Employment coach jobs

If you share our vision that ‘every young person should be empowered to gain the confidence, independence and skills they need for a better and brighter future’ we might have the perfect role for you!

ThinkForward is recruiting a Progression Coach in New Romney, Kent, to join our team delivering our unique programme supporting young people into further education and employment. If you are….

· Passionate about, and experienced in, supporting young people to make amazing decisions about their futures

· Committed to equity, diversity, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice

· Persistent, empathic and agile in your style of work and able to apply a coaching approach to the delivery of our programme

· Able to tell the stories of our work through data

· Confident in running one-to-one and group work sessions 

· Knowledgeable of employability practices and the importance of tailored progression planning for young people

…then please click on the job pack for our role description and information pack for more details about ThinkForward and the role you could play, then apply with your CV and cover letter.

Applicants should note that this role will require access to a vehicle. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

Employment Coach

Are you driven by the belief that every woman deserves the chance to shape her future, no matter her past?

We are an award‑winning national charity, the UK’s only employment charity dedicated solely to supporting women with convictions.

Driven by our vision of a society where no woman is held back by her past, we work to ensure every woman has the support, encouragement and opportunities she needs to reset her life and thrive.

We challenge misconceptions about women with convictions and raise awareness of the issues that often sit behind women’s offending. At the heart of our work is a simple belief: a conviction should never define a woman’s future.

If you’re passionate about helping people transform their lives, you could be the person we’re looking for to join our small, friendly team at Working Chance.

About the role

Our Employment Coaches support our clients to build their confidence, strengthen their employability and secure work that aligns with their skills, aspirations and circumstances. You’ll do this by guiding women through their job search and applications, and by helping them access opportunities with employers we partner with.

You’ll carry out initial assessments, develop personalised action plans, identify barriers to employment and signpost to specialist support where needed. You’ll also help clients prepare disclosure statements and stay motivated throughout their journey.

You’ll build strong relationships with employers, monitor suitable vacancies and proactively promote clients for opportunities.

You can find out lots more about the role and the charity - including the job description and person specification - in the downloadable recruitment pack below. 

If you think this might be the opportunity you've been looking for, we'd love to hear from you!

What we offer

You’ll be joining a supportive, values‑driven team who care deeply about the women we work with. Alongside a competitive salary, we offer flexible working, a generous holiday allowance, wellbeing days and time off for your birthday.

 For more information about Working Chance, please visit our website.

Closing date: 12pm, Monday 13 April 2026
Interviews: Week commencing 20 April 2026

Vetting and role requirements

As an organisation committed to supporting women with criminal convictions into employment, we warmly welcome applicants with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

Please note that this role requires a Basic DBS check and HMPPS vetting because it includes work on contracts commissioned by the Ministry of Justice and HMPPS. These vetting processes have specific criteria set by those agencies, which means that not all applicants will be eligible to pass. We want to be transparent about this so that candidates can make informed decisions, while still encouraging anyone who feels they could thrive in this role to apply.

Guidance and requirements can be found in the ‘HMPPS Risk Assessed Access for Personnel with Lived Experience of the Criminal Justice System Policy Framework’. A link to this included in the job pack.

Due to requirements set out in these contracts, this position is open only to women, in accordance with the sex‑based exemptions of the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1).

Application guidance

While we recognise the increasing use of AI tools, your personal insights, experiences and reflections are what matter most to us. We strongly encourage applicants to provide answers in their own words. Your individuality is your strength, and AI‑generated responses may limit your opportunity to stand out.

 Application process

To help us understand your experience and motivations, please submit your CV along with brief written responses to our questions.

We look forward to learning more about you and the strengths you could bring to our team.

Employment & Progression Coach 

Capital City College Westminster Centre, 76 Vincent Square, SW1P 2PD, London

Permanent, full-time 

£31,500 &  34 days of annual leave

About Hotel School

Hotel School is an award-winning charity that empowers people who have experienced homelessness and other disadvantages to thrive in the hospitality industry. This dynamic 10-week programme combines theory, hands-on experience, and industry visits to provide the skills and confidence to land a job and excel in it. 

Hotel School provides a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive training environment where students are given the opportunity to build their confidence to learn and grow. Our holistic approach is how we succeed in finding and sustaining long-term employment and progression, even for those who have been unemployed for over 20 years. We support our graduates as they take their first steps into work through mentoring, employer education, and progression management and support our graduates for up to one year after graduation, and sometimes longer if needed. 

Hotel School operates as a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE), meaning our training programme is tailored to address the emotional and psychological needs of the individuals we work with. Within this framework, Hotel School adopts a Trauma-Informed approach when engaging with students and graduates, acknowledging that many may have encountered complex trauma.

About the Role

Join a small, passionate, and dynamic team committed to helping individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds complete their training and transition into sustainable, inclusive careers within the hospitality industry.

