One of those people is Dave, who recently joined us as Head of Estates & Safety after spending 26 years in the British Army.

Growing up in an Army family, service has always been part of Dave’s life. While his career has taken a different direction, the values that shaped his time in the military – integrity, teamwork, discipline and putting people first – continue to guide everything he does.

“The transition into civilian employment was more daunting than I expected,” Dave said. “I’d never had a job interview. All my qualifications were military, and I genuinely wondered what transferable skills I had.”

Like many veterans, Dave found that leaving the Armed Forces meant adapting to a completely different way of working. While career workshops helped him prepare a CV, he says nothing truly prepares you for leaving behind a career that has defined so much of your life.

Looking back, however, the skills he gained through military service have been invaluable.

“People have always said the same thing to me – you get things done, you care about people and you look after your team.”

Those qualities have led Dave through several purpose-driven organisations, including the National Trust, NHS Property Services and Yorkshire Cancer Research, before joining us at Fedcap.

“I’ve naturally gravitated towards charities and not-for-profit organisations because I wanted to do something where I was giving something back.”

Although employability was a new sector, Fedcap’s mission immediately stood out.

“What surprised me most was the pace. You’re supporting thousands of people through major contracts, but the common thread is always the people. Everyone I’ve met has been welcoming, supportive and completely focused on helping customers.”

A recent visit to our Staines office reinforced exactly why that work matters.

“Hearing Employment Advisers supporting customers reminded me what all the behind-the-scenes work is really for. It’s easy to feel removed from the frontline until you hear those conversations and see the difference they’re making.”

On Armed Forces Day, Dave believes it’s an important opportunity to recognise not only those currently serving, but also the many veterans who continue making a difference in their communities.

“It’s wonderful to see veterans recognised. Years ago, many people left quietly with little acknowledgement. Today there’s a much greater appreciation for service, and that’s something we should never take for granted.”

Dave is also keen to build on our longstanding commitment to supporting veterans and helping people overcome barriers to employment.

“I’d love to become more involved in how we support veterans. There are fantastic networks available, and there’s a real opportunity to help veterans understand what’s available to them as they transition into civilian life.”

As he settles into his new role, Dave is focused on creating safe, welcoming environments where our colleagues can thrive and customers receive the very best support.

For Dave, service hasn’t ended – it has simply found a new purpose.

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By sharing her lived experience with inmates at Rikers Island prison in New York, Zulay is inspiring people to change their lives on release. 

Five years ago, Zulay was released from Rikers Island prison. Scared and confused, she was introduced to Fedcap who supported her to integrate back into her community of Queens. 

The chance to join us as a re-entry mentor gave Zulay the opportunity to use her lived experience to support others facing the very same situation she had once been in.  

Her boldest step was to return to Rikers Island to work directly with people preparing to leave the justice system with the aim of positively reintegrating them to their communities.  

Zulay said: “When I meet people in Rikers and say I used to be in here, I know where you’re coming from, they say ‘For real? You’re in here talking to me? Wow, I want to do what you do’. 

“I tell them they’ve got to work. Change is always possible. You’ve got to want to do it. 

“I never expected to be sitting here. It feels so good at this stage of my life right now.  

“Fedcap kept me out of trouble, kept me focused and got me elevated. I’m very motivated. This is not my last stop. I’m planning to study for a degree and become a social worker or an educator and work with kids. 

“I don’t know where I would be if I didn’t get introduced to Fedcap, but I do know that without Fedcap believing in me, none of this would be possible. 

“I’m grateful for everything Fedcap has helped me with and continues to help me strive for.” 

The post “Without Fedcap believing in me, none of this would be possible”  appeared first on Fedcap.

By co-locating at the BE-ST Campus, Apex Training will enable individuals to gain industry-recognised credentials and practical experience, supporting entry into high-demand roles across the UK’s growing green economy utilising Scotland’s national innovation centre for the built environment.

Steve Kiakowski, Director of Green Skills at Fedcap’s The Verdancy Group, said: “We’re delighted to have begun delivering our sustainable green skills jobs programmes from Scotland’s state-of-the-art facility in Hamilton. The building itself has undergone a full retrofit, making it the ideal place to base our operations.

“By choosing the BE-ST Innovation Campus as our home, we will remain at the forefront of low-carbon construction, digital innovation, and retrofit best practice – ensuring our learners receive best-in-class green skills training.”

Courses include Pathways to Net Zero; Award in Understanding Damp and Mould; NOCN Level 2 Understanding Domestic Retrofit; SCQF Award in Understanding Domestic Retrofit; Introduction to Airtightness and Ventilation; and Award in Energy Efficiency Measures for Older and Traditional Buildings.

