By Direct Partners Training Provider
Some partnerships prove their worth over a long duration. Direct Partners’ relationship with Spring Oscars, a childcare provider operating across 10 sites in Edinburgh and East Lothian, began in 2013 — and it stands as one of the clearest examples of how sustained collaboration between a training provider and an employer can reshape a workforce for the better.
Today, 65% of Spring Oscars’ staff have been sourced through Direct Partners. That figure alone speaks to the depth of the relationship, but the real story is in how it works day to day. Candidates start our two-week pre-employment course, funded by Job Fit, before securing a Guaranteed Interview with Spring Oscars, moving them into work ahead of signing up to the Modern Apprenticeship Level 7 Social Services Children & Young People SVQ.
From there, the relationship doesn’t stop — Direct Partners trainers Shanelle and Ciara continue to nurture it as candidates settle into their new Spring Oscars team, through fortnightly 1-1 check-ins, observations in after-school clubs, and, more recently, field visits so prospective staff can see exactly what the role involves before they commit. It’s this hands-on, mentorship-led approach that has helped so many candidates move from “not yet qualified” to fully qualified childcare professionals who stay in the sector for the long term.
Diversity as a shared value
Spring Oscars and Direct Partners share a belief that a candidate’s background shouldn’t be a barrier to a career in childcare. Many candidates arrive without formal childcare qualifications but bring transferable skills that, with the right support, translate well into the sector. The result is a genuinely diverse workforce — one that reflects the communities and primary schools Spring Oscars serves, giving children in their care meaningful exposure to different cultures, languages and traditions.
Growing the partnership
This partnership is offered across Edinburgh and East Lothian, and Direct Partners continues to find different ways to connect with communities, charities and partner organisations to spread the message that this way of working really does deliver — through partnership networking events, school careers evenings, and more.
What Laura Adie, Operations Manager at Spring Oscars (Action for Children), had to say:
“Direct Partners has been part of our recruitment story for almost as long as I can remember. Around two-thirds of our workforce today has come through this partnership, and it’s not just about filling posts — it’s about people who genuinely want to build a career in childcare, and who we know are supported every step of the way. That constant communication, from the classroom right through to those first months in the job, is what makes the difference to us and to staff retention.”
A model for other employers
Spring Oscars’ experience shows what’s possible when an employer commits to a long-term training partnership rather than treating recruitment as a one-off transaction. Reduced staff turnover, a pipeline of motivated candidates, and a genuinely inclusive workforce are just some of the returns on that investment.
Beyond childcare, Direct Partners delivers Job Fit pre-employment courses across a range of industry sectors, and can create bespoke courses for recruiting employers across Edinburgh and the Lothians. Direct Partners is actively looking to build similar partnerships with other childcare employers in the region — if you’re facing recruitment or retention challenges in your sector, there may be more common ground with a partnership like this than you’d expect.
Direct Partners is an award-winning training provider based in Edinburgh, delivering SDS-funded qualifications across Scotland. To find out more or discuss a partnership, visit directpartners.co.uk or call 0131 600 0820.
