100% Success for all Starters!

Team plus

Growing Talent 5 – the most successful group yet.  100% of all starters completed and went into work!  Seen here with some previous Growing Talent Associates who returned to encourage the guys.  Comfort from the pilot has been working successfully with Honeywell since completion, Caroline & James from Growing Talent 2 is still working with Iron Mountain.  Josh from Growing Talent 4 working with Harrow Green and Kavita from Growing Talent 4 still working with Aramark!  #PeoplePower!

 

 

For the first time in the short history of Growing Talent, all 11 who started the programme have completed and started their permanent jobs!  Despite a few early day wobbles from some, they rallied with support and encouragement to have the confidence to prove themselves, staying the course for the entire three months!

 

Jose secured his dream role in HR with Harrow Green after years of working in hospitality roles.

Shanika left retail behind and joined Harrow Green in their niche customer service team supporting all the business moves for their clients.

Jason, Bradley & Gavin all secured Porter roles at Harrow Green’s depots despite having little recent employment experience.

Alechenu joined Mitie Total Document Management in their rapid response team – part of the wider Service Solutions offering at one of their global client’s London sites.

Reece also joined Mitie Total Document Management in their Archiving division.  This team looks after all the Firm’s data – a huge responsibility!

Shennell & Alex both join Iron Mountain as Data/Project specialists after a long period of not really knowing what direction to so in.

Reese joins MHFAEngland as a Data Entry specialist

Camilla joins Portico in their Executive Reception team as an Executive Host.

 

You can find out more about their journeys at my other site – http://www.growing-talent.co.uk or at @Growing_Talent.

 

 

 

 

Holistic Vibe – Growing Talent 5 Renewal & Finance

Team-plus

22 June saw the start of a stunning a week at De Vere Holborn Bars.  The Holistic Vibe covers all the soft skills required for life long employment.

 

The picture above shows the guys together with previous Growing Talent Associates – Kavita, Comfort, Joshua, James & Caroline.

 

We started the week with Lesley Davies’s workshop – Renew, Refuel, Rejuvenate – although maybe from the title we should have done this at the end of the week!

 

Lesley-Refuel-Renewal-Rejuvenate

Lesley Refuel, Renewal Rejuvenate

Lesley gave a brilliant insight into how our bodies work, how evolution has affected them, the portion sizes and food groups we should cover along with top tips on food choices and keeping fit without the gym! Did the guys agree?:

“I wish we had more time with Lesley – she was great!”

“I enjoyed learning about this – you never know when it will become useful”

“Good approach to keep in mind in terms of nutrition and healthy food”

“Really enjoyed this section. Left me thinking how I could improve myself!”

“Good tips on healthy eating at work”

“Learnt about how important sleep and diet are – really worthwhile”

Personal Finance – Jon Barnes

Jon-Personal-Finance

Jon has devised an excellent personal finance workshop discussing personal finance including Standing Order vs Direct Debit, mortgages rates, credit cards, the value of cash, planning savings and everything inbetween! Lots of questions were asked. Very interactive and informal. Did the guys agree?

“Amazing workshop!”

“Brilliant session – covered things I hadn’t thought about”

“Reminds us to look at where we are and where we want to be in five and ten years”

“Strong and important topic which is not taught much”

“Powerful and informative. Should be taught in school”

“Great useful tips. Inspiration for when our wages come in”

 

jandS

Jon chatting with Shanika before breaking for lunch.

 

Stop the press! Shennell & Alex start work four weeks early!

What an achievement for both of them.

 

So, ladies first!

 

Shennell 2

Shennell in her Iron Mountain uniform

 

Shennell’s was referred to Growing Talent by her brother who I’d worked with previously on a programme called the Real Apprentice.  Due to various things going on at the time, Shennell decided to take a break from her University Studies in March 15 and work for a year before deciding what she really wanted to do.  Would this be a return to Uni, travelling or employment – so many options!

 

She arrived at the Assessment Day not knowing what to expect but was open-minded.  Nervous on entering the room full of strangers, she soon started to relax and join in.  All of the assessments are designed to be fun and inter-active enabling true personalities to be seen and good matches made.

 

Selected by Chloe & Russ of Iron Mountain, to train to be a Data Specialist, Shennell joined the team close to Canning Town.  Learning the processes quickly, Shennell showed her commitment and focus from the start resulting in an excellent first appraisal, followed by the offer to start paid employment from 29 June instead of 27 July!

 

Alex at work

Alex looking every inch the manager not a Growing Talent Associate!

 

Alex had a passion to join the Army from a young age.  His dad didn’t share his plan.  At the age of 16 when Alex wanted to join but needed parental consent, his dad said no.  So he carried on with studies etc before raising the issue again at 18, thinking he no longer needed his dad’s position. However, living at home means parents rule!

