From pews to prospects: Torquay church turns into jobseeker hub

Your local church may not be the first place you’d think about visiting if you’re looking for a job. But one of the many rooms at Upton Vale Baptist Church is proving to be the best place to be for jobseekers in the Torbay area.

2B Ready (2BR) is a free course where attendees can expect to enhance their employability—along with improving their CVs, honing interview skills and boosting confidence.

Supported by Upton Vale Baptist Church and in close collaboration with Torquay Job Centre, the 2BR course runs over five weeks, two hours a week, and sessions are split into easy-to-remember topics that spell out the word READY. So far, the course has guided over 30 jobseekers to be more ready and resilient for work.

Course participants are positive in their feedback and note that the course adopts a different approach to being work-ready. “Very efficient and impactful. Builds people up with possibilities and new ways to see your future,” said one attendee, while another described the 2BR as offering “a really holistic, positive, and encouraging base to move forward.”

And the course is proving successful. In the February 2BR course, one participant was unable to come to the last session—the interview techniques the week before had prepared him so well that he had secured a new job in the meantime.

If you or someone you know would like to improve the chance of finding work, or you’re finding it hard to get started in the job market, 2BR runs several times throughout the year. If you’re interested in finding out more, enquire at the Torquay Jobs Centre, register via the 2BR website www.2bready.co.uk or get in touch directly with 2BR Programme Lead, Suzanne, at suzanne@2bready.co.uk.