PATRA incorporating ACDA - Why Choose us

Why Choose Us?

PATRA has over 20 years experience of delivering Positive Action training and have trained 1,500 men and women from BME communities for professional careers. To-date 85% of trainees has achieved a professional qualification and up to 95% secured employment in the career that they have been trained in.

The design of Job advertisements to reach BME communities and to encourage their applications.

  • The delivery of courses to develop confidence on assertiveness.
  • Training that is based on job sampling, work experience or "taster days" with employers, work shadowing.
  • Middle management training to encourage under represented groups to apply for promotion.
  • Access to a wide variety of people from the BME communities.
  • The provision of a consultancy service to employers around race equality and diversity issues.
  • The provision of careers guidance and counselling people wishing to access work.
  • Direct recruiting initiatives towards areas whereby the BME communities are under-represented.

Value for money

Research indicates that the total cost per trainees compares favourably with other schemes targeted at those disadvantages in the labour market.

PATRA has successfully developed a social business expanding external income generation and reducing grant dependency.

Critical success factors

Quality and length of work placements
  • Emphasis on securing accredited qualifications
  • Focus on technical, processional and managerial occupations in key growth areas.
  • The quality of ongoing support, 6 weekly joint assessments with placement supervisors.
  • Standing of PATRA in the BME communities.
  • Creditability of PATRA within the business community and other organisations.