friendly and dynamic, and the topics very fitting. I've made some good contacts and will always recommend fellow business owners where I can. Thanks to Silke this group has really grown and developed and I look forward to further collaboration this year.

Work Skills Learning

work skills learning

London

Work Skills Learning was established in 2005. We teach children, young people and adult students in different settings. We enable them to develop new skills and achieve qualifications to secure their entry into the world of work. At Work Skills Learning all learners are valued as individuals, and we use innovative ideas and practices to maximise their potential. Children & Young People Aged 16 – 25: Work Skills Learning provides a range of educational opportunities for children and young people facing barriers to their education. Our provisions are co-educational and cater for those who may have special educational needs associated with communication and interaction, cognition and learning, and/or social, emotional and mental health difficulties. Adult Learners: Work Skills Learning offers a variety of accredited courses for those looking to gain recognised skills qualifications acquired whilst working in their sector or for those just starting out on a new path. All courses aim to boost the confidence and improve the skills of course participants. Work Skills Learning works with a variety of partners on multiple sites across London. Our Past Work Skills Learning was founded in 2005 by Dayo Adeagbo. From 2000-2005 Dayo was the Head of Education at Feltham Young Offenders, responsible for providing education for children aged 11-17 and 18-21. In 2006 Work Skills Learning started providing academic and vocational courses for children and young adults. Another major development was our partnership with Hackney Learning Trust and The Urswick School, which continues to the present day, where we teach adult classes on Saturday mornings. Work Skills Learning has delivered a wide range of courses, to communities across Hackney. One of the most significant developments has been our work to train teaching assistants. Our Present We have extended our work with Local Authorities with the aim of helping as many children and young people as possible. We work closely with each child to ensure that they can play a full part in society and to give them the additional skills to move forward with their lives. We have facilities to deliver a wide curriculum from Entry Level to GCSE and beyond, as well as accredited skills-based courses, including an Arts & Crafts facility, music, design and ICT, all designed to give our students the best possible chance in gaining new qualifications. We are in our 10th year of delivering adult courses for individuals who wish to establish a career as a teaching assistant. This is offered to all schools, which enables us to train those who are already in the workforce, helping them to achieve career progression, using our specialism in SEN to support their learning. We have outstanding specialists who deliver the course with us. To date we have taught over 600 students, many of whom are now working in schools across London. This has been life changing for many of those who have studied with us.