For Jabo Butera, Chief Executive of the Diversity Business Incubator (DBI), education isn’t just about classrooms and certificates. It’s about trust, access and building knowledge in the spaces where people already feel seen.
That belief is at the heart of DBI’s collaboration with City College Plymouth. Together, individuals from the College’s adult education and partnerships team have launched a series of workshops and community-based learning initiatives at Jabulani, DBI’s dynamic community hub in the heart of Stonehouse. The goal is simple, yet powerful. Bring education into the everyday lives of people who need it most.
This work is part of the Plymouth Skills Builder, a College-led project funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The initiative delivers a range of inclusive, community-based learning that builds practical skills and confidence. By focusing on real-life challenges faced by residents in deprived areas of Plymouth like Stonehouse, the project aims to remove barriers to education and employment, particularly for those who may feel disconnected from traditional learning environments.
Jabo said, “We’ve had a strong relationship with City College for years. But with this initiative, we wanted to go further. Instead of waiting for people to walk into a college, we’re walking into their lives.”
And it’s working. At Jabulani, the energy is different. It’s alive with conversation, colour, culture and opportunity. Food is being cooked, ideas are being shared, and in between it all, people are learning, often without even realising it.
“You walk in and all your senses switch on. You smell the food, hear the laughter, see the vibrancy. When people feel at ease, learning flows naturally,” says Jabo.
The partnership with City College, supported by the Shared Prosperity Fund initiative Plymouth Skills Builder, has enabled the organisations to run free, accessible workshops in digital skills and numeracy, but without the formal barriers that can often discourage participation. Instead of abstract theory, the learning is embedded in real-life needs.
For example, many of the entrepreneurs based at Jabulani run food businesses. To achieve high food hygiene ratings, they need to record fridge temperatures on spreadsheets. That’s where the learning starts.
Jabo said, “We don’t say ‘You’re studying maths.’ We talk about your fridge, your bookings, your cash flow. Before you know it, you’re doing digital literacy and numeracy. And it’s empowering.”
The impact goes beyond business. One woman, a mother of five, previously avoided engaging with her children’s school reports because she lacked confidence with numbers and formal English. Since attending the numeracy workshops, she not only reads the reports, she talks to her children about them, proudly telling them she’s at school too.
“That’s the magic of this partnership,” Jabo says. “The College brings expertise. DBI brings community. Together, we’re meeting people exactly where they are.”
Barriers to employment are tackled head-on. Many local residents feel excluded from traditional jobs because they don’t hold UK qualifications or are new to the country. Some experience imposter syndrome, believing they don’t belong.
“We hear it all the time, ‘I’ve only been here five years,’ or ‘My English isn’t perfect.’ But we remind them what they do have. Passion. Integrity. Dignity. That’s the foundation for success. Our job is to build on that,” says Jabo.
The workshops offer more than just technical skills. They create connection and confidence. One woman who didn’t know how to switch on a laptop now visits weekly, working over coffee while others help her troubleshoot. It’s grassroots learning, driven by trust and community.
Of course, there are challenges. Resources are stretched. The space is busy. Sessions can be interrupted by the natural ebb and flow of community life. But Jabo doesn’t see these as obstacles, he sees them as proof that something real is happening.
“This is a living, breathing environment. We’re not aiming for perfection. We’re aiming for impact. And thanks to City College’s support, we’re achieving that.”
Looking ahead, Jabo wants to replicate this model in more communities, creating hubs where education feels personal, not institutional. He dreams of a future where conversations about spreadsheets, budgeting and financial literacy are as normal as talking about the weather.
“Financial freedom, entrepreneurship, education; these things are for everyone. And they should be accessible without shame, fear or complexity,” said Jabo.
His call to action is simple: get involved: “If you’ve got a skill to share, come and contribute. If you know someone who could benefit, refer them. Education doesn’t belong to one organisation. It belongs to all of us.”
Above all, Jabo believes this partnership is just the beginning of something bigger. “City College Plymouth has stepped out of the classroom. DBI has opened the door. And now, people are walking through, not just learning, but thriving.”To find out more about the Plymouth Skills Builder project and book onto one of the free workshops at Jabulani, email skillsbuilder@cityplym.ac.uk or call 01752 305300.
