employment opportunities

The wait is over for Owolabi!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

The 41st Growing Talent programme has been the most interesting and challenging so far!

Some got roles and are on the Orientation and Holistic week currently, others have been going for meetings with different managers to identify the right fit.

The waiting game.

We all know how tough it is, waiting to hear results on anything – but especially whether we’ve secured that job or not is painful!

Owolabi was, until yesterday afternoon, waiting to hear and wondering if his life was about to change.

Now he knows it is.

Stable employment and a regular income enable unemployed people to start taking back control of their life, make their own choices and close their own social mobility gap.

This is even more important for those with challenging back experiences. A permanent job really does change lives.

A huge thank you to Matthew Izekor of Southwark Care Leavers who referred Owolabi to Growing Talent and supported him throughout the process.

Also a massive thank you and nod of respect to Gina and the team CIS Security Limited for joining us in doing things differently.

If you are looking to gain some amazing talent with hidden skills that will add value to your business in London – why not join us?

Next programme starts September 2025. Contact me for details.

What a week it has been so far for the amazing Alex!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Turned 21 on Saturday.

Started Growing Talent Orientation and Holistic week on Monday.

We’re now halfway through with just the i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training accredited course to go. The Manager’s level so pretty intense.

Monday 10th March will be Alex’s first day on site with his new employer Portico

Talk about whirlwind! This week Alex has worked through the three The CPD Certification Service certified manuals with content and tasks covering:

🎯 Employer expectations
🎯 How to stand out when you are one of many – ask Alex about the NYC taxi driver!
🎯 Effective communication at all levels

There’s more…..

🎯 The world of Unconscious Bias
🎯 Training our brain to be more resilient
🎯 What is neurodiversity? how might it show-up in the workplace? How to be an ally
🎯 Conflict identification, analysis and management
🎯 When the time comes, how to move on

And that was just book 1!!! Onto Book 2

🎯 The power of personal values and mantras
🎯 Understand how the ‘reptilian brain’ can cause issues and how to tame it
🎯 Proactive mind muscle building tools

Now to the body’s fuel…

🎯 Nutrition on a budget with simple hacks – just ask Alex about the connection between sugar and cocaine!
🎯 Personal finance tips and tricks
🎯 Impact of behaviour and how to build better connections

Are you exhausted yet reading this????

Lastly we had book 3 which is Growing Talent’s journal, art space and notes section!

Each day, Alex took note of his thoughts in the morning and reflected on the day each evening.

On Tuesday, Adam Bushell, #NikkiGallant and #BeckyShell dropped by to ask Alex about his experience. A confident, engaged speaker who enthused about his experience so far and his excitement of what lies ahead.

Adam Bushell took up the challenge to join us for some art! Kicking off with our ‘fill a heart’ task.

We often live life on auto pilot. Working hard, it’s easy to forget what really matters. A few minutes drawing the things we love within our respective hearts renews our focus on what is really important to us. It’s safe to say Picasso would have been impressed by our efforts!!!

In the feature photo, you can see Alex receiving his certificate of completion of the CPD accredited part of the Orientation Week.

Tomorrow he will hold another certificate as an i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training – Managing and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing in line with ISO45003, accredited for three years by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Is there no end to Alex’s capacity to embrace new things and learn?

Of course not!

We know he will be amazing in his new role and add value to his team and management.

#GoAlex!
#AlexAtereRoberts

Our insightful employers – want to join them?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Growing Talent is lucky to have strong collaboration ties with employers, #JobCentrePlus, community groups and the hidden talent of the unemployed people in London.

All share the common ground of enabling unemployed people to secure a job a different way, which they can grow into a career and close their own social mobility gap – permanently.

A big claim? Not for Growing Talent.

Over the 10 years it has run, multiple people have proven this and climbed their career ladders. Compared to where they started, the difference is as strong as that between night and day.

Confirmed employers for this round – our 39th programme – include:

Adecco

CIS Security Limited

ISS A/S

Iron Mountain

NG Bailey

Pertemps Network Group

Portico

#RestoreHarrowGreen

SPS UK & Ireland

There is still time to join these insightful employers if you have a role in London to fill.

