employers

8 months – what a transformation…..

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Whilst in the London office, I bumped into Phil – one of the Mitie managers in Service Solutions – seen on the right with Jamie ex-Growing Talent Associate.

 

Phil selected Jamie in July 2017 on the 13th programme.  Jamie had never held a permanent, full-time role but had a strong work ethic.  He was really confident at home and with friends, but it was a different story in the corporate glass building that  he would be based in.

 

Jamie picked up the role really quickly.  He has been so supportive of his team from day 1 that when it came to the annual Graduation in December, Jamie didn’t stick around for the adulation and photos.  He wanted to get back to his team as they were so busy with the Christmas rush!

 

Today, I bumped into Phil who gave a glowing report on Jamie. ‘He always works late if necessary, supports the team and even covered two departments on his own.  He really is up there with the great personalities  we’ve had on Growing Talent’.

 

It’s lovely to hear how well everyone continues to do.  Jamie truly is a fab role model for others to follow.

‘Sacrifice People to save numbers’

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I came across this quote whilst reading work by Simon Sinek – the renowned motivational speaker – check him out on YouTube.

 

We’ve all seen companies downsize their staff in turbulent financial times with no thought about the impact on those individuals, their families nor the overall drop in moral on the staff they keep.

 

Even when there isn’t a financial downturn, companies will often shred staff to reduce their payroll bill and thus increase their profits – more palatable for the shareholders – or is it?

 

I worked for a company for over 12 years.  Just before the financial reporting, a round of redundancies would be announced to ensure the company retained it’s double digit growth.  In reality, they haven’t grown at all.  All they had done was culled their staff.

 

Simon’s point was what would happen if companies did the reverse? ‘Sacrificed the numbers to save the people’ – what a thought.  The example he gave was of Bob Chapman Chair of Barry-Wehmiller in USA.  This company was a £1bn plus turnover and made big machinery.  In the 2008 financial crash he decided to ‘sacrifice the numbers to save the people’.   With 30% written of the company’s value in one fail swoop – it was time to try something new.

 

He suggested everyone – from himself downwards, would take four weeks unpaid holiday.  They didn’t have to take it consecutively and they could take it when they wanted but everyone would keep their jobs.  The response was huge.  Those senior people who could afford to take more unpaid leave traded with those that couldn’t.  Everyone worked as a family, pulling together.  They were involved in the decision, given the support to do it and felt safe and happy.  The company prospered.  It enjoys 20% year on year growth compared with the average 6%.

 

When you believe in why you are doing something, everything else falls into place.  People support you because they believe in the same thing.

 

Wouldn’t it be refreshing if all companies ‘Sacrificed the numbers for the people’?

 

How much more would their profits grow?  What do you think?

Social Mobility – What is it exactly?

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I was thinking about this the other day.  Maybe my definition is different to others….

 

So what prompted this thought?  I’d been invited by a global financial services organisation with a multi £bn turnover and global presence to share my work with their Social Mobility team.

 

During this meeting I explained how I devised and run Growing Talent which has got over 120 people from the ranks of the unemployed into permanent jobs which they have flourished in.  Over four years, many have returned to encourage those following them and shared how much Growing Talent had changed their lives.  Some have started their own business.

 

I gave many examples from graduates who had no direction, self belief nor understanding of what the world of employment looked like to people like Richard – mid 30s, never worked – who not only completed the programme but has been employed for over two years now.

 

People on Growing Talent come from all social backgrounds including the homeless, single parents, people who have experienced mental health issues and so on.

 

With nurturing and encouragement they have secured employment, got savings, taken back control of their lives and have immense self-belief.  To me, this is social mobility.

 

At the end of the meeting, the Social Mobility team said Growing Talent was good but what about clothes?  Clothes do not bring about change.  A mindset, encouragement into work and self belief do as my evidence shows.

 

So what does Social Mobility mean to you?  Is it a new set of clothes or is it giving the tools to someone to literally change their lives?

 

I sincerely hope the money being invested into these Social Mobility teams actually delivers real change and doesn’t just become a tick box exercise….

Meet Growing Talent 16’s Head Judge

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A long-time supporter of Growing Talent, Allen often gives-up his time to preside over the Growing Talent Social Enterprise Challenge.

 

These are ideas selected Growing Talent Associates devise and present to a panel of managers from their employer companies during their first week of Growing Talent – no pressure then!

 

At the end of each presentation, collective feedback is given before the Head judge delivers the verdict and prize.

