How Frederick Consulting Helps Give People a Second Chance Through Skills Training

Frederick Consulting approached this partnership with a simple but powerful philosophy: everyone deserves access to skills training that actually leads somewhere. We didn’t create watered-down “basic” courses or programs that patronized participants. Instead, we built genuine pathways to real careers, designed to be accessible while maintaining the substance and rigor that makes skills valuable to employers.

We worked closely with St Giles Trust and RBKC to understand their communities’ specific needs, challenges, and aspirations. What skills would genuinely open doors? What barriers did participants face? What support would make the difference between course completion and dropping out? What follow-through would actually lead to employment?

From these conversations, we developed six specialized training pathways, each designed to provide both technical skills and clear career opportunities:

IT Fundamentals Pathway – A three-level progression from basic computer literacy through networking and security to Microsoft productivity tools. This pathway recognizes that many participants might not have extensive computer experience but can absolutely learn professional IT skills with the right teaching approach. Starting with fundamentals and building systematically, participants gain confidence alongside capability. The pathway leads to roles like IT Support Technician, Help Desk Analyst, and Office Administrator—positions with starting salaries of £18,000-£25,000 and genuine growth potential.

AI Fundamentals Pathway – Forward-thinking training that positions participants for the future workplace. Understanding AI applications, mastering Microsoft AI tools, and learning productivity software with AI integration. This pathway gives participants cutting-edge knowledge that makes them stand out—they’re not just learning yesterday’s skills but tomorrow’s capabilities. It opens doors to emerging roles in AI implementation, digital transformation, and business process analysis, with starting salaries of £22,000-£35,000. For someone who might have felt left behind by technology, this pathway shows they can actually be at the forefront.

Cloud Fundamentals Pathway – Teaching cloud computing concepts and Microsoft Azure basics combined with productivity skills. Cloud computing is transforming every industry, and demand for these skills far exceeds supply. Participants learn modern IT infrastructure and qualify for secure, well-paid positions like Cloud Support Technician and Junior Cloud Administrator, typically starting at £20,000-£30,000. These are future-proof skills in a rapidly growing field.

Digital Marketing Pathway – Combining social media marketing, content creation, online advertising, and analytics with essential productivity tools. This pathway appeals to participants with creativity and communication skills who might not think of themselves as “technical.” Digital marketing is one of the fastest-growing fields, and businesses desperately need these capabilities. Participants can pursue roles ranging from Social Media Coordinator to Freelance Digital Marketer, with entry-level positions at £18,000-£28,000 and strong freelance potential at £25-£75 per hour.

DJ/Music Fundamentals – A creative pathway teaching professional DJ equipment operation, music theory, beat matching, and mixing techniques. This course recognizes that not everyone wants or needs a traditional office job—some people thrive in creative, performance-based careers. For individuals with a passion for music, this opens doors to freelance DJ work (£150-£250 per event initially, up to £200-£500 per hour for experienced performers), venue positions, and entertainment industry roles. Beyond career possibilities, this course builds confidence, creativity, and performance skills that translate to many areas of life.

Music Production Pathway – Taking creative skills further by teaching music production, audio engineering, digital audio workstations, and recording techniques. Participants learn to create original music, produce tracks, and understand the technical side of the music industry. This pathway leads to careers in music production, audio engineering, sound design, and content creation. It’s particularly powerful for individuals with creative talent who need technical skills to professionalize their passion. Starting opportunities range from production assistant roles to freelance production work, with experienced producers commanding premium rates.

Each pathway is structured around intensive 8-hour modules priced accessibly. We deliberately chose focused, intensive formats because we understand participants’ lives don’t always allow for months-long commitments. Eight hours of concentrated, high-quality training delivers real value while respecting time constraints and attention realities. Multiple modules can be combined into comprehensive pathways for those able to commit further.

But here’s what really makes our partnership with St Giles Trust and RBKC different: we don’t just teach and disappear. Every pathway includes comprehensive career support that addresses the real challenges participants face when trying to enter or re-enter the workforce.

