Portico

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

How Vibrant is your Monday?…..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

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!

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 numbers are in!…..

Jane JamesLeave a comment

What a whirlwind the last few weeks have been mobilising the latest Growing Talent which sees the launch of a new format where applicants and employers get to know each other BEFORE the selection stage.

Let’s take a look at the numbers:

71 applicants referred by JobCentre Plus and Southwark Care Leavers requested the virtual Zoom information session.

36 talented, currently unemployed people joined the virtual presentation to learn the new format, additional resources available to them and the benefits they will get from participating.

17 registered to attend the next stage on 8 October!

Employers, get ready to meet some awesomely talented people on Tuesday!


Thanks to everyone involved….. including your awesome teams behind the scenes 👏 👏 👏
David Steeds
Rob Matthews (Anna)
Matthew Izekor
Pertemps Network Group
SPS UK & I
Portico
CIS Security Limited
ISS A/S

Also the magical Adrienne Simpson who makes everything happen and Growing Talent sponsors Allen Salmon Adam Bushell 🎉 🎉 🎉

The loo roll challenge…

Jane JamesLeave a comment

This made me both smile and glow with pride.

 

Charlie-Ray was on Growing Talent in 2019.  With no experience in the corporate world and no previous exposure to Welcome Host duties.  Charlie-Ray embraced every opportunity outside his comfort zone, learning from his team, peers, management and all the other contractors on site at PwC alongside Charlie-Ray’s employer, Portico.

 

He is now well respected by all levels of management, including senior client management.

 

Accepting opportunities, trying your best whilst remaining yourself delivers potent results.

 

Well done Charlie-Ray – I look forward to watching you soar in your career.

 

 

The end of the road…………

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Today is the final day of Growing Talent 21.  Nine of the 13 who started the journey have completed and secured their permanent roles.

 

Their true grit and determination has paid off.

 

Congratulations and respect to:

 

Amar – joined MitieTDM – Specialist Internal Firm Services

Bernie -joined MitieTDM – Specialist Internal Firm Services

Navin -joined MitieTDM – Specialist Internal Firm Services

Kelly – joined Melia White House Hotel

Heavenly – joined Firmdale Hotel

Robert – joined Firmdale Hotel – initially as Kitchen Porter but his performance saw him start as Commis Chef

Natasha – joined Firmdale Hotel

Charlie-Ray – joined Portico at PwC

Katrina – joined Portico at PwC

 

We wish them all well in their careers ahead………………

 

 

Speed Dating – Growing Talent Way!

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It was the first time at our new venue – Etc Venues in Eastcheap – would everyone find it ok?  Of course they all did.

 

The room was buzzing with employers from diverse industries including Northbank BID, Crown Plaza Hotel, Portico, Red Personnel, Pertemps, Park Plaza Hotel, Ballymore, ConnectPlusServicesM25 and Baxter Storey.  Armed with their ice breaker questions and summary profile sheets as well as their open minds, the conversation and laughter flowed.

 

Just some of the employers who joined us for our speed dating session in January………..

 Antonia & Julie from Portico at PwC

 

 

 Pedro of Pertemps  Jamie – Red Personnel

 Katherine & Gerald of Northbank BID

 Cameron looking for talent for Ballymore

 

 

Andy of ConnectPlusServicesM25

 

 Maria & Ebb from Crown Plaza Hotel

 

 

 

The format was 10 minutes at each employer table in small groups of 2-3.  Following the ice breaker question would be ‘tell me a little about yourself’.  Now all applicants had met with me first and been told to prepare an ‘eBay’ style ad on themselves ready for this question!  A snapshot of their life – at work, at home and future career desires.

 

Employers would then select their shortlist of applicants they believe could grow into their roles over the six week journey to meet again on a 1-2-1 basis before provisional job offers would be made.

 

Everything ran like clockwork until one group went the wrong way mid-way trough causing laughter mayhem! Of course going out of sync meant an employer table was always left without any applicants!  Great for coffee/loo breaks though.

 

Finally, the event was over.  I’m not sure who was more exhausted – the employers or applicants!  Even new employers agreed this was a unique and interesting method to secure new talent without a cv/traditional interview.

 

We ended with six people invited to go forward with provisional permanent job offers:

 

Charlene – Guest Services Agent with Crown Plaza Hotel

Kristina – Guest Services Agent with Park Plaza Hotel

Abraham – Resourcer with Red Personnel

Joseph – Commis Chef with Park Plaza Hotel

Estela – Welcome Host with Portico

Jess – Welcome Host with Portico.

 

Excited and ready for the challenge ahead, the new Growing Talent 20 Associates prepared for the Orientation Week before going on site to train in their roles……

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Growing Talent 18 – how has the first week been?

Jane JamesLeave a comment

The first week training in their potential end jobs is always tough.  It’s about managing instant expectations and keeping the end goal in site – easier said than done for many!

 

After being unemployed – even for a short time – leaving the routine of your comfort zone takes courage, determination, tenacity and grit. Qualities that not everyone has.

 

So where are the Growing Talent 18 Associates ? & how have they got on?

 

Kam is working with the Portico team on their PwC accounts cross training in all areas at two sites in London – Charing Cross and London Bridge.  Based there with Kam is Alex…

 

Alex summed the first week as ‘so much to learn, but it’s really good – I made the right choice.’ Alex was in the lucky position of having a number of employers offer him provisional roles on Growing Talent.

 

Helen below is very happy working with the reception team at Regent Group in Wimbledon…..

 

‘The team are really friendly.  It’s different work to the world of corporate switchboard which I’ve been used to but I really like it and the travelling isn’t bad! Just an hour max door to door including all the walking to stations/interchanges etc.

‘The days are really long but I’m really enjoying it’ shared Tom above who is working with the Social Media team on video content.  ‘The days are really long as I’m in 7.45 to 8am each day but I’ve found a local part to go to each lunchtime’.

 

Leo had a tough week not least because he, by his own admission, is very impatient and want everything now!  Working with Scotscape – a living wall specialist, Leo is hands-on in his role

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Mohammed, above, is learning the ropes with Acuity Services’ Elite Team.  The Elite Team are trained in all accounts to enable them to seamlessly cover holidays and sickness.  Mohammed is keen to get his teeth into something demanding responsibility.

 

Lastly AJ is learning to support Amrik – Talent Acquisition at Regent Group to deliver an exemplary service in securing and training the right talent to ensure Regent Group grow efficiently.

 

AJ’s a little camera shy so no photo!

 

The biggest transition for anyone one on Growing Talent to complete the programme and secure the provisional job offer is managing their ‘instant expectations’.  By this I mean, we are so used to getting everything we want ‘now’ without having to wait for it. Eg, order a takeaway on line and it’s delivered to your door, same with a weekly shop, clothes, maintenance equipment, furniture in fact just a bout anything.

 

However, two things you won’t ever secure instantly are meaningful relationships and a career! Both have to be worked at, nurtured and sustained.

 

Check back to see how the guys get on over the coming weeks……………