 

The ideas have to benefit a local community, have a revenue stream and be easy to maintain.  The ideas presented in the past have always been innovative and well thought out.

 

I don’t doubt this will be the case on Friday 9 February! – check back to find out…….

18 December 2017 – what a night!

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GROUP

Seen above are some of the 27 Growing Talent Graduates of 2017 after receiving their Graduation prize – a logo’d fitbit from Jon and Steve of PwC centre rear.

 

A fabulous evening of catch-up for the Graduates – some had not seen each other for almost a year!

 

Of course, it was off to the pub for liquid refreshments shortly after this was taken – very well deserved!

 

Well done to all of you………

 

What will 2018 bring?

 

More information at http://www.growing-talent.co.uk…….

 

New Year = New Opportunity!

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At the start of 2017, there were 27 people who really wanted to change their lives and get into permanent work – but being unemployed – they had no idea how.

 

At the same time there were a number of employers including some from the world of hospitality, business moves, recruitment, data management and business services looking to add new talent to their businesses but not knowing how to confidently recruit people with knowledge of their current and future potential as well as their commitment and reliability.

 

Growing Talent is the bridge between the two.  A supported journey for both sides to evaluate the other delivering sustainable recruitment and no surprises!

 

All 27 people mentioned above at the start of 2017, completed Growing Talent and went into work.  Their employers were confident they had the right match for their roles, teams and business.

 

To date, Growing Talent has seen 121 people from diverse backgrounds go into permanent jobs changing their lives and their employer’s perception on the talent that is missed in the ranks of our unemployed population.

 

It’s so difficult ‘selling’ your skills and potential on a faceless cv.  It’s even harder if confidence has dropped due to unemployment.  Some of the success stories of Growing Talent below………

 

Richard – mid-30s and never worked.  Dropped school at 15.  Secured a role with Harrow Green – still working there almost 2 years later.

 

Dan – a graduate who didn’t know what career he wanted.  Joined a front of house team on a corporate site as a Welcome Host.  18 months later – on their fastback programme progressing to team leader.

 

Chris – a little over 3 years ago, had a series of temp jobs in retail and some volunteering.  Was unwell with depression.  When asked why he should be given a chance on Growing Talent, he replied ‘I honestly don’t know’.  He joined a business solutions organisation on a corporate site.  After two years he moved to a hotel reception role and is now Supervisor there  managing a team!  He’s also started a degree course in his spare time.

 

If you are looking to get into work in 2018 and don’t know how – check http://www.growing-talent.co.uk.

 

As an employer, if you don’t recruit through Growing Talent, do you want to continue missing out on great talent like Chris, Dan and Richard?  It costs nothing other than time, open mind and commitment.

 

What are you going to change in 2018?

Sexism? Been around for decades…..

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There is rightly a lot in the press at the moment about sexism across society and business.  Danny Cotton is pushing for the term ‘Fireman’ to be abolished and ‘Firefighter’ to be used.

Pay inequality is rife and across all industries.  Sometimes it’s hard to remember the Equalities Act is seven years old when we still have this divide going on.

 

Yesterday Theresa May invited five ‘Canary Girls’ to 10 Downing Street to say ‘thank you’ for their role in the war.  All in their 90s, they recollected the dangers they worked in without even thinking about it.

 

Cordite was the substance they worked with in the ammunitions factories to make the explosives for the front.  Exposure to this – remember, long before our stringent H&S laws, turned the users yellow like canaries.

 

Looking back over history we have many examples of women breaking barriers despite how impenetrable these barriers initially seemed.

 

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson – became the first UK female doctor in the 1860s.  Nancy Astor became the first female MP in 1919.  Caroline Herschel was awarded the Royal Astronomical Society’s gold medal in 1828.  In 1848 Mary Sommerville’s book on Physical Geography was used in schools for the next 50 years.  The list goes on. It’s clear these women and every woman throughout history who has become an influence in their chosen field, may not have set out to break any glass ceilings or sexist views, but what happy by products!

 

I remember one of the first Asian female CEO’s said she never noticed a glass ceiling, she just got on with the job.

 

Sir Nicholas Winton said ethics kept him doing his work.  When asked what he meant he explained humanity’s ethics of decency, kindness, acceptance etc which he also felt were now gone.  If we treated each other with dignity and respect would we have the inequality we do?  I doubt it.

 

Surely every child just needs to be nurtured to belief they can achieve anything if they believe in themselves.

 

What a great example the ‘Canary Girls’ and every other person of achievement is to all of us no matter our gender, culture, race etc.  Any human being can achieve if they believe they can.

