The Traineeship is a part of Yellow Submarine’s overarching aim to counter feelings of lack of self-worth, loneliness and isolation by enabling individuals to learn new, transferable workplace skills so they may begin to tread a path towards self-sufficiency and economic contribution. In turn, this leads to positivity, creativity and confidence.

‘Yellow Submarine’s traineeship has been an amazing opportunity for Ben. He has changed from a shy, timid young man into a confident adult. He has grown in his independence doing work and activities that two years ago we would not have imagined he could do.  When Ben started at Yellow Submarine, we did not think he would cope in a customer facing environment due to his shyness towards people he did not know, or be able to confidently use a till. Now he is confident and can use the till with ease.  The transformation of Ben over the two years has beaten all of our expectations that we had at the beginning of the traineeship.  We believe that Ben would not be where he is today without the Yellow Submarine Traineeship scheme.’ Parents of Ben, a 2022 Traineeship graduate.

Yellow Submarine's Traineeship has been running since we opened our first social enterprise cafe in 2013.  Usually aged 18-25, as well as spending time learning hands-on in our cafes, trainees study for two transferable employability qualifications appropriate for their abilities (usually between Entry Level 3 and Level 1). So that they benefit fully and maximise their future prospects for independence and employment, 1:1 job coaching and mentoring is a vital strand within the programme.  A high level of support to find a role that really suits on graduation is also an intrinsic part of the traineeship, whether it be through practising mock interviews, creating a CV, applying for jobs or plentiful and varied work experience. Graduates have found paid employment at (for example) Marks & Spencer, Blackwell’s, Sainsbury’s, the Oxford Hub, heritage motorsport restoration, Greggs, Stagecoach buses, Aston Pottery, Waitrose and Oxford’s New Theatre. Others have progressed to further training or voluntary work. 

While the training environment is retail/catering, and some graduates’ eventual jobs are customer facing, the skills learned through the scheme have enabled people to progress in ways that suit them – one graduate is now working translating dictionaries. While this individual’s academic ability was extremely high, without the social skills learned as a trainee the interview for this job would have been an insurmountable barrier.  Another has a weekly slot as a DJ on a local radio station, where he shares his enthusiasm and encyclopaedic knowledge of music while pursing a career in IT.