growing Talent

What a first quarter it has been for my business!

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It started just before Christmas 2024, when I decided to see if Growing Talent‘s Orientation Week and the new Talent Hub resource could gain The CPD Certification Service

Certification gives a strong level of confidence that the learning delivered meets a professional level – and for the unemployed people I work with – a certified certificate – which means a lot!

After a lot of guidance from the The CPD Certification Service team, and some tweaking, certification came through in January 2025 for both the Orientation Week and the Talent Hub.

Neurodivergence and how not to handle it is something I see in diverse workplaces a lot.

Individuals may not even realise they are neurodivergent.

Assessment in the UK can be up to seven years depending on location. Even when assessment has taken place, recognising how their neurodivergence shows up and how they can tame it is often out of reach. This then impacts everything and everyone around them – but it doesn’t have to be so.

This is where 1:1 coaching is key. Simple strategies and steps can be learnt to work with their brain rather than against it. Employers can fund this type of coaching as part of their reasonable adjustments.

In the workplace symptoms can be mistaken for ‘bad attitude’ which can lead to a whole heap of issues.

As a certified ADHD Coach and Certified NeuroAffirmative workplace wellbeing practitioner I wrote two seminars, one for managers the other on how colleagues can be allies.

Both teach what you might see, how to approach, language to use, what you might do to build more cohesive, thriving teams.

Certification came through this morning for both seminars!

Delivered over 1.5 hours virtually with a The CPD Certification Service certificate of completion and an e-workbook for onward learning and reflection, workplaces can now secure this training confidently.

How do you ensure your teams are comfortable and confident in this important area?

Employers, is now the time to get innovative to fill your London Talent gaps?

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Times are tough. Money is tight. Pressure on your business and team is strong when you are running with less talent than you need.

The problem is….

🙁 recruitment costs are high

🙁 employers NI is increasing

🙁 you don’t know your new talent until after they’ve started with you

The solution is Growing Talent. Why?

🙂 It’s completely free

🙂 You get to know all applicants BEFORE the selection stage

🙂 Our process ensures the new talent you select are as confident as Alex!

Call to action:

📢 Contact me direct to register your interest

📢 Deadline – 26 March 2025

📢 Can you really afford to miss out?

How Vibrant is your Monday?…..

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After attending all the steps for our 39th Growing Talent programme, Katie arrived for the third stage – our Employer ‘slow dating’ event. Employers meet all the applicants they met previously in small groups to talk more deeply about their roles and opportunities to grow a career with them.

Josh from Portico invited Katie and Alex to the next stage – the 1-2-1 meetings. A positive result for both!

Katie joins Josh’s team today 24 February 2025 and Alex joins 10 March directly after the Orientation and Holistic week!

What a vibrant way to start the week!

Go Katie!

Slow dating – Growing Talent Style……

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What an amazing day yesterday!

Growing Talent‘s 39th employer event with 11 amazing, incredibly talented, but currently unemployed applicants.

Let’s hear it for Aboidun, Alex, Bozena, James, luliia, Katie, Leon, Mulenga, Niki, Samuel, and Shantelle. 👏 👏 👏 You stepped outside your comfort zone and shone! Well done!

Also stepping outside their comfort zone to do things a little differently were our fabulous employers 👏 👏 👏:

Phil, Angela & Sophie #NGBailey
Elliott and Rakesh ISS A/S
Stace and Daisy SPS UK and Ireland
Gemma and Josh Portico (the gold star is to mask my sponsor – not a gold star for attendance!!! 🤣 )
Shelby, Mick, Megan and Ben CIS Security Limited

Spending 20 minutes at each table to learn more about each other following the ‘getting to know you event’ on 12.2.25 and the personal profile sheets compilation – it’s been an exhausting, yet energising process for all involved.

Now the nail biting commences whilst employers are going through their shortlists to arrange 1-2-1s!

Thanks to the legends behind the scenes that make Growing Talent happen…

Adrienne Simpson
Adam Bushell
Allen Salmon
Matthew Izekor and the team at Southwark Care Leavers
#DavidSteeds and the #JCP teams across London
Rob Matthews (Anna)

Challenges – could you do the London Challenge

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After the pressure of making the employers do a spot of public speaking and share their journey to their current role as well as their top tips to impress employers, it was only fair that the awesome Growing Talent applicants stepped up too!

London Challenge demands the applicants to come up with an idea to improve London.

Imagine this….

First part is to brainstorm ideas. Then, form a team with people you didn’t know two hours before, devise the beginning, middle and end of a unique idea within 45 minutes before presenting it t the panel of employers!

Would you do it?

The employers were treated to four unique ideas.

🎯 Group 1 – Leon, Niki, Katie & Bozena
🎯 Group 2 – Kai, Iuliia, Samuel, Anita & Alex
🎯 Group 3 – James, Aboidun & Mulenga
🎯 Group 4 – Shantelle, Dejanae & Sarah

Ideas ranges from community mental health and well being, creative hubs, food and nutrition – with a community greenhouse and intelligent use of public cctv to reduce response times!