Unacceptable Stats

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It’s shocking to read BiTC’s report on mental health in the workplace 2017 – link below.  The feature photo shows two startling facts BiTC’s report has uncovered.

 

https://wellbeing.bitc.org.uk/all-resources/research-articles/mental-health-work-report-2017

 

Have we learnt so little?  For employers there is a huge positive hit to their bottom line when they address mental health in their business but raising awareness and delivering training.  As a Mental Health First Aid Instructor I know businesses are doing more.  Let’s consider some stats from MHFAEngland:

 

  • 31% of staff said they would leave their current job if stress levels didn’t decrease in the coming year
  • 70 million sick days are lost to mental health costing UK plc £70-£100bn
  • Presentism – underperforming at work due to mental health issues costs £15.1bn to UK plc
  • Awareness, training and openness on mental health in the workplace decreases the risk of being sued
  • Legal obligation – mental health issues including self-harm are protected under 2010 Equality Act.

 

We have evidence that suicide is thankfully reducing even though it’s a slight reduction.  The ratio remains three times more men than women complete suicide,   Clearly there is a lot more work to be done for both business and us individuals.

 

Can hearts and minds be changed quickly enough?

 

 

Is it too good to be true? Actually no – it really is free…….

Jane JamesLeave a comment

‘How do you recruit the perfect candidate without incurring any cost?’

‘How can you be confident your potential new hire is right for your role, team & business’

Answer:  Growing Talent

Growing Talent is a business led and funded initiative to bring the unemployed and employers with permanent London-based jobs together.  Over a 12 week, mutually mentored period each gets to know the other well resulting in confident recruitment.

 

With four programmes planned for 2018 – who not get involved?

 

GT16            17 January 2018

GT17            18 April 2018

GT18            18 July 2018

GT19            19 September 2018

 

For more information, checkout http://www.growing-talent.co.uk.

 

The Belfast Experience!

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My first visit to Belfast – home of Titanic came on 26 July 2017 ready for delivering a MHFALite course the following day.

 

It was a ‘first’ for quiet a few things.  The first time I used the automatic bag drop – with a little help from the assistant!  A great idea but I wasn’t convinced until I saw my case role off the singular baggage carousel at George Best Belfast City Airport – phew, what a relief.

 

The next first was staying in a global brand hotel where the ‘exclusive’ experience I was expecting didn’t come to fruition.  The room was very dark with no central light.  Great if you want to work at the desk with the desk spotlight but not if, like me, preference is to sprawl on the bed with laptop, books, pens etc!  Stuffiness eventually prompted me to check out the air con – which was so noisy.  This was quickly turned off and the small window opened.  Unfortunately this overlooked the metro line and main road!  After deciding to have a cup of tea – I tried fishing the large hair out of the cup – it was a crack!  Unfortunately there were several guests who decided to have a late conversation in the corridor outside my room on the way back from the bar at midnight!!!  It seemed I’d only got to sleep when the alarm clock went off!  Good job I know how to manage stress from the training I deliver on Mental Health First Aid courses!  Breakfast was a vast improvement even if the placemat was stained!

 

MHFA Lite is a three hour course to raise awareness of mental health conditions.  It’s a light touch course.  With a room full of managers from this global financial client, what would their reaction be – did they learn anything?……

 

‘Learning that different conditions manifest themselves in different ways and how having a conversation can help highlight issues’.

‘Coping strategies to suggest to others and use myself.  I have a much better awareness of the different types of mental health problems and most importantly the scale we are all on.’

‘Being mindful of my own well-being.  There is so much help available – I hadn’t realised.  Being aware of changes in others’

‘Even though I’ve done these sort of workshops before, it refreshed and added to my knowledge’

‘Listening unconditionally and being aware of small changes’

‘I feel like I could listen and provide suitable signposting’

‘It’s important to always ask even if only a small change is noticed’

 

As an Instructor it’s always great to see the learning gained from the evaluations – part of which is about the Instructor’s delivery and knowledge!  So what were the thoughts on me….. I’m glad to say a full house of top scores!

 

‘Really really enjoyable course.  Not only excellent from a line manager’s perspective but also for my own personal experience – fantastic trainer’

 

‘Instructor was very informative with lots of examples’

 

‘Very confident Instructor who encouraged participation.  An enjoyable course, well delivered’.

 

‘A straight talking Instructor’

So overall………..

 

‘A very useful course, thank you!’

‘Excellent course – useful inside and outside work’.

 

For me, the last comment is the most important.  Mental Health affects us and those closest to us both at home and work.