But, the clock is ticking! ⏰

Deadline is 9am on 6 February. DM me for more information

A huge thank you to our insightful employers, #DavidSteeds team at #JobCentrePlus, Rob Matthews (Anna) their partners in the community, Matthew Izekor of #SouthwarkCareLeavers and our unemployed applicants who collaborate together to do things differently 👏 👏 👏

📢 to our sponsors Adam Bushell, Allen Salmon and the awesome magician behind the scenes Adrienne Simpson without whom Growing Talent wouldn’t be – thank you.

Could Growing Talent be your solution?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Yes, if you are already unemployed, living in London and want to ignite your own social mobility.

I know because I’ve been where you are.  The tools I used to secure employment are the foundation of Growing Talent and Talent Hub.

For many people who are unemployed and searching for work, there is a wide area of common ground including:

🎯   A feeling of numbness to take action

🎯  Overwhelmed – not able to put together a cv, let alone bring it to life, if an interview is secured

🎯   Not recognise the skills and potential within yourself so how will a potential employer ever see these?

🎯   Any number of external pressures 

The overriding problem is  ‘how do you connect with employers so they see your true potential’?

It’s just too difficult, right?

Wrong!

Growing Talent has been designed specifically for those unemployed people who need a different route to employers.  We don’t allow cvs, job descriptions, nor formal interviews.

Instead, we have a ‘getting to know each other event’ AHEAD of the selection stage.  By the time you reach the selection stage, strong connections have already been laid between employers and applicants.

The next London programme commences on 7 February 2025 with our virtual information session.

Criteria to take part:

🎯   Must already live in London.

🎯   You will be 18 or over – no upper age limit at all!

🎯   It’s important you already have your Right to Work documents in place or Government issued share code.

Run in collaboration with JobCentre Plus there is no negative impact on you. Any offers employers make are not mandatory – you don’t have to accept them. During the four week mutual evaluation, you retain your benefits, have travel paid and are paid by the employer! This ensures you know the ring-fenced role is right for you.

If you are offered a role by an employer and accept, you will undertake our robust pre-onboarding giving you the work and life skills you need to flourish as well as a qualification in i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training

Those who aren’t offered a role are invited to join our Talent Hub – an eight week virtual programme to move your closer to where you want to be.

Participating employers include:

🎯   Adecco

🎯   CIS-Security

🎯  ISS

🎯   NG Bailey

🎯  Pertemps

🎯   SPS UK & Ireland

If you are looking for an entry role to an employer which you can grow into a career – why wouldn’t you consider Growing Talent ?

What have you got to lose?  

If not now….when?

Seven years on…

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Back in February 2017, JobCentre Plus referred a very nervous John to Growing Talent’s 12th programme.

At the time John had very little employment experience and pretty low self-esteem.

Everything I asked him to do on Growing Talent, was completely outside his comfort zones especially the public speaking and presentations.

He pushed through that fear and nailed everything! John secured his ring-fenced permanent role with a records management company.

Attending the end of year event, John strolled into the room, in a suit matched with at the biggest beaming smile.

Today, he got in touch with me again. He is still with the same employer but now a Team Leader encouraging others. He sent me the picture of his Growing Talent badge that he still has seven years later!

I’m now walking on air.

Thank you John for updating me….

Collaboration delivers results….. do you agree?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Exciting meeting with @DavidSteeds & @Maddiemum @JCPinSthLondon yesterday planning @Growing_Talent 2023.  Four programmes will run throughout the year enabling forward planning for all involved. Targeting London based employers and unemployed people looking for a different journey into work.

In these challenging times, now more than ever this unique collaboration is needed to deliver positive results to all.

Thanks to all involved over 9yrs Growing Talent has run changing lives by delivering real social mobility 

What will the next year hold for Growing Talent?????

Who knows! One thing is for sure, we’re ready to roll that bowling ball!

Connections. Connections. Connections

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Growing Talent has predominantly run within nuclear parts of national/international employers providing on site services to Growing Talent’s funders. 

This started to change yesterday with the ‘King of Connections’ – also known as Andy at ISS, a strong supporter of Growing Talent, who connected Growing Talent with Anna, relatively new to the position of Head of Social Value at ISS in a meeting yesterday. 

Anna’s clear interest in the uniqueness of Growing Talent was amplified by ISS’s ‘Empathy Envoy’, also known as Melinda, who joined us to share with Anna some of the experiences her team had encountered and the life changing differences they had been part of – all in addition to their day jobs.

