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Adult Skills Fund Success: Severn Trent and Workpays Partnership
- Kasim
- Jul 16
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 22
At Workpays, we’re committed to delivering practical, impactful learning experiences that help individuals upskill and support businesses in finding work-ready talent. Our recent partnership with Severn Trent, delivered through the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Adult Skills Fund (ASF), is a perfect example of how employer collaboration can transform lives and communities.
Earlier this summer, learners at our Derby centre took part in a week-long Level 1 Customer Service course, designed to build essential skills for working in business and customer-facing roles. The highlight came on the final day when Severn Trent delivered an engaging employer-led session focused on CV writing, interview preparation, and innovative virtual reality (VR) interview practice with an AI hiring manager.
“Currently, Severn Trent is in year two of our 10-year societal strategy aimed at helping 100,000 people in our region out of water poverty and hardship,” explains Kofi Hanson-Asiedu, Community Training and Relationship Manager at Severn Trent.
“This programme aligned extremely well with our objectives and vision for the future, and we see it as a great opportunity to reach people who might otherwise be overlooked.” says Kofi.
Kofi Hanson-Asiedu, Community Training and Relationship Manager at Severn Trent
Learners left the session inspired, armed with practical tools and the confidence to pursue new career paths.
“The mix of learning and real-world experience was brilliant,” says Tim Wright, a learner on the course.
“The VR interviews made it feel like I was actually preparing for a real job. I’ve never experienced anything like that before—it’s such a good teaching tool.”
From Workpays’ perspective, the partnership exemplifies how employer relationships can elevate learner experiences while supporting local business needs.
“We’ve handled everything from initial outreach to delivery and partnership coordination,” says Nicole Thomas, Workpays Engagement Broker.
“The session with Severn Trent is the result of strong, ongoing relationships we’ve built. It’s powerful for learners to gain direct employer insights and see the possibilities available to them.”
For Severn Trent, working with Workpays has been seamless and impactful.
“The partnership with Workpays has been easy, focused, and truly impactful,” Kofi adds.
“Workpays are very driven and aligned with our values, helping us reach communities we want to support.”
Work With Us
If you’re a business looking to streamline your recruitment process whilst meeting your ESG goals and making a real social impact, or an individual seeking to upskill and secure meaningful employment, Workpays is here to help.
It’s great to see initiatives like the Adult Skills Fund making a real difference—especially with successful partnerships like the one between Severn Trent and Workpays. By offering valuable training and support, they’re helping adults gain the skills needed to enter or re-enter the workforce with confidence. But gaining new skills is only half the journey. The next step is finding the right job—and that’s where the UK’s IR35 calculator largest database of contract jobs comes in. Built by contractors, for contractors, it’s a platform designed to connect skilled individuals with flexible, rewarding opportunities across the country.