The JGA Group

The JGA Group is the trading name of JGA Limited, an independent training provider.^[2] It is one of London's largest deliverers of careers advice and a specialist in marketing, business administration and customer service apprenticeships.^[3][4][5] The organization was founded by Jane Goodwin in 1991.

Partners

The JGA Group has a direct contract with the Government's Skills Funding Agency^[6][7] through which it also manages a group of sub-contractors who include: Dynamic Training UK, Skill Serve Training, Communities into Training and Employment (CITE), Tower College of Further and Higher Education, Touchstone Educational Solutions, Just IT Training and Recruitment, Shreeji Training and Innov8 Training and Development.

JGA are Ofsted inspected^[8][9]

Apprenticeships

The JGA Group delivers business apprenticeships, largely office-based subjects such as business administration, marketing and customer service.^[10][11] Teaching style combines workshops with E-learning.^[12]

Vocational Qualifications

In addition to apprenticeships the JGA Group offers vocational qualifications:

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care and Children and Young People's Settings QCF
• Health & Social Care Levels 2 and 3
• Level 4 Diploma in Career Information and Advice
• Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development
• Level 3 Certificate in Advice and Guidance
• Level 4 Diploma in Advice and Guidance
• Assessor Qualifications
• Internal Quality Assurance Qualifications

Careers

JGA works with a network of between 25 and 30 experienced careers consultants 60% of whom are qualified to Level 6 or higher and delivers to adults, graduates, students and school children. Main delivery points include Jobcentres, schools and community centres.

The company is targeting expansion into:

Market-led segments such as managers and executives, graduates, sports, creative industries, in-work progression

Government priority groups: low skilled adults, NEETs, adults facing redundancy, unemployed, learning/mental/physical health issues, employed poor, offenders/ex-offenders.

JGA's website has a number of free resources^[13] for job seekers.

JGA's Careers Services is accredited with matrix,^[14] the quality standard for information advice and guidance services.^[15]

JGA are also a Career Development Institute Affiliate.

Challenge

"Challenge" is the JGA Group's brand name for a series of short employability programmes designed to better equip customers with specific needs for the job market. Graduate Challenge has been very successful in West London and is expected to be implemented to help black and minority ethnic graduates in East London during 2014. A long form of Executive Challenge for managers and professionals was run for many years in the 1990s/2000s and a short form revival is planned for 2014.

The usual format for the Challenge series is 30 hours of workshops run over a two-week period and focusing on identifying transferable skills, interview techniques, networking exercises, emotional intelligence and CV, job search and application skills followed, if required, by high quality (usually) office based work experience within the third sector.

Community

JGA Group is embedded in the local community; They are the current club sponsor of Ruislip Rangers Youth Football Club. JGA Careers is the social enterprise arm of the group and is a member of the Hillingdon Association of Voluntary Services. JGA is a member of the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce ^[16] and a co-founder of the Eastcote Chamber of Commerce and a sponsor of the Silicon Triangle Meetup.^[17] JGA's twice yearly Team Forum raises money for local and national charities, Tommy's is one recent beneficiary.Other beneficiaries have included: Sightsavers, Age Concern, Help for Heroes, Phelen McDermid Syndrome Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support, the Sobell House Hospice^[18] at Mount Vernon Hospital and others.

Team Forum

Twice each year JGA runs Team Forum,^[19] a chance for networking and continuing professional development for staff and associates and learning for all invitees. The event is all day with lunch provided and free of charge. Recent keynote speakers have included:

• Vic Grimes, Director of the National Apprenticeships Service
• Nick Hurd, Government Minister for Civil Society
• Joe Billington, Head of National Careers Service
• Nick Watkins, Q4 Management and former Chair of Swindon Town F.C.

LinkedIn

JGA has developed a popular LinkedIn group: Career Advice Professionals Networking Group.^[20]

JGA in the news

• Apprenticeship Advice Open Day - June 19 2013
• Apprenticeships the best way to cut down on number of NEETS - June 06 2012
• All you need to know about apprenticeships - over breakfast - Feb 01 2102

References