Employability and Life Skills
& Project Search

Providing life skills and independence

Our mission is to support young people with SEND to progress on to meaningful destinations to support their life and career goals.

Browse Courses...

DFN Project Search
Study Area: 16-25 Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Full Time
Options to Study Entry Level 3
Study Area: 16-25 Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Full Time
Pathway to Independence Entry Level 1
Study Area: 16-25 Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Full Time
Personal and Social Skills Entry Level 2
Study Area: 16-25 Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Full Time
Pre Supported Internship Entry Level 3
Study Area: 16-25 Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Full Time
Routes to employment Entry Level 3
Study Area: 16-25 Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Full Time
Vocational Studies Entry Level 3
Study Area: 16-25 Duration: 1 Year Attendance: Full Time
Why study Employability & Life Skills at Calderdale College?

At Calderdale College we provide skills and training to support young people in preparation for adulthood, whatever their long term goals and aspirations.

  • Learning takes place in small groups in a dedicated area of the College
  • Our experienced team of SEND Specialist Tutors and Personal Skills Assistants, provide tailored support according to individual needs. This may be academic, behavioural, emotional and personal care assistance where required
  • Skills development takes place through a varied curriculum offering a multi-sensory approach to learning. There is a focus on developing communication and social interaction skills and confidence by working with a range of adults and peers
  • Being part of a larger general further education college, our students benefit from opportunities to develop independence and self-help skills on-site everyday. They quickly settle into the busy environment and learn to navigate the building with decreasing levels of support
What will I study?

Whether you take part in a Project Search Internship or our Employability & Life Skills programme, you will learn a  range of skills. There’s something for everyone!

Example Modules
Some example modules include

  • Enterprise
  • Community Projects
  • Health & Safety in the workplace
  • Career exploration and Progression

Course Pages
Each individual course page contains information on the modules of study, but if you have any questions we are on hand to help.

Contact our Advice and Guidance team on 01422 399267 or email [email protected] for more info.

Picking the Right Pathway

The Employability & Life Skills Study Programme is an Entry level academic route based in college which focuses on life skills and qualification attainment, including Maths and English.

The course builds on specific independence skills to support transition into further vocational study, supported internships and employment.  It also supports young people to complete their education before moving into adult care packages.

Project Search, is a work-based route sited at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax. This is an intensive supported internship programme which fully prepares young people to move into paid employment and apprenticeships.

It is expected that a young person would have an Education and Health Care Plan in place in order to enroll on for these courses.

All students will receive our full support in their work and studies and we will always be on hand for anything we can do to help.

  • Customer Service Assistant

    Up to £18k
  • Care Assistant

    Up to £21k
Why study at Calderdale College?

At Calderdale College we provide skills training and career exploration, job coaching, and close tuition from a supportive, dedicated team who will expertly train you in how to secure a job.

Rewarding jobs are out there for you. We give you the foundations to help you get them, and prove you can be successful in a wide range of roles.

We are focused on making you more employable to a wide range of employers and we have tutors who understand the complexities of your disabilities and know how to maximise your true potential.

We have excellent facilities for you to learn in, and provide stimulating, motivating learning experiences that you will thrive on.

We give you practical advice and skills that will take you into the workplace.

Are you…

A young person with additional needs who requires some extra support and training to get a paid job?

Are you…

Thinking about employment but want to develop your skills?

Do you…

Want to progress onto vocational courses within the College and the community, which will lead to eventual employment opportunities?

Do you…

Want to meet new friends whilst gaining a nationally recognised qualification?

Need help with your application?

Request a call back and we'll talk you through it.

Request a Call Back

Get your fresh Starbucks at our Inspire Café

Located in the Inspire Centre, our Inspire Café sells Starbucks beverages plus a range of sandwiches and snacks. It is open to students, staff and visitors to the Inspire Centre.

Where to find us
The Inspire Café can be found in the Inspire Centre, at our campus on Francis Street, Halifax.

Food and drink available
Within the café you can find a range of sandwiches, paninis, cold drinks and Starbucks beverages, plus a range of other snacks.

Loyalty card
We offer an Inspire Café loyalty card, for every Starbucks drink you purchase you will be given a stamp and once you have collected 8 stamps you will get a free drink on us!

G Floor

If our Digital Skills and Media students are not in DigiHub they may find themselves on our top floor. 

This is also home to our Business suite and many Apprentices will spend their college hours here with 1 to 1s or group sessions.

Home to:
  • Digital Skills & Media
  • Business & Enterprise
  • Apprenticeships
F Floor

Our University Centre is located on F Floor and is home to all Higher Education students and staff. 

Home to:

  • University Centre
  • Professional Studies
  • Teacher Education
  • Access to HE
  • Curriculum Support
  • Skills for Life
E Floor

This is home to our Health and Social Care Students.

Here you will find a dentistry room with working chair and tools, a pharmacy, a hospital room and nursery style classroom for Childcare students.

Home to:

  • Health & Social Care
  • Early Years & Childhood Professions
  • Dental Nursing
D Floor

D Floor is home to our student run D Cafe.

Run by Employability and Life Skills students, the cafe provides them with skills for the future as well as providing you with a nice coffee and cake. 

Home to:

  • Maths and English
  • Employability & Life Skills
  • D Cafe
  • ESOL
  • Job Centre Plus
C Floor

Our business support, executive suite and meeting rooms are all found on C floor. This floor is restricted for student entry unless permission is granted. 

Home to:

  • Business Support
  • Executive Suite
  • Meeting Rooms
  • External Funding
B Floor

Here you will find The Full Works Salon, a hair and beauty salon run by staff and students; with affordable treatments for you and your friends.

One of our two Learning Centres is also on B Floor and has plenty of PCs for drop-in use as well as bookable rooms for collaboration and quiet study.

Home to:

  • Full Works Salon
  • Hair & Beauty
  • Multi Faith Room
  • 14-16 Suite
  • Students Union
  • Learning Centre
A Floor

A Floor is home to our state-of-the-art DigiHub and Trade Academy. Our Digital Skills, Computing and Media students will spend a lot of their time here in the music studio, photography studio or iMac Suite.

Students of our construction courses will find our Brickwork, Carpentry and Joinery workshops. You will also find Cuisine 1893, our very own restaurant standard kitchen, where our hospitality and catering students will train. 

Home to:

  • Reception
  • Cuisine 1893
  • DigiHub
  • Enrolment Suite
  • Learner Services
  • Trade Academy
Inspire Centre

The Inspire Centre is home to our Sport students. With a fitness suite, rock climbing wall, sports hall and outdoor pitches there’s plenty of opportunities to get stuck into a new sport or fitness regime.

The Inspire Centre also hosts our second Learning Centre and our Animal Care students will also find their animals in the various classrooms dedicated to them, or in the outdoor hutches. Facilities for our Public Services, Outdoor Education, Electrical, Plumbing and Engineering courses are also found in the Inspire Centre. Plus you can grab a coffee from Starbucks on your way out!

Home to:

  • Sports & Fitness
  • Animal Care
  • Learning Centre
  • Outdoor Pitches

We may look a little different!

You might have noticed we recently made some changes to the look of our website but don’t worry you can still find all the courses and information you need!

Here are some quick links below