- Corby Business Centre, Corby, Northants
How the Programme Works
How the Dormant Trade Skills programme works
Dormant Trade Skills is a work-led training programme built around real maintenance jobs, delivered by experienced tradespeople employed as Trade Mentors.
The programme is designed to be practical, structured, and accountable — supporting Trade Mentors to pass on skills professionally, while giving Trade Associates a realistic route into work.
Philosophy
Experienced tradespeople teach through real work
At the heart of the programme are Trade Mentors — experienced tradespeople employed to teach, supervise, and support learners on live maintenance jobs.
Trade Mentors are not volunteers. They are employed professionals with clear responsibilities, boundaries, and support. Their role is to deliver work to a proper standard while teaching Trade Associates how to do the same.
The focus is on transferring practical skills, judgement, and working habits that can only be learned on site.
EXPERIENCED PROFESSIONALS
The Trade Mentor Role
Mentors are supported by the programme team with clear expectations, safeguarding processes, and realistic workloads. This is a professional teaching role grounded in real trade work.
Trade Mentors are responsible for:
Learning happens on site, not in classrooms
Trade Associates are young adults aged 18+ who are not currently in education, employment, or training.
They learn by working alongside Trade Mentors on real maintenance jobs. Training is practical, incremental, and paced to the individual. Associates are supported to develop:
- Core Trade Skills
- Safe working practices
- Reliability and timekeeping
- Confidence in real working environments
This approach suits learners who struggle in classroom settings but thrive when learning by doing.
Training delivered through real maintenance work
All training takes place through real, paid maintenance work delivered for households, landlords, and partner organisations.
Each job provides a structured learning opportunity. Trade Associates are never left unsupervised, and quality control sits with the Trade Mentor.
This ensures that learning is grounded in reality, standards are maintained, and customers receive competent, reliable work.
A clear and accountable structure
The programme brings together:
- Employed Trade Mentors
- Supported Trade Associates
- Real maintenance work
- Local authority and partner funding
Public funding supports the employment of mentors and the delivery of training. Earned income from maintenance work strengthens sustainability and reduces long-term reliance on grant funding.
The model is designed to be transparent, measurable, and scalable.
Safeguarding
Clear boundaries and support
Safeguarding and quality assurance are built into the programme design.
Trade Mentors work within clear professional boundaries. Trade Associates receive support appropriate to a work-based environment, with additional oversight where required.
This structure protects mentors, learners, customers, and funding partners.
Focused on progression into work
The programme is designed to support progression into employment, further training, or sustained self-employment.
Outcomes are tracked and reported in line with funding requirements and include engagement, skills development, and work readiness. The emphasis is on realistic, achievable progression rather than short-term completion targets.
Contact Us
Work with Dormant Trade Skills
Whether you are an experienced tradesperson interested in becoming a Trade Mentor, a young adult looking for a practical route into work, or a funding partner exploring delivery options, we welcome discussion.
Dormant Trade Skills connects experienced tradespeople with young adults who want to learn trade skills as a practical route into work — delivering paid training, real maintenance jobs, and measurable outcomes.
Follow Us
Contact Details
If you have questions you can contact us
- Corby Business Centre, Corby, Northants
2026 © All rights reserved by Dormant Trade Skills