Our Providers

What makes the BEST Network special is that it brings together a wide variety of not for profit organisations with a track record of successfully delivering employment support to a wide variety of client groups. To find out more about each of our partners please see below:

Bangladesh Women’s Association

Key aims and objectives

Their main aim is to empower women in building their self confidence to take control of their own lives and contribute to society.

Services

They have volunteer placements for school and college students in our organisations for work experience and offer them an apprenticeship level. They also offer nursery for ages 3-5, and crèche for age’s 1-5 services for mothers attending our classes.

History

BWA has been working in Small Heath, Sparkbrook, Sparkhill, Aston and Yardley since 1988 with Black minority ethnic women aged 13 and 60 who are mainly Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Somalian, Arabic and Indian. We have vast experience of working with disadvantaged BME community

BDRC

Key aims and objectives

Their aim is to support disabled people to take control of their own lives and to actively seek out opportunities to achieve their full potential as individuals in mainstream society.

Services

To deliver information, advice and guidance services on employment, training and learning opportunities to disabled people and those on incapacity benefit in Birmingham who are disengaged from mainstream employment services.

History

BDRC has 17 years experience of delivering various employments and training contracts to disabled people and IB claimants in both Birmingham & Solihull addressing their personal needs and barriers and supporting them into employment.

Crossmatch Solutions

Key aims and objectives

The main purpose of the Crossmatch is to deliver employment related support and detailed planning aimed at assisting in the achievement of both educational and work related personal targets leading to sustainable employment. We also aim to improve access to and develop existing provision by focusing on the needs of those facing multiple barriers to employment.

Services

Crossmatch has been delivering specialist services to move vulnerable individuals into training and employment since August 2003. This includes working with ex offenders, people with a history of drug abuse, the homeless, problem drinkers

The company currently works to deliver a range of contracts including:

History

Crossmatch was originally set up in 2003 by two Managing Partners to place ex-Offenders, people with a history of drug misuse, the homeless and Problem drinkers into sustainable training and employment. As the company has become more successful all of our work is focused on the workless and most vulnerable.

Crossover

Key aims and objectives

Working to provide services to ensure that that each familiy has at least one familiy member earning an income

Services

Community Resource Centre specialises in issues of worklessness, offering non-threatening and confidential advice, support, and training for individuals on the journey back to work. Our qualified Advisors are Matrix Accreditted. We welcome people of all faiths and of no faith, and our staff have a variety of cultural backgrounds as might be expected in an area of ethnic diversity.

History

Crossover was established in 1993 as the charitable arm of St Paul’s Bordesley Green to provide a range of services with the aim of improving the conditions of life for local people. Crossover has been delivering services related to improving the economic well – Being of local people for 14 years

Enterkey Training

Key aims and objectives

The organisations business objectives are to:

Services

Services include:

History

Enterkey Training has delivered a range of learning and training contracts with learn direct, enterprising communities, UK Online and Connexions. On the 26th June 2009 Enterkey were announced as the Regional Winners of the ‘learn direct Centre of the Year Award 2009’

Jericho Foundation

Key aims and objectives

Services

They offer work experience programmes, they also offer guidance & encouragement throughout, job search and work related skills are taught, one to one sessions with client support staff are also available to provide more intensive coaching.

History

The Jericho Foundation has extensive history of service delivery. We have delivered contracts on behalf of all major funder within the welfare to work arena including Jobcentre Plus(directly and through prime contractors), The Learning and Skills Council, Birmingham City Council, Government Office for the West Midlands, Connexions, Housing Associations and Private Sector Providers.

Remploy

Services

Remploy provides a comprehensive range of employment services to support disabled people and those experiencing complex barriers to work into gaining and retaining sustainable employment.

History

Remploy have extensive experience of delivering employment support contracts for disabled people and have a significant training/ production facility within the constituency.

Tyseley & Greet ERC

Key aims and objectives

Services

History