At Educafe, we’ve always believed that language is more than words, it’s connection, confidence and community. Over the past year, our Education Hub has continued to grow from strength to strength, offering face-to-face and online ESOL courses across all levels and welcoming hundreds of learners from diverse backgrounds who now call West Berkshire home.
Where it all begins – Chatty Corner
It often begins at Chatty Corner, our free weekly conversation café at Newbury Library, where newcomers can practise English in a friendly, relaxed setting. For many, this first step opens the door to new friendships, confidence and a sense of belonging. From there, learners often move into our structured ESOL courses, from Beginners to Advanced and Accredited, building the language skills needed to thrive in everyday life, work and study.
Next steps – Pathways for work and life
In 2025–26, we’re excited to expand these opportunities further with new, purpose-built courses such as English for Business Communication and English for Living in the Community, delivered in partnership with Newbury College from January 2026. Alongside these, our long-running Employability and Step into Work programmes will continue helping learners turn classroom learning into real-world confidence and meaningful employment.
Celebrating success
As the recipient of a West Berkshire Learner Achievement Award, our Chatty Corner ESOL group stands as proof of what can happen when people are supported to learn, connect and belong.
A call to local businesses
Yet, the next stage of our journey depends on partnership. West Berkshire is home to many thriving businesses that benefit directly from a confident, diverse and work-ready local population. Many of our learners are skilled professionals, tradespeople and entrepreneurs with transferable skills, they simply need the language tools to contribute fully to our local and national economy.
That’s why we’re calling on local employers, business leaders and community partners to join us in sponsoring the Educafe Education Hub. Together, we can create bespoke English programmes tailored to sector-specific needs, preparing newcomers for jobs in care, hospitality, retail, technology and more.
With the legacy of the Berkshire School of English merger behind us, Educafe now stands as West Berkshire’s leading provider of community-based language learning, flexible, inclusive and ready to respond to the needs of local employers.
A new workforce is waiting. Let’s help them find their voice, their confidence and their place in our community.
👉 To sponsor or partner with Educafe’s Education Hub, contact: hello@educafeuk.co.uk
More information and course details can be found here: https://www.educafeuk.co.uk/about/educafe-education-hub/
