Redundancy and Employability

Whether facing redundancy and planning your future, you’re looking to progress your career, or looking to get back into employment, or want to help your colleagues through touch times, your union is here to help…


Redundancy Support

UNISON is acutely aware that some members are facing redundancy due to the cuts to local authority and other public service budgets across the UK.

As we campaign together to Save Our Services we are also able to support you and your colleagues to get the information, advice and guidance you need in this most uncertain and stressful of times.

Key UNISON information for workers facing redundancy

The UNISON Cymru Wales Learning team are working with our branches, local agencies, learning providers and Careers Wales to put on dedicated redundancy support sessions and run courses to help you to cope and access the training and skills you need.

Sessions can include:

  • A talk from Working Wales on how to access the ReAct+ retraining scheme, Personal Learning Account funding and their careers advice services  
  • Advice from UNISON on your redundancy rights and how to get the support of your local branch reps
  • Information from your employer HR department on the process your going through
  • Information on member benefits, our welfare services, UNISON There For You Charity and Unemployed membership
  • Taster sessions of CV writing, interview skills and job searching courses from local providers and your Union Learning Rep
  • Help from local services such as Citizens Advice

If you and your colleagues are at risk of redundancy and want us to work with your branch to organise session in your workplace, send us an email using the button below.

More on Redundancy Support in Wales

Contact us to organise a Redundancy Support session in your workplace


Value My Skills

This is a fun and interactive online tool from the TUC that helps you to understand your strengths and experiences, which is a vital part of putting together a winning CV, application or interview.

Click here to get started


Develop my Skills

The Open University has collaborated with UNISON to produce online guides to developing your employability skills including:

Click here to find out more


LearnMyWay

UNISON Cymru Wales is a registered LearnMyWay centre, our centre code is 8005218 – UNISON Cymru Wales. Sign up for a free account and you can access the following courses in English:

  • Basics of online job searching
  • Search for jobs online
  • Applying for jobs online
  • Advanced features of job sites
  • Checking your skills for work
  • The skills needed for different jobs
  • Help getting a job
  • Preparing for work

Cyrsiau Cymraeg:

  • Hanfodion chwilio am swydd ar-lein
  • Chwilio am swyddi ar-lein
  • Gwneud cais am swyddi ar-lein
  • Nodweddion uwch safleoedd swyddi

Click here to access the free courses in English

Cliciwch yma i weld y cyrsiau sydd ar gael yn Gymraeg


Careers Wales | Working Wales

The Getting a Job resources from our friends at Careers Wales are a great place to start your journey towards a new job, including:

  • Build a CV
  • Write applications
  • Covering letters & emails
  • Interview techniques
  • Personal statements
  • Assessment preparation

Click here to find out more


UNISON Moving On Toolkit

Designed for UNISON Learning Reps, this is a practical guide to running a workplace session to support colleagues who are facing change at work and may need help to secure a new role, with great tips on helping others with CVs, applications and interviews.

Click here to download the toolkit


Skills Academy e-learning

All UNISON members can request a free account with the e-learning site Skills Academy and access 600+ CPD certificated online courses including:

  • Assertiveness Skills
  • Body Language
  • Building Your Confidence and Self-Esteem
  • Career Planning
  • Communication Basics
  • Confidence On Camera
  • Developing a Career Strategy
  • Finding Your Perfect Career For Success and Enjoyment (CareerRadar) Certificate
  • How to Build Resilience
  • Improve Your Assertiveness
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Interviewing Skills and CV Writing
  • Presentation Skills Certification
  • Learning Impressive Telephone Techniques
  • Learning Strategies
  • Learning to Learn
  • Mindfulness Certification
  • Motivation Skills
  • Secrets of Body Language

Request a free Skills Academy Account


Mid-Career Reviews

The Age at Work Wales project from Business in the Community Wales and Age Cymru has regular webinars to give people over the age of 50 opportunity to reflect and take a look at inter-related areas of their life, and provide an overview of four keys areas:

  • Job & Career
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Finance
  • Work-Life Balance

They help attendees consider what informed choices they may want to make to help plan for a positive future. All Mid-Career Review webinars are free to attend, thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Click here book onto the latest webinars