Our Work

I Can Pre-Employment Programme

I Can has helped residents across East Birmingham and neighbouring communities build the skills, confidence and connections they need to move towards employment.

Loconomy initially delivered a community-based pre-employment pathway linked to the wider Birmingham and Solihull NHS I Can programme. We subsequently developed and delivered a Loconomy-led extension, commissioned by Birmingham City Council through its Household Support programme.

Images courtesy of Cori Jones

Programme Overview

Many residents interested in employment were not yet ready to progress directly into recruitment or workplace training. Common barriers included limited English and maths qualifications, low digital confidence, difficulty preparing applications and CVs, anxiety about interviews, poor wellbeing and a lack of awareness of available employment pathways.

Loconomy responded by combining locally accessible pre-employment training with one-to-one coach mentoring, practical employability support, referrals to further learning and opportunities to meet employers.

NHS-linked pre-employment pathway

From September 2024 to June 2025, Loconomy worked with Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board and University Hospitals Birmingham to develop a pathway for residents who needed additional preparation before entering the NHS I Can Learning Hub or pursuing other employment.

The programme included community outreach, a structured pre-employment course, individual support, job fairs and connections to training providers and employers.

First-stage outcomes

97

learners enrolled on the pre-employment course

78%

of surveyed learners reported improved confidence

94

learners completed, giving a completion rate of more than 96%

73%

said the course had improved their wellbeing

51

learners were referred to basic or functional skills provision

405

residents engaged

308

additional residents engaged through three job fairs and community outreach sessions

13

learners secured employment, including five who entered NHS roles

45

learners completed certified First Aid training

The programme reached communities experiencing significant economic disadvantage. Of the learners taking part, 82% were women, 81% were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and 93% lived in East Birmingham.

Loconomy-led extension

Following the first stage, Birmingham City Council commissioned Loconomy to extend the pre-employment model. Delivered from September 2025 to April 2026, this phase was led by Loconomy rather than being delivered as part of the NHS partnership.

Working with local delivery organisations, Loconomy provided structured training, one-to-one coach mentoring, CV and application support, interview preparation, career planning and referrals to employment and further learning. Delivery was centred on St Paul’s Community Development Trust, with targeted outreach in Digbeth and Balsall Heath.

Extension outcomes

16

participants secured confirmed employment

86

of the 95 participants were women

All

95 participants received individual coach mentoring

90

residents attended the Community Jobs Fair

More

than 14 employers, training providers and community organisations exhibited at the event

95

participants completed the programme against a target of 60

More

than 97% of participants were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities

45

people progressed into further learning or training, three times the programme target

Employment destinations included care, medical reception, a dental nursing apprenticeship, ESOL tutoring, social media content creation, local authority employment and community education roles.

Building confidence and progression

The programme recognised that a job is not always the first outcome. For residents facing multiple barriers, developing confidence, improving English, maths or digital skills and receiving support from a trusted local coach can be essential steps towards sustainable employment.

Participants reported improvements in employability skills, motivation, career planning, confidence and readiness to progress. The high number of referrals into further learning demonstrates the importance of creating a progression pathway rather than focusing solely on immediate job outcomes.

The two stages of I Can have shown how locally accessible training, trusted mentoring and strong connections with employers and learning providers can help residents move closer to employment and wider economic participation.

For more information about Loconomy’s employment and skills work, please contact us.

  • Job Fair at Villa Park

  • Job Fair at St Paul's

  • Job Fair at Villa Park

  • Job Fair at St Paul's

  • Job Fair at Villa Park

  • Job Fair at St Paul's

  • Job Fair at St Paul's

  • Job Fair at St Paul's

  • Job Fair at St Paul's