 

So job searching commenced with little success.  This is often the case when we can’t follow our passion.  What role would suit us?  What company do we want to work for?

 

Alex secured some work experience with his local JobCentre.  Impressing the Employment Coaches with his tenacity, they put him forward to Growing Talent.  Alex won offers from a few companies with roles ranging from administration, mailroom to data specialist.  His older brother had worked at Iron Mountain previously and Alex was particularly attracted to their offer of Data specialist.

 

Like Shennell, he impressed Iron Mountain and has also started paid employment four weeks early.  Russ, their line manager is still freeing them up to attend the Holistic Week commencing 22 June when personal finance, fitness, nutrition and mental health first aid will be delivered.

 

‘Everyone’s a winner’ – as I believe Hot chocolate once sang!

 

 

ENEI – Great News!

Heard last night that Growing Talent has been shortlisted for an ENEI (Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion) award in their Community Impact category.  Winners will be announced at the Law Society on 14 July 2015!

It’s strange to think when I wrote the entry back in March, 20 people had gone through Growing Talent and secured permanent jobs.  By the time the announcements come round, it will be 41!

It is a great encouragement to the employers who have been involved including Harrow Green, Iron Mountain, Pertemps, Aramark, Baxter Storey, Mitie, Portico, MHFA, Red Personnel, Sheridan Maine, Network Compucare, Honeywell, UpTownOil, JobCentre Plus’s management team and of course PwC to continue, grow and develop Growing Talent over the coming months and years.

Any awards won endorse the programme and encourage others to get involved.  Coupled with the online advertising on Daily Mail, Telegraph and Guardian websites through the month of June and the Evening Standard feature – which I’m now told will be published on 11 June – the word is definitely spreading!

The story in pictures………………

team

Comfort, Sophia, Holly & Jason – pilot

20140814_165445

Mikele, Jordan, Nirosana, Sholape, Anthony, Chris, Samick, James & Caroline – 2nd programme

Stairs 2 Latimer

Andy, Matt, Kavita, Mo, Madi, Ariane & David – 3rd programme

cropped group

Michael, Kit, Selwyn, Kaith, Daoud, Joshua, Sinead, Michell, Max, Jane, Courtney & Jess – 4th programme

Chris and the guys

Gavin, Chris (now a presenter!)Alenchenu, Jose, Bradley, Camilla, Shanika, Reese, Alex, Shennell, Jason & Reece – 5th programme

Growing Talent 5 – What’s The Status?

Well after a prolific pre-screening programme back in April, leading employers including Mitie, Harrow Green, Iron Mountain, Portico and MHFA selected 11 to join them on the Growing Talent journey.

 

Jason, Bradley & Gavin went into operations roles with Harrow Green,  the leading business relocation organisation, who also took Shanika in a Customer Service role and Jose who has joined their HR team.

 

Trev and co

 

(l-r: Trev, Shanika, Sharon & Jose)

At the point of employment on completion, Jason, Bradley & Gareth will be skills multi operations assistants with a solid career path ahead of them.  Jason is already learning the tablet technology and has his sights set on installation.

 

Shankia had only retail experience and was a little worried on the office environment.  She need not have worried!  The team already feel she’s been there forever and is like a sponge when it comes to learning.  She is enthused and supportive with a strong focus on customer satisfaction.  The end job within the team will call for extensive liaison on the phone, in person whilst keeping a cool head in solution sourcing.

 

Jose was born and brought up in Maderia.  A strong trait of self-sufficiency saw Jose relocate to the UK a few years back to learn English.  His career had largely been spent in hospitality. but a natural passion for people and business saw him undertake evening studies in CIPD HR.  Working closely with the new HR Manager, Jose has a new project to deliver though idea, design, testing, launch, training.

 

Mr Reece Worrell joined the Mitie team in the archiving department.  The team look after all the information, records, contracts etc of a global financial firm.  Better than Reece 1 & 2 is the use of ‘Mister’ – not a note of favouritism!

 

Mr Reece Newton was selected by Gillian and Emma to join their small but industrious team at MHFAEngland based in Old Street in the role of Admin Assistant.  Reece was initially nervous – taking time to make sure his work was accurate – especially when it came to producing the First Aider Certificates!

Gillian, Reece, Simon

Gillian from MHFAEngland with Reece and Simon – Portico.

 

Pauline spotted Alenchenu’s potential to sine in her team at Mitie Service Solutions.  As part of the Rapids team, Alenchenu has to ensure all deliveries of urgent items reach their destination efficiently.  Not as easy as you might think!  These items can be high value documents or personal IT goods. Based in the Charing Cross area, Alenchenu is looking forward to the end role and promotion prospects!

