WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO BELOW?


Just shattered glass panels?

I see the potential trauma those on duty experienced as they were ‘under attack’ from both entry points on the ground floor.

How would you have felt? Listening to the rage of people trying to break through, imagining what would happen if they did.

Thankfully, the employer had installed high security glass which prevented full entry.

Not everyone who works for a household business name is on a telephone number salary. Often they are part of the critical core team on a much lower salary. Security, Cleaning, Waste Management, Front of House, Documentation Management, Goods in and Out, Hospitality etc all vital in UK PLC’s business operations.

They come into London to ensure their families have the very best they can provide – whether that is dance lessons, SEN support or something else.

When these buildings are attacked, the critical team are too and the scars can last a lot longer than repairing broken glass.

The employers at the building I’m talking about, invest huge sums of money in their teams’ – including their critical core team – comfort, safety and development.

Now they have got to re-assign resources to repair/replace the damage caused.

The people who caused this damage likely didn’t think the consequences of their actions through. It’s just broken glass – right?

#business
#actionsandconsequences
#stop
#think

Jane’s world – Friday Review

What a week it’s been!

As a certified neurodivergent coach, it’s a joy to watch the progress my coachees make. 

This week saw the third session with a manager from the higher education sector who made a decision that was right for them without any rumination – #amazing.

Final touches were made to the three Growing Talent journey books. Now up-to-date and ready for a final proof reading and printing ahead of September’s programme. 

I love getting a large piece of work of my desk – don’t you? A feeling of great satisfaction.

I suddenly realised this morning, whilst the room was booked for Monday’s information session with JobCentre Plus work coaches, the presentation was complete and ready to go, teas and coffees ordered – thanks Ads! – I had forgotten an ‘aid memoire’ for the work coaches to take away with them. This was quickly composed with all key facts and sent for printing. Phew!

Pause for Thought

If something is legal, but not necessarily morale, does it make it right? Or wrong?

What do you think?

This thought popped in my head following the media report this morning regarding a housing minister who has stepped down. I’ll let you go and find the story. 

After reading the story, did you change your mind?

We cannot control what others are doing, but we can control how we let it impact us.

Have a peaceful, fun weekend

3 before 4!



Tanice secured her role today joining Grace, Peter and Owolabi – the dynamic quartet jumping into employment on Growing Talent‘s 41st programme! 👏 👏 👏 👏

It takes a lot of courage to rise to the challenge of leaving benefits to go into work – especially on Growing Talent as we do things differently!

What unemployed people know and think will happen on their journey into employment goes out of the window!

We do things differently and it works. We get results.

So what did Tanice think of the experience?

“Thank you so much for everything I feel very lucky to have been apart of your programme and it’s been an amazing experience. Thank you” Tanice

I have the best job!

I got up at 5am to get here in time!”



Peter realised he didn’t have enough money on his Oyster to use the train to travel into London, so he planned his journey, got up extra early to arrive as close as possible to the start time of Growing Talent‘s Orientation week.

#respect

So a boiling hot Monday. A difficult journey and then faced with three manuals and an i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training training pack! This is a lot for anyone, let alone a neurodivergent superstar.

#respect

Grace had an equally trying time having to juggle getting the children to school and then into Central London. Did she want any ‘special treatment’? hell no. She set her mind on doing Growing Talent following her husband’s experience on the last programme, no matter what.

#respect

So a morning of learning, discussing, sharing thoughts, views and opinions on effective communication, unconscious bias, what is neurodivergence, managing conflict, how to move on – internally and externally, we arrived at some case studies. Real life experiences of problems previous Growing Talent participants had experienced. What would Grace and Peter have done? the conversation flowed.

That’s the beauty of working together leading with respect, inclusion and without pre-judgement.

For the rest of the week, we move to training our minds – the holistic element of Growing Talent

Both Peter and Grace are joining CIS Security Limited Their ability to connect with people, observe the cues humans give and think calmly coupled with the intense security training and guidance CIS Security Limited will give them, they have a world full of opportunities about to open for them.

A big thank you to those behind the scene supporting Grace and Peter including

Adam Bushell
Adrienne Simpson & the room bookings team Portico
@DavidSteeds, Rob Matthews (Anna) and the Job Centre Plus teams
Matthew Izekor and the team at Southwark Care Leavers
Gina and the team CIS Security Limited

What a morning!



Growing Talent‘s ‘getting to know you’ event for applicants and employers ahead of the selection stages.

Mark BaxterStorey, James SPS UK & I, Gina & Megan CIS Security Limited met the awesome applicants including Tanice, Sharon, Siddik, Sujibomi, Aeurlien, Zaniyah, Peter, Grace, Owolabi & Daphine.

