Wirral Met College has officially launched Wirral Works, a new employer-led employability service designed to support local residents into work while helping businesses across the borough recruit and develop their workforce.
The service was unveiled at a launch event held on Wednesday 15th April at the College’s Twelve Quays Campus, bringing together a wide range of local employers, partners and stakeholders, including representatives from Wirral Borough Council, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Jobcentre Plus (DWP), housing providers, universities, and voluntary and community organisations.
Wirral Works has been developed in response to some of the borough’s biggest labour market challenges, including high levels of economic inactivity and persistent recruitment difficulties across key sectors. The programme aims to connect these challenges - supporting people who want to work with employers who need skilled, job-ready staff.
Designed for adults aged 19+ who are unemployed or economically inactive, Wirral Works provides short, flexible, community-based training that builds confidence, develops skills and creates clear pathways into real job opportunities.
At its core, the programme is built around employer need. Businesses will work in partnership with the College to shape training that aligns directly to vacancies, creating a pipeline of local people who are prepared, supported and ready to step into work.
- Alongside supporting residents, Wirral Works offers clear benefits to employers, including:
- Access to a local, job-ready talent pool
- Support to fill vacancies more effectively
- Opportunities to upskill existing staff
- A chance to shape training provision around real business needs
A key moment in the launch event was a presentation from Sandra Kelly of UKHospitality, introducing the Hospitality Skills Passport, which Wirral Met College will deliver as part of its visitor economy pathway. The initiative will support a more consistent, employer-led approach to skills and progression within the hospitality sector, helping both new entrants and existing staff develop and succeed.
The event highlighted the strength of partnership working across the borough, with organisations from across the public, private and voluntary sectors coming together to support a shared ambition: improving access to employment and strengthening the local economy.
Speaking at the launch, Gill Banks, Principal and CEO of Wirral Met College, said:
“We know there is a persistent cohort of economically inactive adults who want to contribute and to progress but face complex barriers – whether related to confidence, health, caring responsibilities, digital exclusion or previous negative experiences of education or work.”
“Wirral Works is our practical response, it is a programme designed to support adults who are currently distant from the labour market to take confident, supported steps towards learning, employment and progression.”
“This programme will continue to evolve as we listen, learn and adapt alongside our partners and the communities we serve. Our commitment is to approach this work with ambition, humility and a genuine willingness to collaborate.”
Delivery of the programme will combine college-based training with outreach, employer-led programmes and tailored support to help individuals overcome barriers such as confidence, digital exclusion and caring responsibilities.
The programme is already engaging residents, building referral pathways with partners, and working with employers to develop vacancy-led training routes in priority sectors.
Find out more
More information about Wirral Works, including referral routes and opportunities for employers, is available at:
Wirral Works