Christine McMahon, President and CEO of Fedcap, said: “Following the launch of our Apex Training Centre in Basingstoke in early 2025, we are already seeing clear results – graduates of our solar installation programme are earning, on average, 20% more in entry-level solar roofing roles than in comparable warehouse positions.

“We project the same at the BE-ST location. This programme delivers tangible economic mobility for individuals from barriered communities. We are thrilled to partner with Scottish leaders to bring our proven, industry-aligned green skills programmes to scale, supporting the workforce needed to advance Scotland’s decarbonisation goals while expanding access to higher-paying careers.”

The Verdancy Group joined the not-for-profit organisation Fedcap last year and is expanding and strengthening its training offer through its Apex Training brand, drawing on the expertise of Fedcap’s Apex Technical School, a leading US vocational training institution with more than 60 years of experience.

Stephen Good, CEO of BE-ST said: “We are excited to welcome The Verdancy Group, one of Scotland’s most innovative low carbon training providers, as our new partners and tenants on campus. We look forward to collaborating to expand support to those across the sector looking to upskill over the next few years.”

Apex Training Course Dates for BE-ST, Hamilton are available to book now

The post Apex Training launches new green skills training programme at Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre appeared first on Fedcap.

Volunteers will be matched with around 30 young people aged 18-24 based upon mutual interests and will aim to develop positive personal relationships to help normalise fears about work and adult life, and provide space to talk informally about social anxieties.

It is the first of a range of initiatives Fedcap has been developing through working alongside young people in a series of focus groups and workshops, to complement our ongoing work to support individuals into sustainable employment.

“We’re seeing an increasing number of young people struggling to secure work in today’s job market,” said Susan Paterson, Executive Director of Fedcap Employment. “From listening to young people, the same two themes keep being repeated – a lack of work experience and awareness; and social anxiety and fear of the workplace.”

Fedcap has found that structural shifts in the labour market have reduced the informal entry points that once helped young people build experience and confidence. Weekend jobs, entry-level roles, and early workplace exposure have declined in many areas, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pilot youth mentoring programme, which will initially be rolled out across South Central England, will be bolstered by Fedcap-initiated employer awareness days – giving young people the chance to spend time inside real organisations, see what a typical working day looks like, and help demystify the workplace.

Susan added: “Many young people simply don’t know what different jobs look like in reality, or the variety of career paths available to them. For many, the idea of being in a workplace feels intimidating and overwhelming. This isn’t about motivation – it’s about confidence, exposure, and feeling like they belong.”

This follows a recent report by Fedcap’s Community Impact Policy Institute, recommending ways to end youth inactivity which highlighted the need for universal access to meaningful work experience to help young people improve their economic mobility.

“Recommendations to End Youth Inactivity in the UK: A National Framework for Re-Engagement”, builds on Fedcap’s integrated approach to supporting young people to improve their economic mobility – providing structured, personalised support that combines employability services, skills development, and health interventions.

Read the report here

The post Fedcap Launches Youth Mentoring Programme to Tackle Rising NEET Levels for People Under 25 appeared first on Fedcap.

Designed to meet young adults where their interests already are, the program will leverage esports to introduce participants to digital career pathways in STEM, IT, broadcasting, event production, and entrepreneurship. Through hands-on learning, team-based competition, and industry mentorship—supported by Fedcap-affiliated workforce and education programs that help bridge communities and create international exchange opportunities—the initiative will build the technical and professional skills needed to succeed in a digital-first economy.

“This initiative reflects how innovation can open doors and bring people together across communities and countries,” said Christine McMahon, President and CEO of Fedcap. “Through our network of affiliates in the United States and the United Kingdom, we are helping connect young people to new opportunities, new skills, and new possibilities. By meeting them where their interests are and linking them to education and workforce pathways, we are using technology to break down barriers and create meaningful connections that lead to economic mobility.”

“This initiative reflects the power of technology to bring people together across cities, countries, and cultures,” said Doug Binette, Director of Civic Hall Programming and the NY Tech Alliance. “Esports gives individuals a shared language that transcends borders. Through this exchange between New York City and the United Kingdom, we’re opening doors to global collaboration, digital career pathways, and new ways of learning that simply weren’t possible a generation ago.”

The program will be produced in collaboration with Civic Hall’s NY Tech Alliance, which will lead operations, event coordination, and participant engagement, drawing on its extensive network of technologists, employers, and innovators. Additional partners include Full Sail University, a national leader in entertainment and media education; VOICE (Voice of Intercollegiate Esports), a nonprofit advancing educational esports; and Fedcap and Fedcap UK, which will support workforce development and facilitate international exchange opportunities.

Together, the partners will create an inclusive environment where participants develop teamwork, leadership, and technical skills while building confidence and community connections through structured competition and collaboration.

