Plymouth Argyle Community Trust and On Course South West Launch New Apprenticeship Offer for Schools
Plymouth Argyle Community Trust (PACT) and On Course South West are pleased to announce a new partnership that will deliver a comprehensive, bespoke apprenticeship and skills offer for schools and academies across Plymouth and the surrounding areas.
This partnership brings together PACT’s long-standing experience of successfully delivering apprenticeships within school settings and On Course South West’s expertise in high-quality, employer-led training. Together, they offer schools a full-package solution, designed to flex around individual needs and support workforce development across all areas of school operations.
Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, the offer is tailored to each school or academy, supporting roles across teaching support, business and administration, ICT, early years, sport, SEND and specialist pathways. Schools can access support from initial workforce planning and recruitment, through to training delivery, ongoing support and progression routes for staff.
The partnership includes a wide range of apprenticeship pathways, from entry-level roles through to higher-level and specialist provision. These include Teaching Assistant pathways, Business Administration, ICT Support Technician, Early Years Educator, Content Creator, Sports Coaching and SEND-focused specialist roles, alongside short skills bootcamps and work experience opportunities for those exploring a career in education.
A key feature of the offer is the inclusion of a 12-week Skills Bootcamp work experience trial, supporting roles such as Meal Time Assistants, Teaching Assistants and Parent Volunteers. This gives schools a practical and supported way to develop future staff, while allowing individuals to gain experience and progress into apprenticeships or employment where appropriate.
PACT has many years of experience delivering apprenticeships in schools and has built strong, trusted relationships across Plymouth and beyond. This partnership builds on that success, giving schools access to a joined-up, end-to-end apprenticeship package that can be shaped around their staffing pressures, priorities and long-term plans.
Councillor Sally Cresswell, Plymouth City Council, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, said:
“This partnership is a really positive development for schools across Plymouth. It offers a flexible and practical approach to workforce development, supporting schools to meet their individual needs while creating valuable opportunities for people to train and work locally.”
Tim Scott-Lloyd, Apprenticeship Manager at On Course South West, added:
“This is an amazing opportunity and one we are incredibly excited about. Working in partnership with PACT allows us to provide a truly bespoke, quality-driven apprenticeship offer for schools. We are passionate about delivering provision that meets the real needs of schools, and it’s fantastic to be working with PACT again to support staff, learners and communities.”
The partnership also links closely with PACT’s Project 35, which supports families and communities through initiatives such as access to a Friday morning food larder at Manadon, as well as volunteering and wider community support opportunities. This broader support helps schools address not just workforce needs, but wellbeing and inclusion too.
Dave Shurmer, Apprenticeship Manager at Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, said:
”Schools across the two counties of Devon and Cornwall deserve the highest quality CPD opportunities - as parents ourselves with children in our local school’s provision, we also demand nothing less! We are delighted to have the opportunity to expand our community impact in partnership with On Course South West and believe that through our collaboration, we will be able to offer schools an even more comprehensive and enriched offer. It is great to be part of an initiative that will see local training provider's working together for the good of their community and education system.”
An official launch of the partnership will take place in April 2026. Schools and academies interested in developing their workforce or exploring apprenticeship opportunities are encouraged to get in touch.
For all apprenticeship enquiries, please contact:
Tim Scott-Lloyd tim.scott-lloyd@plymouth.gov.uk or Thaila Morse thaila.morse@pafc.co.uk, who will be heading up the apprenticeship partnership.