All applicants chose to return 19 February for our ‘slow dating’ event – also known as the employer first stage selection!

It’s going to be amazing!

Thanks to everyone who took part including:

SPS UK&Ireland
#IronMountain
Portico
CIS Security Limited
ISS A/S
hashtag#NGBailey
hashtag#JobCentrePlus
hashtag#DavidSteeds & teams across London
Rob Matthews (Anna)
Matthew Izekor
hashtag#SouthwarkCareLeavers
Adrienne Simpson
Adam Bushell

Our insightful employers – want to join them?

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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.

The word is spreading….

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I love the way the Growing Talent word spreads!

Back in 2017, Jamie joined his employer through Growing Talent 13.

Two years later, Jamie referred his friend Navin who joined his employer in May 2019 on Growing Talent 21.

In July 2019, Navin referred his dad Nalin to Growing Talent who joined his employer in July 2019.

All are still working with their respective employers but in different roles.

The word keeps spreading!

On Growing Talent 38, Mark joined his employer and was promoted within weeks!

Mark has referred his daughter Katie who will be joining Growing Talent‘s 39th virtual information session on 7 Feb!

Is there anything more powerful than ‘word of mouth’ recommendations ?

How pressure fit is your team?

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Do you know?

How can you tell?

These questions popped in my mind whilst sitting in the dentist chair recently. Whilst waiting for the x-ray results, my dentist asked “so what do you do?”

Those I work with on Growing Talent will know the ‘elevator pitch’ template we explore.

So, to my dentist I replied:

“I work with businesses and their teams to ensure both thrive. I happen to be an @I-act Instructor, Genos EI Practitioner, ADHD Coach and workplace wellbeing facilitator, as well as running a unique journey into employment programme (Growing Talent)”.

Immediately, my Dentist and her assistant wanted to know more about ADHD.

The assistant has a son aged 13 waiting assessment (it’s a very long wait in the UK) and the dentist has a friend who has always struggled in certain areas of executive functioning. I shared some thoughts and signposting with them both. A very short conversation which resulted in the three of us feeling a little more positive and empowered…. Until my dentist picked up the drill – that’s another story!

Why share my experience at the dentist here on LinkedIn?

Dental surgeries are workplaces. People at all levels put on masks to deliver the service they are paid to do whilst trying to hold down the pressures they are feeling – both at home and work – in all workplaces, including yours.

Workplace managers can be overwhelmed themselves and not notice the cues in their teams or self.

So, what can workplaces do?

✅ Train teams at all levels in the steps and tools to be pressure fit – i.e. able to deal with the pressure in the workplace – as well as at home, is a ‘no brainer’.

✅  Raise awareness of the cues to look for, how to start and manage conversations ensuring neuro inclusivity.

My top tip to be neuro inclusive is aim everything to fit neurodivergent team members.

What you do, will also work for neurotypical team members. Currently most workplaces are structured for neurotypical minds – which does not work for neurodivergent ones.

The certainty is the pressure fitness of your teams will hit your bottom line.

The question is, will that hit be positive or negative?

What do you think?

How do you ensure the pressure fitness of your team?

i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training
Genos International Europe
ADHD Works
Growing Talent

When you get so much more for choosing innovative, why wouldn’t you?

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Calling all #London employers looking for new talent. If you don’t already get the innovative benefits below in your current recruitment process, is now the time to change?

✅ Completely free

✅ Get to know all applicants – before the selection stage

✅ Build connections with applicants at our challenge event

✅ Selection through our ‘slow dating’ and 1-2-1 stages

✅ CPD Certified Orientation and Holistic week delivered prior to joining you

✅ Qualification in i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training in line with workplace psychological safety prior to joining you on site

✅ ADHD 1:1 coaching for your new talent where applicable

✅ Dedicated coach for you and your new talent

When you can train in a role making the person more important than any existing skills and qualifications – why not choose Growing Talent?

Growing Talent is an into work collaboration with employers, unemployed, JCP, community groups and charities. It is not a recruitment company.

Deadline for employers to join our 39th programme is 6 February 2025.

A big thank you to the awesome employers who have already confirmed they will be taking part including:

Pedro and Co Pertemps Network Group

Andy and Co ISS A/S

Mafalda & Shelby CIS Security Limited

Daisy, Stace & Co SPS UK & I

Paul, Dave & Co #NGBailey

Helen #Addecco

Thanks also to #DavidSteeds, Rob Matthews (Anna) and their awesome JCP teams across London sharing this opportunity with their customers and the fabulous Matthew Izekor and team at #SouthwarkCareLeavers making a huge difference to young people already bruised by life.

Lastly, thanks to our sponsors Adam Bushell and Allen Salmon

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?