The program will start in spring of 2026 beginning with recruitment, branding, and team formation in New York City alongside initial training. Participants will engage in hands-on skills development through workshops, practices, tournaments, and mentorship that integrate digital production and career readiness. The program will culminate with a live, hybrid Civic Hall Esports Invitational connecting New York and U.K. teams through competitive play and broadcast production. Following the tournament, Civic Hall will host a Career Pathways Summit, linking participants with employers, industry leaders, and next-step opportunities in technology and digital fields.

The initiative is designed not only to promote healthy competition and teamwork, but also to foster mental well-being, strengthen social connections, and expose participants to real-world career pathways in growing digital industries.

“Esports is more than entertainment—it’s a platform for learning, collaboration, and professional growth,” Susan Paterson, Executive Director, Fedcap Employment UK. “Through this partnership, we are equipping young people with future-ready skills, opening doors to new opportunities and career pathways, and connecting them to a broader global community where technology helps break down barriers and expand what’s possible.”

Hosted at Civic Hall, New York City’s hub for innovation, technology education, and workforce development, the program builds on the organization’s mission to expand access to opportunity through digital training and community-based learning.

About Civic Hall

Civic Hall’s Bernard Goldstein Center at Union Square is a collaborative innovation center that brings together civic-minded technologists, social entrepreneurs, government officials, and community leaders to develop technology solutions for the public good. Located in Union Square—the heart of New York City’s burgeoning tech sector, Civic Hall fosters a vibrant ecosystem of knowledge sharing and cooperative action. Civic Hall’s mission is to support and enable best-in-class programs that help close the digital skills divide and plan for the needs of tomorrow’s workforce. Civic Hall facilitates groundbreaking partnerships among high-impact organizations, civic and social innovators, workforce training partners, and New York’s employer ecosystem to work collectively to meet the educational and professional needs of all New Yorkers, especially those from communities too often left behind. Civic Hall also serves as a tech incubator and accelerator, support network for profit and nonprofit organizations and start-ups, and place to spur new innovations and ideas. For more information about membership, training, and event opportunities please visit civichall.org. Civic Hall is an organization of Fedcap.

About Fedcap

For nearly ninety years, The Fedcap Group has developed scalable, innovative, and potentially disruptive solutions to some of society’s most pressing needs. The Fedcap Group drives economic mobility through four practice areas—education, workforce development, health, and economic development. The Fedcap Group also invests its time and resources in broader system change—working in partnership with federal, state, and local government to improve the way services are designed, funded, and delivered. For more information visit www.fedcapgroup.org.

The post Fedcap’s Civic Hall Launches Global Esports Workforce Initiative Linking New York City and the United Kingdom appeared first on Fedcap.

Fedcap is delivering the Inspiring Futures programme on behalf of Cheshire East Council to help people with health conditions go into voluntary and paid work. The supported employment programme finds roles that suit the needs of customers and encourages employers to create reasonable adjustments to create a more inclusive workplace and help people stay in work.

When our Occupation Inclusion Specialist Becky Smith, met Bethany and Jenny from Bright and Wonderful Care to talk about the programme and our services, it became clear that they were enthusiastic about offering inclusive adjustments for their employees. Becky encouraged Bright and Wonderful to take the next step in becoming an inclusive employer and sign up to Disability Confident Level 1.

Bright and Wonderful Care offers a variety of roles to suit different circumstances as they provide respite for families with special educational needs and comorbid conditioned children by supporting them on days out in the community, including visits to specialised fully inclusive venues and night sits when required.

Bright and Wonderful Care is now a Disability Confident Level 1 Employer offering a fully inclusive recruitment process and have placed three Inspiring Futures customers into roles with reasonable adjustments.

For more information about becoming Disability Confident contact us.

The post Customers heading for a ‘Bright and Wonderful’ future appeared first on Fedcap.

We’ve been shortlisted in four categories:

Vicky Shields, our Employment Adviser in Brighton, has been shortlisted for Frontline Adviser of the Year, for the significant impact she has had on her customers’ lives.

Fedcap Scotland has made the cut for Tailored Employment Support of the Year, after supporting 560 Ukrainian citizens, who fled the Russian invasion, helping more than 200 into work so far.

Fedcap has also been announced as a finalist in a new Social Value category, which recognises organisations dedicated to creating positive social change while efficiently using resources and maximising the value delivered to taxpayers.

Finally, we nominated one of the UK’s largest operators of restaurants, pubs and bars, Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) for Employer Partnership of the Year. With over 600 sites nationally, M&B has led the way as Fedcap’s first formal “Employer Partnership”, and we’re delighted to see them shortlisted.

The winners will be announced at the ERSA Annual Conference and Awards in London on 28 November.

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