Sector-based Academy Programmes (SWAPs)
Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) are Government-funded recruitment and training programmes that help unemployed people gain the skills and experience needed to move into work. Delivered through a partnership between Jobcentre Plus, employers and training providers, SWAPs combine sector-specific training, work experience and a guaranteed job interview. Programmes can last for up to six weeks.
SWAPs provide a valuable recruitment route for adult social care employers by preparing jobseekers for care roles through targeted pre-employment training and workplace experience. They help employers recruit people who are motivated to enter the sector and develop the skills needed to work in care and support settings. Health and social care is one of the sectors where SWAPs are commonly used.
Key objectives
- Help unemployed people move into sustainable employment
- Address workforce shortages in priority sectors
- Equip participants with sector-specific skills
- Support employers to recruit job-ready candidates
- Create pathways into careers in adult social care
A SWAP has three core elements:
Pre-employment training
- Training tailored to the employer and sector
Work experience placement
- Provides practical experience in a real workplace and helps participants understand the role
Guaranteed interview
- Participants are guaranteed a job interview or support through the employer's recruitment process
Key benefits
...for Adult Social Care providers
- Access to candidates who have completed care-focused training
- A pipeline of potential employees for entry-level vacancies
- Reduced recruitment costs, as programme costs are government-funded
- Opportunities to shape training around local workforce needs
- Support to fill hard-to-recruit care roles
...for participants
- Free training and work experience
- Continued benefit entitlement while participating
- A guaranteed interview
- An opportunity to gain experience and enter a career in care
SWAPs can help adult social care providers build local recruitment pipelines, attract people new to the sector and fill entry-level care vacancies more quickly. They are particularly useful where providers want to recruit at scale or introduce people to care careers through structured training and supported work experience.
