Our work
The Wren Bakery
For The Wren Bakery, a Leeds social enterprise, Octavia Learning provides one-to-one coaching and mentoring for women already taking part in its programme.
The support helps each person recognise her strengths, find a suitable unpaid placement and make sense of the experience afterwards. Octavia Learning also works with placement hosts to prepare for the first day and agree individual adjustments, helping participants take a confident next step towards training or work.
Previous programmes
In partnership with Yorkshire Learning Providers, Octavia Learning has delivered Skills Connect (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) and Sector Skills (York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority) across West and North Yorkshire. These programmes brought together health and social care organisations, charities and social impact employers to offer
Skills Connect and Sector Skills Volunteer Pathway to Care
We combined training with one-to-one coaching for people exploring health and social care careers. Participants identified transferable skills, learned about roles in the sector and received support towards volunteering or paid work. Collaboration with health and social care, charity and social impact employers helped create opportunities and support the move into a new setting.
Impact: 360 participants | 95% completions | 90% progressed into volunteering, further training or paid employment
Skills Connect Opportunities for Refugees
We contributed to a wider Kirklees and Calderdale collaboration with health and care partners, refugee support services and employers. The programme helped refugees recognise the experience and qualifications they brought from their home countries and explore volunteering or paid roles in health and social care. Octavia Learning’s workshops and one-to-one support developed employability skills, while guest speakers and participating organisations introduced opportunities and invited interested participants to follow-up conversations and interviews.
Impact: 60 participants | 100% completions | 100% progressed into volunteering or further training
Skills Connect and Sector Skills Care with Confidence
We delivered coaching and mentoring skills training for people who support staff or volunteers. The programme recognised that health and social care staff with these skills can help new starters feel supported and give existing colleagues room to develop, contributing to staff retention. It helped experienced colleagues, managers and supervisors strengthen the way they welcome, guide and develop others.
Impact: 180 participants | 97% completions | 91% progressed by taking on additional responsibilities or gaining a promotion
