UKSE 50th Anniversary Bursary Opens New Pathways for Barnsley SEMH Pupils

Young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs at Park House School are set to benefit from a series of tailored employability courses, thanks to joint bursary funding from UKSE and Building Our Skills Academy Limited.

As part of UKSE’s 50th anniversary celebrations, nine fully funded training courses will be delivered to pupils at the Barnsley-based specialist provision, offering access to practical skills development and career insight opportunities that are often out of reach for young people with complex additional needs.

UKSE is a subsidiary of Tata Steel. They work in steel areas across the UK to help businesses grow and create jobs. UKSE provide equity and loan finance to growing companies in these areas. They also provide business premises to these businesses at their Business & Innovation Centres.

Many pupils at Park House School have experienced disrupted education and may struggle to engage with traditional training routes due to the social and emotional challenges outlined in their Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). As a result, opportunities to access further education or vocational pathways can be limited, increasing the risk of becoming Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) post-16.

Working collaboratively with Building Our Skills, the programme has been carefully adapted to meet the needs of SEMH learners. Pupil passports are shared with training providers to ensure that individual triggers for stress and anxiety are understood, while trusted school staff attend weekly sessions to help learners feel safe and supported throughout.

The funded six-week courses will provide pupils with hands-on experience across a range of industry skills, as well as opportunities to meet local employers and gain a clearer understanding of working life

Through this initiative, pupils will be introduced to potential career paths they may not previously have considered, helping to build both confidence and aspiration while creating valuable connections with local employers and industry representatives.

The programme has also been strengthened through the support of local employers, including Kingfisher Windows. Operations Director Luke Hatfield recently welcomed pupils from Park House School to the company’s facility, taking the time to explain how the factory operates, showcase the variety of roles available within the business and provide an insight into the day-to-day workings of the manufacturing sector.

Ann-Marie Oliver, Head Teacher at Park House School, said: “Our young people at Park House School might have Special Education Needs, but they don’t let this stop them from aspiring to great things in the future. Thanks to funding from UKSE and planning and delivery by Building Our Skills, our pupils have been given the opportunity to access a six-week work experience and careers course.

“They have been exposed to different career routes in industry, met local employers and had a go at developing some trade skills themselves through joinery, plastering and window fitting. This project has been about three organisations working collaboratively to offer a potentially life-changing intervention for some of the most disadvantaged and complex pupils in our local community.”

Mark Handley, Partnerships Manager at Building Our Skills Academy Limited, added: “It’s a great opportunity to work with these young people and deliver training to help give them skills and basic knowledge that should help them as they start to get into industry.

“Within the training we explain the many different roles within the Fenestration, Glass and Glazing industry and what we have built gives them a small taste of what the world of work looks like. Looking at all the different jobs roles laid out in our 18 ‘Career Families’ should give them a feel of the range and huge number of opportunities that can be available to them.

“We have had support from our industry partners who have said this initiative gives these young people a great start for the potential of a career in our sector, and they look forward to work on more of these projects in the future”

Pete Newton, Regional Executive at UKSE, said: “Supporting initiatives like this through our 50th Anniversary Bursary allows us to create meaningful opportunities for young people.

“By working in partnership with Building Our Skills and Park House School, we are helping SEMH learners to develop practical skills, build confidence and gain valuable insight into future career pathways within industry.”

This bursary is part of UKSE’s 50th anniversary celebrations, marking five decades of investing in people, businesses, and communities across the UK.

UKSE provides loans and equity finance of up to £1.5m to existing growing businesses, particularly those creating jobs – for further information, please contact the team on 0114 2700 933.