A new ‘one-stop shop’ for skills and post-16 education services provided by Plymouth City Council is opening in the city centre this summer.
The new space on the first floor of Cobourg House on Mayflower Street will help to deliver integrated, face-to-face education and employment support services for residents.
The four key services coming together under one roof are:
- On Course South West: The Council’s in-house adult education provider, offering a wide range of courses, qualifications, apprenticeships, and supported internships.
- Skills Launchpad Plymouth: Offers skills, education and careers support through the Youth Hub (for ages 16 to 24) and Adult Hub (for ages 25+), as well as sector partnerships including Building Plymouth, Caring Plymouth, and Welcoming Plymouth.
- Careers Plymouth: Leads career transitions work in schools and for young people not in education, employment, or training (NEET).
- Connect to Work: A new government-funded initiative providing intensive support for individuals facing complex barriers to securing sustainable employment.
Each service will be moving to the new location over the coming months.
The move will see On Course South West transition from Hyde Park House in Mutley, with all courses from September 2025 delivered from eight newly equipped classrooms at Cobourg House.
Skills Launchpad Plymouth will also relocate from its current base on the first floor of Barclays in the city centre, a space which has been generously provided in-kind since 2020.
Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, said: “We’re really excited to bring together our skills and adult education services under one roof to enhance collaboration and improve access to these vital services for Plymouth residents.
“Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, need support finding a job or are looking to develop your career, there will be so much support and expertise on hand to help you, all in one accessible location.”
Bringing the services together in a central and well-connected location will make it easier for residents to access the support they need, with the area well served by transport links whether people are travelling by car, bike, bus or train.
The expanded space will also allow for more community events, such as careers fairs, and doubles the classroom capacity for On Course South West which is needed to meet the growing demand for adult learning and skills training for the city.
The Connect to Work scheme is due to launch in autumn 2025 and more detail will be shared in due course.
Find out more about the courses offered by On Course South West at www.oncoursesouthwest.co.uk.
For more detail about the services provided by Skills Launchpad Plymouth, visit www.skillslaunchpadplym.co.uk.
If you have existing courses or sessions booked with one of the providers during the summer, please check directly with them first to confirm their location as each service will be moving at different times.