Professional CV Building – We help participants create compelling CVs that highlight their new technical skills while addressing employment gaps honestly and positively. We work with them to translate any previous experience—even if it seems unrelated—into relevant strengths. For someone who’s been out of work or has a complicated employment history, knowing how to present yourself professionally is absolutely critical.

Industry Connections – We provide direct introductions to specialist recruitment agencies and employers in each field. Not just generic job search advice—actual connections to people who are hiring. These relationships mean our participants get their CVs in front of decision-makers, not lost in online application systems.

Real Work Experience – We coordinate placements with local businesses where participants can apply their new skills in real environments. This serves multiple purposes: they gain practical experience, build confidence, earn references, and sometimes these placements lead directly to job offers. For participants with limited recent work history, this experience is invaluable.

Ongoing Mentorship – We provide dedicated one-to-one support for up to six months after course completion. Job searching is tough, especially for people rebuilding their lives. Having someone in their corner—helping with interview preparation, providing encouragement after rejections, offering guidance on salary negotiations—makes a real difference.

Equipment and Resource Access – For creative pathways like DJ and Music Production, participants get hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment during training. DJ students work with Pioneer equipment from beginner controllers to club-standard layouts. Music production students learn on professional digital audio workstations and recording equipment. This hands-on experience with real professional tools builds both skills and confidence.

Performance and Portfolio Opportunities – For creative pathways, we arrange first performance opportunities or help build professional portfolios. A DJ student performs at actual events. A music production student builds a portfolio of completed tracks. These real-world experiences bridge the gap between training and professional work.

Community and Network Building – We introduce participants to professional networks and communities in their fields. For people who might feel isolated or disconnected, becoming part of a professional community is powerful—both practically (networking leads to opportunities) and personally (belonging to something positive and forward-looking).

Throughout all of this, we maintain a fundamental respect for participants’ potential. We don’t make assumptions about what people can or can’t learn based on their backgrounds. We’ve seen people with minimal computer experience become confident IT support technicians. We’ve watched individuals who struggled with traditional education excel in creative technical fields. We’ve helped people who thought their past defined their future discover they can build entirely new careers.

Frederick Consulting approached this partnership with a simple but powerful philosophy: everyone deserves access to skills training that actually leads somewhere. We didn’t create watered-down “basic” courses or programs that patronized participants. Instead, we built genuine pathways to real careers, designed to be accessible while maintaining the substance and rigor that makes skills valuable to employers.

We worked closely with St Giles Trust and RBKC to understand their communities’ specific needs, challenges, and aspirations. What skills would genuinely open doors? What barriers did participants face? What support would make the difference between course completion and dropping out? What follow-through would actually lead to employment?

From these conversations, we developed six specialized training pathways, each designed to provide both technical skills and clear career opportunities:

IT Fundamentals Pathway – A three-level progression from basic computer literacy through networking and security to Microsoft productivity tools. This pathway recognizes that many participants might not have extensive computer experience but can absolutely learn professional IT skills with the right teaching approach. Starting with fundamentals and building systematically, participants gain confidence alongside capability. The pathway leads to roles like IT Support Technician, Help Desk Analyst, and Office Administrator—positions with starting salaries of £18,000-£25,000 and genuine growth potential.

AI Fundamentals Pathway – Forward-thinking training that positions participants for the future workplace. Understanding AI applications, mastering Microsoft AI tools, and learning productivity software with AI integration. This pathway gives participants cutting-edge knowledge that makes them stand out—they’re not just learning yesterday’s skills but tomorrow’s capabilities. It opens doors to emerging roles in AI implementation, digital transformation, and business process analysis, with starting salaries of £22,000-£35,000. For someone who might have felt left behind by technology, this pathway shows they can actually be at the forefront.

Cloud Fundamentals Pathway – Teaching cloud computing concepts and Microsoft Azure basics combined with productivity skills. Cloud computing is transforming every industry, and demand for these skills far exceeds supply. Participants learn modern IT infrastructure and qualify for secure, well-paid positions like Cloud Support Technician and Junior Cloud Administrator, typically starting at £20,000-£30,000. These are future-proof skills in a rapidly growing field.

