We support people to build the skills, confidence and experience they need to move into work.
Our projects are designed to do more than offer training. We focus on helping people take real steps towards employment and connect with job opportunities in their local area.
If you are unemployed, have not worked for a while, or are new to the jobs market, we could offer support to help you move forward.
Our team can work with you to understand your goals and help you take the next step. Support may include:
One-to-one support with a member of our team
Group sessions where you can learn alongside others
Help building your confidence and work-ready skills
Advice on training, courses and job opportunities
Support with CV writing and preparing for interviews
We understand that everyone’s journey into work is different. That is why we offer flexible support to help you progress at a pace that works for you.
If you’re looking for work, our team can support you. Our coaches take time to understand your goals and the kind of help you need.
Together, we’ll look at what might be getting in the way of work or career progression and help you take practical steps towards your next job.
Getting ready for work
Build confidence and learn what to expect from the workplace.
One-to-one support
Meet regularly with a coach who will support you as you work towards your goals.
Work skills
Develop the practical skills that employers are looking for.
Short training courses
Take part in short courses linked to the type of work you want to do.
CV and interview support
Get help writing a CV and preparing for interviews so you feel ready to apply for jobs.
Work-related qualifications
Gain useful qualifications such as CSCS cards or health and safety certificates.
Essential skills for work
Improve your maths, English and digital skills so you can feel confident at work.
Contact us to find out what support is available in your area.
We work with schools and colleges in the areas where many of our tenants live. Our aim is to help young people learn about the world of work and explore the different opportunities available to them.
You can see our map to find the areas where we focus our work.
Careers events and world of work days
We attend careers events and world of work days to talk with students about different jobs, career options and what it’s like to work in different industries.
Enterprise Advisors
Some of our staff act as Enterprise Advisors, working with schools to help connect education with local employers and career opportunities.
Construction skills training
We work with Northumberland College’s 14–16 Construction Skills Academy (HICSA) to support young people who are interested in construction careers.
Apprenticeships and local colleges
Our apprentices attend local colleges as part of their training. We also work with colleges to understand what courses are available locally and how they can help prepare people for work.
Each year we recruit apprentices into a range of roles across Bernicia. An apprenticeship is a great way to gain skills, experience and recognised qualifications while earning and learning on the job.
Many of our apprentices choose to stay with us after their training. In fact, over 90% go on to permanent roles at Bernicia.
Our work experience programme gives young people the chance to learn about the world of work and the different types of jobs available in their local area.
It’s designed to be practical and engaging, helping you understand what working life is like at Bernicia.
Interactive group sessions held at different times throughout the year
A three-day programme giving you a real insight into the wide range of jobs at Bernicia
Mock interview practice to help build confidence
Support to help you understand what employers look for and how to prepare for work
Our sessions are very popular and often fill up quickly. If you’re interested, please register your interest and we’ll let you know when new opportunities become available.
Our next work experience programme will run in Summer 2026. We’ll share more details here, on our social media, and in our yearly events calendar closer to the time.
If you’re interested in taking part, register your interest and we’ll let you know when applications open.
We are proud to support both the Care Leavers Covenant and the Armed Forces Covenant. Through these commitments, we aim to provide opportunities and support for people moving into work.
Guaranteed job interviews at Bernicia for applicants who meet the essential job criteria
One-to-one support to help you prepare for interviews
Access to programmes delivered by trusted partners to help you build skills and get ready for work
We work with organisations that support care leavers, veterans and members of the armed forces community.
If your organisation works in this area, we would welcome the chance to explore how we might work together.
Contact us to find out more about working in partnership with Bernicia.
Our Care Leavers programme offers dedicated one-to-one mentoring and support to help you manage everyday challenges and plan your next steps.
One-to-one mentoring and support to help you deal with the challenges life can bring
A job-ready pathway to help you prepare for the world of work
Opportunities to build confidence, skills and experience
You can also watch our videos where young people share their stories about how Bernicia has supported them.
We work with organisations that support care leavers, care-experienced young people, and services that help young people avoid entering care.
If your organisation works in this area, we would welcome the chance to explore how we might work together.
Our case studies share real examples of how Bernicia Communities is making a difference.
They highlight the people, projects and partnerships that help bring our work to life, from supporting someone into work to helping communities come together through local activities. These stories show how our programmes, partners and the work of Bernicia help people build skills, gain confidence and take part in opportunities in their community.
Bernicia worked with Big River Bakery to support people looking to build skills and move towards employment. The free ten-week ‘One Loaf at a Time’ course gives tenants and people in local communities the chance to learn baking skills, gain qualifications and build confidence in a…
Learning new skills, meeting tenants, and taking guidance from his mentors have been a priority for him.
I really identify with the Housing People, Helping People culture and values. It’s something I believe in, and that’s why I definitely wanted to work at Bernicia. I love my colleagues, it’s a great company to work for with a day-to-day job I love. It’s such a satisfying feeling being able to help people.
Interested in working at Bernicia? Take a look at our current job vacancies and apprenticeship opportunities to see what roles are available and how you could start your career with us.
Interested in working at Bernicia? Take a look at our current job vacancies and apprenticeship opportunities to see what roles are available and how you could start your career with us.