The Pre-apprenticeship Course: A Significant Milestone in the Routes to Employment Project

The Routes to Employment Pilot Project was developed in response to our RTE research findings, aiming to explore apprenticeships as an innovative employment pathway for refugee women in our community.

The Pre-Apprenticeship Course, a four-week programme, delivered in May 2025, is designed to enhance the skills and confidence of refugee women in London. The course prepares participants to feel more confident and ready to make successful apprenticeship programme applications. Throughout the programme, participants gain knowledge and practical experience in key areas, including:

Understanding Apprenticeships

In collaboration with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, a workshop was led by Apprenticeship Coordinator Omama Zankawan, titled “What Is an Apprenticeship?”. This initial session provided valuable insights into how apprenticeships can be a viable employment opportunity as she spoke about funding options, job structures, entry requirements, and where to find open apprenticeship programmes.

Knowledge of UK Working Rights and Culture

Participants engaged with professional lawyers from our corporate partners, DLA Piper, in a detailed session on “Knowing Your Rights as an Employee in the UK”. Additionally, DLA Piper’s Apprenticeship Programme Manager led a session on understanding apprenticeships, where current apprentices shared valuable tips and experiences with the participants.

(Photo of course participants holding certificates of attendance at the Knowing Your Rights training with DLA Piper team.)

Boosting Digital Skills

Digital skills are essential for securing apprenticeships in today’s world, and a Digital Skills Day was conducted in collaboration with ScreenShare. This interactive session provided participants with skills in cybersecurity, digital privacy, AI, professional email writing and more, ensuring they are well-equipped for the modern workplace.

(Photo from the Digital Privacy Workshop during Digital Skills Day at the ScreenShare office.)

(Photo from the PowerPoint session during Digital Skills Day at the ScreenShare office.)

Employment Skills Workshops

A series of employment-focused workshops helped participants gain insights into the UK job market, covering CV writing, cover letters, job applications, and interview preparation.

Hands-on Practice with Professionals

Working with partners like UBS, the Routes team organised mock interviews and Apprenticeship Talks, where professionals and apprentices shared their real-life experiences of applying for and securing apprenticeships.

(Practicing interview skills with professional volunteers.)

Professional Soft Skills Development

Soft skills are crucial for career success, and the course included role-playing exercises and group activities to help participants build confidence in communication, teamwork, and professional presence, ensuring they can effectively present themselves in job interviews.

A Flexible and Inclusive Approach

Recognising the diverse needs of participants, the course was delivered through a blend of online and in-person sessions, with accessibility considerations such as travel expenses, childcare support, and technical assistance.

(Photo of the course participants with RTE project managers on the last day of delivery.)

Reflections on Participation in the Pre-Apprenticeship Course

Participants reported gaining a range of valuable skills and experiences throughout the course, including:

• Language development and communication (verbal, written, public speaking, and listening)

• Employment skills, such as interview preparation, networking, CV improvement, and career readiness

• Digital tools and technology (e.g., Figma, Padlet, ChatGPT, Cisco)

• Professional soft skills, including collaboration, teamwork, time management, organisation, and adaptability

• Personal growth, leading to increased confidence, reduced insecurity, and greater motivation

• Understanding apprenticeships and employment rights

• Exposure to real work environments

The course was a huge success in meeting its goals as 90% of participants said they feel more confident in applying for professional opportunities. In addition, 68% of participants said they felt they now have a clear pathway to reaching their career goals. We’ve already celebrated the first successes of candidates on our cohort - and we are so excited to be able to follow them on their journeys, as they navigate the UK job market.

So What’s Next?

Following their journey through the Pre-Apprenticeship Course, participants will receive ongoing, tailored post-course support as they navigate the apprenticeship application process. This includes:

• Individual check-ins to better understand and support each participant’s specific goals

• Access to the Routes Apprenticeship Opportunity List, featuring relevant opportunities in collaboration with our partner WorkWhile

• Support with applying for an ENIC Statement of Comparability to help validate international qualifications, thanks to the support and our collaboration with City and Guilds Foundation and the UK ENIC Refugee Services Team

• Online Info Sessions with the Routes team, including on How and Where to Find an Apprenticeship Programme

• Drop-in sessions, offering a shared and welcoming space to work on applications collaboratively

• One-to-one CV reviews from professional Routes volunteers to refine and strengthen applications

• Referrals to partner organisations, such as SmartWorks supporting women with clothing & coaching for interviews

We will continue to work with our candidates, to support them with their career goals and relevant apprenticeship applications, in ways that have the potential to lead to long-term, meaningful employment.

We will also continue to pilot new approaches to relevant support, in collaboration with our candidates and our Lived Experience Leadership Group, to work towards more sustainable access to employment and career progression for all.

If you are interested to connect with our team for sharing learnings and for employment partnership opportunities, please reach out to our RTE project managers Jocelyn Maskrey and Roula Kheder.

(Photo of participants engaged in a group activity with Routes)