By Fay Gibbin
Now that we’re firmly into the academic year, I have been reflecting about our new, streamlined curriculum and how, via our fully funded training, we are helping to transform lives throughout the city region. But it isn’t just within the classroom where we really help to make a difference, no, increasingly it’s via the collaborative partnerships that we are developing with employers and partners alike, which really helps to make a lasting impact on our learners. One such partnership is Community Shop, who are part of Company Shop Group.
Through our collaboration with Community Shop, our learners and their families can access free Community Shop membership, unlocking up to 70% off the normal retail price on groceries, fresh fruit and veg from just 20p, and affordable, tasty meals. They can also get involved with family cooking courses and access further support via the Community Hubs, helping families eat well and learn practical skills for life.
With delivery of our fully funded Construction and ESOL training courses running from several of the Community Shop locations across Merseyside, our strategic partnership makes high-impact support available right in the heart of local communities. It’s a model of working together for tangible change—from saving on household essentials, to building skills and confidence that last a lifetime.
Complete Skills Solutions doesn’t just deliver training—we also measure the real-world impact of our work. Independent assessments show that we generated over £14 million in total social value between 2022-24, with a remarkable return of £5.21 for every £1 spent on our training. This value is felt directly within the Liverpool City Region and beyond, with us improving lives, supporting families, and helping local people access pathways to employment and opportunity.
We’re proud to work with partners such as Company Shop Group who share our mission to change lives. By combining affordable essentials, opportunities for learning, and real social impact, we’re strengthening communities and empowering people across Liverpool. This partnership is transforming the region—not only through immediate support, but through measured, lasting value, and long may it continue!
If are an organisation seeking new partnership opportunities that help to drive social mobility, contact the Complete Skills Solutions team to discuss this further.
