Our 5-week Cookie Project is offered to local Surrey specialist schools and charities. It introduces students to essential barista skills, along with baking, business, and hospitality. The programme builds confidence, self-esteem, and self-belief in a fun, supportive setting. The Cookie Project takes place at Forging Futures in Shamley Green. Students explore workplace skills, learn to use commercial equipment, get used to new sounds, and start feeling more confident communicating with new people. The Cookie Project is an amazing first step toward work and helping young people and adults recognise their own strengths and imagine what’s possible. All Cookie Project slots are currently filled for September 2025 – July 2026. If you'd like to be added to our waiting list for any availability, we may have in the year please get in touch.

Our Forging Futures 11-Week Employability Programme is a unique, supportive experience shaped around YOU - your strengths, your goals, and your future. Our free programme gives you the chance to gain real barista skills, earn industry-recognised qualifications, and take part in a supported work placement to help you get your very first job in the coffee industry. This is a part-time programme, with the first 5 weeks of training taking place at Forging Futures in Shamley Green on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. In the second 5 weeks, you’ll take part in a supported work placement, matched to a fabulous employer for around 2 hours a day over 3 days – a minimum of 30 hours in total. If you meet our eligibility criteria and think our programme sounds like the perfect fit for you we’d love to hear from you! Just email us at info@forgingfutures.com and we’ll send you our application form.

Our bespoke Barista Skills training programme develops the foundation knowledge, skills and techniques required to be fantastic Barista. Working alongside fully accredited SCA trainers and coffee experts, we have devised a curriculum that provides our trainees with the support, time, adaptations and meaningful resources to work towards achieving the internationally recognised SCA Barista Skills Foundation Qualification.

Our Supported Internship Programme empowers young adults to take the next step in their workplace journey. It is a collaborative partnership between Forging Futures, a young adult, their family, their specialist school and one of our host employer partners. Our supported internship programme provides meaningful opportunities for young adults with learning disabilities and/or who are neurodivergent to develop new skills, build confidence, and thrive in real workplace settings - preparing them to take up paid employment at the end of the academic year. Built on strong partnerships, the programme values employers as equal partners in forging meaningful careers and creating inclusive workplaces. We work closely with each trainee and employer - listening, learning, and adapting to create bespoke learning plans that reflect individual strengths, ambitions, and needs. Together, we make any necessary adjustments to the workplace so both the trainee and the employer can thrive. Trainees spend 15 hours a week in real workplace settings with our fantastic employer partners, supported by a dedicated member of the Forging Futures team. For the remaining two days, they return to their specialist schools to build on their learning and strengthen their skills. Following the 6 months to year-long internship, Forging Futures is committed to supporting graduates and their new employers as they transition into paid employment. Our ambition is that: • 100% of our graduates secure and sustain paid employment. • 100% of our graduates feel ambitious about their futures. • 100% of our employer partners share our commitment to developing inclusive workplaces, valuing individual differences, and removing barriers to employment. • 100% of our host employers develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make adjustments where needed so that everyone can thrive at work. Our graduates know they will always be part of the Forging Futures family. We’ll be there to guide and support, have a chat over coffee, make introductions to industry professionals, and celebrate their next adventures and future successes.