Andy explained to Anna that accounts outside the funders could take part and make a real difference to those that need a chance as well as gaining a positive impact on their team.

Anna agreed to attend our Recognition and Relaunch Event in January and said she would spread the word to decision makers along with Andy.

Within an hour, I’d received accepted invitations from some of these decision makers to attend! How awesome is that?

The power of people who make things happen rather than just talk the talk is awesome and makes such a critical difference to those vulnerable people on the Growing Talent journey – especially during these tough economic times!

Making it happen!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

For many global companies, taking part in Growing Talent is a challenge because it disrupts the global recruitment policies in place.

Growing Talent is a mentoring journey for both employers and their potential unemployed new talent which delivers a mutual ‘test drive’ to see if the permanent role on offer is right for both parties.

Due to the unique partnership over nine years with JobCentre Plus in the UK, participants retain their benefits, have their travel paid, get paid by the employer, undergo a week of orientation and holistic workshops including qualification in the accredited i-act Managing and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing aligning with ISO45003 psychological safety in the workplace and a dedicated mentor for the journey. This raises their empowerment and confidence before they start the four week mutual test drive with their employer.

What’s not to like?

With all these positive elements to Growing Talent, Lauren had a role she knew would be appropriate. After securing UK managements’ approval, she then had to tackle the European heads! No easy task – but she did it!

Lauren made it happen and you can see just how confident and awesome Lee is from the photo above with Lauren. Feed back from Lauren and her team is Lee is learning so quickly and picking up things fast. He’s a positive addition to the team – and this is just a few days into the journey! From Lee’s view, he’s enjoying it and has no complaints.

It not easy to start a new job during train strikes – but Lee made it happen too!

Vision, determination and passion = positive real results. So, let’s all ‘make it happen’!

Planning a unique event for Growing Talent…..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

We’ve all heard the sayings:

“The devil’s in the detail”

“Preparation prevents poor performance”

“Fail to prepare and you prepare to fail”

Amongst very many others. Of course the smallest detail can have the biggest impact so it’s important to know what the goal is of the event upfront. Then it’s easy to work out the intricacies such as budgets, speakers, awards/gifts etc.

Luckily, the unique event I’m planning is the Recognition and Relaunch of Growing Talent – neither has been done before. 

Pre Covid, we held annual graduation ceremonies for everyone who had completed Growing Talent over the previous year coming together in London to celebrate with their respective employers.

Covid brought many changes across the board for everyone – in work and at home. Whilst we switched to virtual delivery for an employer who was looking to hire in permanent national roles working from home, the traditional route to employment outside the home has changed.

The two years plus of uncertainty we lived under during Covid, didn’t end when the heat of Covid diminished. Covid was quickly followed by the war in Ukraine, the consumer crisis, and now the prospect of rising taxes, meaning the pool of talented unemployed people who want to work has dwindled, leaving employers with multiple roles to fill.

This lack of confidence on both sides needs a unique tool to bring each together. That tool for many will be Growing Talent.

Earlier this year, Growing Talent was revised to make clear benefits for both the employer and prospective employee. Below are the highlights for each:

We have some confirmed speakers already for the event on 16 January 2023 including:

David – senior group manager for London and Essex at DWP. David has been instrumental for years in supporting the flexibilities needed for Growing Talent to be a success within JobCentre Plus and spread the word amongst his large, diverse, geographically spread team.

Jamie & Pedro – known to Growing Talent as the ‘dream team’. Supporting and cheerleading Growing Talent since the beginning, they have put their heart and integrity into guiding everyone they’ve met on Growing Talent over the years into some awesome careers. Not easy to do when you have a booming successful recruitment branch to run as they do with Pertemps and Red Personnel in London. They will be sharing why they do this from an employers viewpoint.

Ella from MasterFix Properties will be speaking from a dual view. Earlier this year, Ella was selected to join Growing Talent by Paul, Head of Talent at MasterFix who was looking for a Talent Co-Ordinator to join his team. After successfully completely Growing Talent, Ella returned with Paul to the next programme to select more talent to join the London team.

The line-up of this unique event will of course grow over the coming weeks.

A schedule will be published of when Growing Talent will run in 2023 giving time to employers, JobCentre Plus and the charities we work with to prepare.

If you are a London based employer with permanent roles to fill in 2023 and want to recruit a more diverse way, why not get in touch to find out more?