The Poppy Factory and Lifeworks are teaming up to provide veterans with learning and employment skills in Richmond.

Veterans who are keen to build their 'confidence, learn essential skills and become more employment-ready' can sign up for a new training and work placement course called Poppy Pathways.

The free, week-long course will be delivered on site at the historic Poppy Factory in partnership with RBLI's specialist Lifeworks employment support programme.

Poppy Pathways will encourage veterans to connect with others in the Armed Forces community and start building a stronger peer support network says the NGO.

Specialist employment training delivered on site will include support with CVs, job applications, covering letters and interview skills.

Veterans will also gain hands-on experience working alongside The Poppy Factory's production team, learning different skills including wreath-making.

In doing so, they will make a direct contribution to the Remembrance tradition and enjoy a sense of job satisfaction and personal achievement.

The course will run from June 3 to 7 and is available for up to eight veterans.

Poppy Pathways is a free week-long course to help veterans build confidence on their journey to employment (credit: The Poppy Factory).

Tom Adam, The Poppy Factory's Head of Service Development, said: "We're excited to welcome the first group of veterans on to Poppy Pathways.

"This new course brings together tried and tested employment support from The Poppy Factory and RBLI's Lifeworks team, combined with a unique opportunity to experience working life at the factory.

"I am sure the group will come away with many valuable new skills, feeling more confident about their future, with a real sense of satisfaction from contributing personally to the effort of Remembrance."

Steve Parrott, Head of Lifeworks and a veteran himself, said: "The RBLI Lifeworks Programme team are proud to be working in partnership with The Poppy Factory on this fantastic initiative to provide a pathway of employment support.

"It has long been recognised that providing support through peer group delivery is tremendously valuable and effective in building confidence and promoting a more positive mindset towards employment progression. 

"The Pathways programme offers not only bespoke employability skills coaching but also the unique opportunity to gain work experience all in the same week at the same location."

Veterans interested in registering for Poppy Pathways can email [email protected] or visit www.poppyfactory.org/poppy-pathways to find out more.

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