As an Employment & Progression Coach, you’ll work one-on-one with students and graduates, supporting them to overcome barriers, stay motivated, and achieve their goals, evoking meaningful change in their lives and futures.

You will also work closely with Hotel School hospitality employer partners to identify suitable job opportunities and collaborate to ensure our graduates are well-supported as they transition into and sustain meaningful employment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one, trauma-informed and person-centred employment support to students and graduates

• Help graduates overcome barriers and prepare for sustainable hospitality careers

• Work closely with employer partners to secure and support job opportunities

• Coordinate work experience placements and deliver employability workshops

• Collaborate with mentors and support services to ensure holistic, person-centred support

• Monitor and record the progress of students and graduates

• Follow safeguarding procedures and respond appropriately

About you

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Experienced working with people experiencing homelessness and/or other disadvantages or in

  employment services

• Compassionate, patient, and calm under pressure

• Passionate about empowering and motivating people to move forward

• Experienced in supporting people facing barriers

• Highly organised, proactive, adaptable, with great communication skills

• Able to build trust and communicate well with a wide range of people in person

• Experienced in admin and using systems (MS Office essential)

Bonus (but not essential):

• Hospitality experience

• Knowledge of trauma-informed or person-centred practice

Benefits 

Salary and Leave 

• Annual salary of £31,500. 

• Annual Leave: 34 days of annual leave, inclusive of all public and bank holidays. 

• Pension Scheme

Professional Development 

• 1:1 Coaching 

• Supervision 

• Group Reflective Practice 

• Ongoing Training 

Well-being and Support 

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): Through Hospitality Action, the EAP provides confidential support and resources to employees, such as counseling, legal advice, and financial planning. 

• Wellbeing activities such as staff socials, yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. 

Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and especially encourage people with lived experience of homelessness, disadvantage, or marginalisation to apply. We're committed to building an inclusive, supportive team that reflects the people we work with.

How to Apply

Please send:

• A CV (max 2 pages)
• A Supporting Statement (max 350 words per question) responding to the four questions below

Supporting Statement Questions
 You can draw on paid work, volunteering, or personal experience.

1. Why are you applying for this role?
    What excites you about The Hotel School and this opportunity?
2. Empowering people to achieve their goals                                                                                                         Tell us about a time you supported someone to identify and achieve their personal or professional goals. What steps did you take, and what was the outcome?
3. Supporting people through challenges                                                                                                             . Tell us about a time you supported someone facing barriers (e.g. housing, confidence, mental health).
4. How does your previous experience prepare you for this role?
    Refer to the job description and share examples that show you're a good fit.

Deadline: 15th April 2026
Informal chats are welcome — please contact Dana.

We understand AI tools can be helpful in preparing applications, but we really value responses that feel personal, reflective, and show us why this work matters to you.

Recruitment Process

If shortlisted, we’ll invite you to a short telephone screening call (20–30 minutes) to learn more about you, answer any questions, and explain the next stage.

Following that, selected candidates will be invited to an in-person interview at The Hotel School in central London. This includes a panel interview, a scenario task, and the opportunity to meet one of our graduates.

We want the process to feel welcoming and supportive, and we’ll share full details in advance so you can prepare.

Safeguarding

This role requires an enhanced DBS check. The Hotel School is committed to safeguarding and to creating inclusive, safe environments for all students, graduates, and staff.​

Job title: Employment Coach – Northern Futures
Salary: £25,229 – £27,885 per annum
Hours: Full Time – 37 Hours per week
Contract: Fixed term until 31 March 2027
Location: Available posts within the North East Combined Authority region (Co Durham, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland & Gateshead)

About us

Groundwork aims to be the UK’s leading regeneration charity, working through partnership to create communities in which people are proud to live and work. This programme will deliver Groundwork’s mission of supporting people to improve their prospects and reach their full potential.

About the role

As an Employment Coach, you will manage a caseload of participants aged 18-24 years old, and provide them with 1:1 support, helping them overcome barriers to employment and training. You will be responsible for supporting them through every stage of their journey, enabling participants to address their barriers and realise their aspirations.

Within this role you will be required to source new referrals who are predominantly economically inactive; complete the enrolment paperwork, including development plans and eligibility checks. You will also be required to attend events and present the delivery model to referral sources to attract additional referrals.

Successful employment coaches believe in the potential of every individual they work with.

A bit about you

We want someone like you with the confidence to positively engage and motivate people from a wide range of backgrounds. We’re in search of individuals who have prior experience in employment coaching, case management, or related fields, ideally with a focus on economically inactive individuals. You will have strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport whilst being empathetic, patient, and proficient in communicating with individuals from various backgrounds.

You will be passionate about empowering others to recognise their strengths, overcome obstacles, and achieve their goals. Believing that with the right support and guidance, individuals can take control of their own futures and succeed in the labour market.

Closing date: Midnight on Tuesday 14th April 2026 
Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications, we may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the Apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Make yourself at home

We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adults

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.