Redundancy retraining is not only about finding the next job. It can be the moment to decide what the next chapter should look like.
What redundancy takes away
Redundancy removes more than an income. It can take away routine, structure, workplace friendships and a sense of purpose, often without warning.
For many people it also brings something rarely offered before: time, and a genuine choice about what comes next.
Stepping on the cracks that others step over. Maybe you do too.
A chance to redesign working life
Not everyone fits the 9-to-5. Some people think differently, carry caring responsibilities, or have spent years in work that never suited them. Redundancy retraining can be the point where that changes, and back to work courses can be built around how you actually live.
- Take retraining courses in a practical, hands-on skill
- Explore self-employment or flexible work that fits around life
- Rebuild confidence one finished task at a time
- Design a working life around what actually works for you, not what was expected
Wellbeing, health and rebuilding
A change this big is also a chance to put wellbeing first: sleep, movement, health and headspace. Many people use this time to learn more about how stress and difficult experiences affect both body and mind, including trauma-informed and body-based approaches, and to find support that suits them.
Getting health and wellbeing into better shape is part of building a future that lasts, not a distraction from it.
Redundancy support and funding
Redundancy support programmes help with job searching, CVs, advice and, in some cases, funding for retraining. What is available depends on where you live and your circumstances.
- Wales – ReAct+ through Working Wales (Careers Wales): for people aged 20+ who are under notice of redundancy or have been made redundant in the last six months. It can include a grant of up to £1,500 towards training, help with childcare or care costs while training, and other training-related costs.
- England and Wales – Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service: support for people facing redundancy, including help with job searching and skills.
- England – National Careers Service: free careers advice and information on training and funding.
- Scotland – PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment): redundancy support and advice.
Funding rules, amounts and eligibility change, so always check directly with the relevant service before relying on any funding. It is worth asking whether a Skill Up Break Free course could be funded as part of your plan. The Guitar Repair Technician programme has previously been approved for Careers Wales ReAct redundancy retraining.
A discount is also available on Skill Up Break Free courses for DWP jobseekers and PIP claimants.
A community that understands
Skill Up Break Free is building a community of like-minded people who have been through redundancy, upheaval or a change that meant starting again. Learning alongside people who understand the challenge can make the next step feel less isolating.
Where to start: retraining courses and back to work courses
Explore employability and retraining courses, or start with the Guitar Repair Technician programme, a practical skill that can lead to paid work or self-employment.
If things feel too much right now
Redundancy can hit hard. If you are struggling, Samaritans are free to call any time on 116 123. In an emergency, call 999.
Information on redundancy support is for general guidance only. Check current details with Working Wales, Jobcentre Plus, the National Careers Service or PACE.