Digital Marketing Pathway – Combining social media marketing, content creation, online advertising, and analytics with essential productivity tools. This pathway appeals to participants with creativity and communication skills who might not think of themselves as “technical.” Digital marketing is one of the fastest-growing fields, and businesses desperately need these capabilities. Participants can pursue roles ranging from Social Media Coordinator to Freelance Digital Marketer, with entry-level positions at £18,000-£28,000 and strong freelance potential at £25-£75 per hour.

DJ/Music Fundamentals – A creative pathway teaching professional DJ equipment operation, music theory, beat matching, and mixing techniques. This course recognizes that not everyone wants or needs a traditional office job—some people thrive in creative, performance-based careers. For individuals with a passion for music, this opens doors to freelance DJ work (£150-£250 per event initially, up to £200-£500 per hour for experienced performers), venue positions, and entertainment industry roles. Beyond career possibilities, this course builds confidence, creativity, and performance skills that translate to many areas of life.

Music Production Pathway – Taking creative skills further by teaching music production, audio engineering, digital audio workstations, and recording techniques. Participants learn to create original music, produce tracks, and understand the technical side of the music industry. This pathway leads to careers in music production, audio engineering, sound design, and content creation. It’s particularly powerful for individuals with creative talent who need technical skills to professionalize their passion. Starting opportunities range from production assistant roles to freelance production work, with experienced producers commanding premium rates.

Each pathway is structured around intensive 8-hour modules priced accessibly. We deliberately chose focused, intensive formats because we understand participants’ lives don’t always allow for months-long commitments. Eight hours of concentrated, high-quality training delivers real value while respecting time constraints and attention realities. Multiple modules can be combined into comprehensive pathways for those able to commit further.

But here’s what really makes our partnership with St Giles Trust and RBKC different: we don’t just teach and disappear. Every pathway includes comprehensive career support that addresses the real challenges participants face when trying to enter or re-enter the workforce.

Professional CV Building – We help participants create compelling CVs that highlight their new technical skills while addressing employment gaps honestly and positively. We work with them to translate any previous experience—even if it seems unrelated—into relevant strengths. For someone who’s been out of work or has a complicated employment history, knowing how to present yourself professionally is absolutely critical.

Industry Connections – We provide direct introductions to specialist recruitment agencies and employers in each field. Not just generic job search advice—actual connections to people who are hiring. These relationships mean our participants get their CVs in front of decision-makers, not lost in online application systems.

Real Work Experience – We coordinate placements with local businesses where participants can apply their new skills in real environments. This serves multiple purposes: they gain practical experience, build confidence, earn references, and sometimes these placements lead directly to job offers. For participants with limited recent work history, this experience is invaluable.

Ongoing Mentorship – We provide dedicated one-to-one support for up to six months after course completion. Job searching is tough, especially for people rebuilding their lives. Having someone in their corner—helping with interview preparation, providing encouragement after rejections, offering guidance on salary negotiations—makes a real difference.

Equipment and Resource Access – For creative pathways like DJ and Music Production, participants get hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment during training. DJ students work with Pioneer equipment from beginner controllers to club-standard layouts. Music production students learn on professional digital audio workstations and recording equipment. This hands-on experience with real professional tools builds both skills and confidence.

Performance and Portfolio Opportunities – For creative pathways, we arrange first performance opportunities or help build professional portfolios. A DJ student performs at actual events. A music production student builds a portfolio of completed tracks. These real-world experiences bridge the gap between training and professional work.

Community and Network Building – We introduce participants to professional networks and communities in their fields. For people who might feel isolated or disconnected, becoming part of a professional community is powerful—both practically (networking leads to opportunities) and personally (belonging to something positive and forward-looking).

Throughout all of this, we maintain a fundamental respect for participants’ potential. We don’t make assumptions about what people can or can’t learn based on their backgrounds. We’ve seen people with minimal computer experience become confident IT support technicians. We’ve watched individuals who struggled with traditional education excel in creative technical fields. We’ve helped people who thought their past defined their future discover they can build entirely new careers.