 

Iron Mountain choose Shennell and Alex to join their data entry team in East London.  Shennell is on a year’s break from her University course in Psychology and Criminology.  Having done summer and part-time roles, Shennell wanted something which would give her options.  She has settled in well and is on course to secure a flexible job to turn into a career when she’s ready.  Alex, quiet by nature,

 

Camilla was selected to join the Executive Welcome team with Portico working at global organisations in central London.  This role is highly visible and customer facing.  Responsible for meet and greet, direction, meeting room set-up, client safety on site, inter departmental liaison the Executive Welcome team work with all levels of personnel including Board.  Camilla has embraced the challenge and is working very well.  Simon, MD of Portico and Jordan, Welcome Team Executive – also Growing Talent Associate on the 2nd programme! – were judges on the Social Enterprise idea, the flagship workshop of the Orientation Week.

Simon Camilla Jordan

 

Camilla won the Social Enterprise Challenge with her idea – Renaissance House.  Seen below receiving her cup from Jon or PwC

 

Camila and Jon

 

The guys have all been on site for a week now and starting to get used to the routine of employment.  Each have gone into roles open minded and hungry to learn.  They are doing well and initial reports are encouraging.  

Watch this space to see how the guys progress over the coming weeks……………..

‘So rare – people were laughing and joking together…………….’

I love it when employers I work with are impressed and surprised by the work I do.  This week has been full-on diversity of tasks.

On Monday we had the initial assessments for the next round of Growing Talent – over 45 attendees met with managers from global and national employers.  The five tasks included:

  • Sell yourself on Google – 2 minute sales pitch
  • Follow a process – with a hidden trick!
  • Sell a famous person into a job
  • Debate a contentious issue giving a conclusion as a team
  • Truth & vision – pick one true attribute and one power you would like

Ice was broken.  I’m not sure who was more nervous at the start, the unemployed attendees or the employers!  Great to hear things like ‘that was fun’, ‘I’ve never witnessed anything like this at any assessment day – everyone laughing and joking together’.

I’ve always found it strange in the 20+ years I’ve spent in recruitment and we still cling to recruiting staff in the same way.  We never find out their personality, skills or potential until we’ve employed them.  Growing Talent enables each side to know the other before an employment offer is made delivering commitment and longevity.

Yesterday was spent delivering a 3 hour power house workshop to a national front of house hospitality organisation.  A room full of managers with their minds on their increasing in-trays back at the office.  The core ‘want’ in the room was to learn more about the delicate subject of mental health.  How to approach and support staff and when to escalate to HR/Occupational Health.

Stress levels almost increased for me when I discovered the screen had a HDMI cable not the old style pin connector.  Luckily an old connector was found.  Note to self – upgrade equipment!!!

The room was hot and small – not a great combination for training.  However, the time flew by.  Conversation flowed as did the interaction and contribution of all managers.

At the end of the session, I was really pleased to see all evaluations had been marked ‘good’ – the top score!  Some additional comments:

‘I thought the content was really good and I feel more confident on this issue.’

‘I learnt how to talk to staff about mental health in the workplace’

‘Really informative, definitely makes you look at things differently’.

‘Really good – loved the group exercises’

The end of my week will be focussed on Growing Talent with the Employers Selection on Friday.

Nice to know you make a difference!

2014-10-08 07.24.11

 

I’ve worked in recruitment for decades – literally!  The latter part of my career has been spent devising bespoke employment programmes for people from all backgrounds who need a little ‘polish’!

The Real Apprentice programme, which I devised back in 2006 and ran until 2013, saw around 300 people go into work.  Some stayed in touch periodically. Some I never heard from again.  Others would get in touch when they needed some help.

 

Three years ago, Stephen was on the Real Apprentice in Glasgow.  He worked so hard he secured the winner’s title and £500 prize cheque!  I last heard from him when he was applying to BAE Systems and needed a reference.  It was great at the time to hear he was continuing to push himself forward.  The ‘polish’ had worked!  He continued to believe in himself long after the Real Apprentice ended.

 

Earlier this week, I was flattered when he got in touch again.  With plans to relocate to Oz he wanted some help with his cv – which I was glad to advise on.

 

This is what he sent back.

 

‘Thanks for taking the time to look over my cv and give me feedback, much appreciated. The real apprenticeship was where it all started for me and don’t think I would be where I am just now if I never had that opportunity and your advice and support throughout was fantastic! It gave me the drive to want to better myself and get me where I am today.’

‘Hopefully the next e-mail I send you will be sent from sunny oz.’  Stephen

 

It’s made me realise that even when we don’t feel we’re really making a massive difference to people, we are.  Never stop giving your time and encouragement to others it makes more difference than you might think!