equality

Employers…Recruit a better way…

Jane JamesLeave a comment

We all know that growing our own fruit and veg is something special.  Nurturing it through all the stages from seed, seedling, shoot to full grown crop.  There’s something special about the effort to create something ourselves.  Of course, the taste is always far superior to shop brought.

 

I’m a firm believer people are the same as crops.  When they are invested in,  nurtured to their full potential and taught business skills from scratch, they learn quicker, better and deliver commitment for the opportunity received.

 

Growing Talent enables both the employer and unemployed potential new talent to grow and learn together.  Over a maximum 12 week period, invaluable lifelong skills are taught on the Orientation and Holistic weeks. A maximum of 10 weeks learning the vacant role in situ ensures a confident match.

 

Why pay recruitment fees?  Why recruit from a cv rather then actual knowledge on potential and attitude?

 

Growing Talent is free.  Why not give us a try?  The next programme commences in April.  Contact me for more details of your London based recruitment.

 

 

Growing Talent 12 Begins!

Jane JamesLeave a comment

After the preliminary screening sessions by JobCentre Plus, charities and myself we were ready for the Employers’ Speed Dating sessions held at Southwark Cathedral’s Gary Weston Library on 24 January 2017.

 

We call it speed dating because there are no cvs nor job descriptions.  The selection is based on personalities alone!  A unique way to recruit.

 

Employers had a table each and small groups of applicants on 10 minute rotation to decided who they wanted to see for the final selection stage.

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(l-r – Scott, James & Lois from Mitie Connect)

Scott and James were new to Growing Talent.  Despite not knowing what it was all about properly – they embraced the change and identified Stefan who joins the team on a global cosmetic account.

 

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Frances & Dan above are used to Growing Talent having recruited several members of staff on previous programmes.  Here they are chatting with Ilamathy.  Working for a global hotel brand – it’s not always easy identifying the ideal candidate(s).  Growing Talent allows confidence in all hires for all parties.

 

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Selvan and Shane of Invest in Buy to Let have several companies between them.  On this occasion, they were seeking a personality to fill a marketing role.

 

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Jamie & Adam of Pertemps are huge supporters of Growing Talent not only filling their own consultant vacancies but trying to support those who don’t get selected for a place.

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Ebb and Christina her colleague from Holiday Inn Bradford Lock were joined by newcomer Gemma of Crown Plaza hotel in Canary Wharf. Ebb is a cheerleader of Growing Talent having recruited from the programme previously.  She also appears in the latest film with Michel Burke – check out the Case Studies tab at http://www.growing-talent.co.uk

 

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A welcome return to Iron Mountain who have just undergone a global takeover which meant they were away from Growing Talent’s last few programmes.  Above are Steph, Russ & Michelle speaking with one of their three recruits on Growing Talent – John!

 

Finally – the Growing Talent Associates below were selected…….

John, Ashling & Craig join Iron Mountain

Mokhtar, Zainab & Ashley – join Harrow Green

Sebastien – joins Invest In Buy to Let

Leon – joins Pertemps

Ilamathy – joins Red Personnel

Stefan – joins Mitie Connect

 

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Check back to see how the fabulous 10 get on………

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theresa May & Mental Health

Jane JamesLeave a comment

An encouraging interview with Sophie Ridge of Sky News and the PM was aired yesterday morning.

 

Initially, I felt a bit unenthused at the start of the interview.  Sophie seemed fixated on the single market.  She asked three times about if we were leaving the single market in favour of securing our borders.

 

This illustrated to me the blinkered, reporting some journalists fixate on to get ‘the story’.  Three times Theresa May explained there is no opportunity to stay in the single market as we’ve voted to leave.  The negotiations will bring a different relationship. Still Sophie persisted before moving on to other topics.

 

This is where my interest was renewed.

 

The PM is highlighting mental health resources especially for children – which is fantastic news.  She recognises the biggest issue is stigma.  If people felt able to talk about their issues there is proven evidence they don’t deteriorate and get help quickly.

 

The PM is making a speech 9.1.17 – it will be interesting to see what she says on this.

 

Mental Health is  core component of Growing Talent.  We strongly believe in training participants as First Aiders.  Indeed everyone on Growing Talent complete the two-day standard global course.  There are many reasons for this – a key one is to remove the stigma associated with Mental Health.  I’m glad the Government is finally catching up!

 

Let’s get talking!

 

 

Swearing allegiance – will it deliver inclusivity?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

The press is full of the idea of councillors, NHS workers etc swearing allegiance to Great Britain in the hope this will ensure our diverse communities are embraced and included rather than isolated.

 

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government as well as MP for Bromsgrove is a supporter of the idea.  I’m not sure swearing an oath will carry much weight.  It will certainly be meaningless to the members of our communities isolated by fear, religion, culture etc.

 

However, something Sajid also said made a lot more sense.  He told the story of visiting his GP when he was 8.  He wasn’t sick.  He was attending as translator for his mum who had lived in the UK for years but never learnt the language. Sometime later she did learn English and her life, as told by Sajid, opened up.

 

I meet a lot of people who have family members who do not speak English despite living in the UK for decades.  This of course means they can’t work, nor can they integrate with other communities.  Studying is difficult. Day-to-day life – such as a GP’s visit – depends on other family members.

 

Wouldn’t it break down more barriers between our diverse cultures if we all spoke the same language?  At least then conversation could be held, understanding would grow, integration and prosperity would then follow.

 

Is an oath of allegiance really needed? or is it more relevant to learn English?

Recruit a different way………………..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

As part of the preparation for my presentation to an employers forum later this month, I decided to do a comparison of the key stages and costs between Growing Talent and traditional recruitment.

 

As you can see from the table above, the results are clearly in favour of recruiting via Growing Talent.  Time and money is saved and matches made are sustainable.  None of the Associates who completed Growing Talent and moved into permanent employment has returned to benefits according to JobCentre Plus’s records.

 

There are multiple benefits including the orientation week, holistic week, employer selection and training before hiring, dedicated mentors, Mental Health First Aider, personal finance, fitness, nutrition training that traditional recruitment doesn’t offer.

 

All of this at zero cost to he hiring employer.

 

So why aren’t more employers recruiting using Growing Talent?

 

Any thoughts?

Diversity or not Diversity – when is it really an issue?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

Recently there has been a media scramble over the injustice of what women have to wear to work in the UK compared to male counterparts.

 

Over the weekend uproar has erupted over Muirfield’s decision to remain a male members club and continue their long tradition of male only members –  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36337914.

 

This decision has cost them the future consideration to be host of the Open Championship – a prestigious event in golf and money spinner for local businesses.  There has been an outcry over women’s right to join this club.

 

Yet again the media seems to stoke the ‘diversity’ fire without balance.  Why doesn’t the WI admit male members?  There are a lot of male, single parents who manage a household as well as the children and would probably welcome the knowledge and support of people (both sexes) in the same position.

 

Does the media feel we are all too stupid to form an opinion if given all the information?  I guess inflammatory headlines sell papers .

 

Is the fact we live in a country where private members clubs such as Muirfield and WI can set gender exclusion barriers testament to our freedoms?  Or should all clubs/institutions be open to all – mandatory?