Matthew Izekor and Rob Matthews (Anna) also joined us to support their awesome applicants.

Initial nerves gave way to confidence and laughter as the applicants gelled with each other and the employers.

Adam Bushell shared why he supports Growing Talent and spent time encouraging the applicants.

The heart of the session was the London Challenge. Imagine having to work with a complete stranger to identify a problem within London’s communities and devise a solution to present to the employers – WITH JUST 45 MINUTES PREPARATION. Could you do that?

Our amazing applicants didn’t flinch. Rising to the challenge we had 5 thought provoking themed presentations including:

💡 The cost of living – giving people the knowledge to navigate this era.

💡 Youth Club – revitalising a heart of the community hub to give young people a place they truly belong

💡 Problem housing – giving tenants the knowledge and tools to look after the homes better and improve their health – repairs, mould removal, decoration etc

💡 Foodbank – developing these crucial lifelines connecting the community and hospitality businesses with more food, recipe and nutrition options

💡 Crime – smashing the rise in mobile thefts and knife crime with more outreach, role model, a different life path

More about these fantastic ideas tomorrow!

The overriding feeling from the applicants was how different Growing Talent is to anything they’ve experienced before.

What none of them realised is just how amazing they are. Their commitment, drive to work together and willingness to step out side their comfort zone are all qualities employers want.

Growing Talent enables the individual to be seen, not be judged by their label.

A big thank you to everyone behind the scenes 👏 👏 👏

Be prepared!……….

The Scout’s motto “be prepared” has been core to my critical thinking as a trainer, mentor and coach.

Even the basic things can get lost in translation.

The pictures were taken this morning ahead of Growing Talent‘s ‘Getting to know you event’ for unemployed applicants and employers.

I’d asked the awesome room set-up team for two half circles facing each other. One for employers and one for applicants. I got the standard theatre style set-up – not the best for a ‘getting to know you experience’!

With ‘be prepared’ in mind, I arrived on site early to deal with any issue like this.

Did I complain? – nope, no need
Did I alert the team to get someone to change it for me? – nope, no need

I rolled up my sleeves and did it myself inside 10 minutes. Job done. No hassle. No fuss.

It’s much the same in life – business and home.

We spot something that isn’t right and either:

Ignore it – someone else will do it
Moan about it to everyone that can’t/won’t do anything about it

No one is going to change things for us. We have to do it ourself. They may help us, give us some guidance, some tools to use, but ultimately it’s down to us to take action.

Do you agree?
What action have you taken today?

What a bag can illustrate!



Wandering around the market on a warm, blue-sky day in Lanzarote, this bag jumped out at me.

The stallholders were a local father and son selling the leather goods they made themselves.

Bags and rucksacks of every size and colour, this green one stood out. The intricate pattern in contrasting red on the flap, two zips on the back and long adjustable strap – exactly what I needed for work back home. Few would have such a bag – bonus! I like to be different!

The father with his smiling toothless grin wrapped the bag and off I went pleased with my purchase.

Back in the hotel room a few hours later, I took the bag out of its wrapping. What was that smell? Subtle, yet pungent. I couldn’t find the culprit anywhere until I sniffed the bag – deeply and closely. Urgh – this was a difference I didn’t want!

After a search on Google, I discovered:

🫣 All sorts of hides can be used – including camel
🫣 All sorts of products can be used to tan the leather – including fish oil and urine! – who knew

Pungent smells can occur when inferior hides and tanning products are used as the leather breaks down. There is no cure.

The bag was left behind but clearly illustrates what you see on the surface isn’t always the whole story!

This is true of people too. Especially in the workplace.

People at all levels must deal with pressure and change continuously. This can weigh heavy on them and their colleagues.

What can be done? Give them the tools and knowledge they need:

💡 Raise awareness amongst managers – is what you are seeing the whole story?
💡 Roll out training for staff to proactively build their resilience and thrive.
💡 Provide coaching for neurodivergent team members to tame the impact on them.

I specialise in workplace programmes that enables teams to thrive. Including:

Neurodivergent coaching 1:1 – how to thrive in a neurotypical workplace (I am a certified ADHD Coach)

Awareness of neurodivergence for managers – what you might see, what you might do. Critical for true team inclusion and reduction of risk of an ET (CPD certified programme)

How to be an ally to your neurodivergent colleague – for non-managers (CPD certified programme)

I-Act Managing and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing – global programme accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in line with ISO45003. (I have been delivering this programme to global organisations for over four years)

Time to talk about the transformation I can deliver for your team?

What a feeling……

We’ve reached the end of the 40th Growing Talent Orientation & Holistic

week – CPD certified.

Alex, Jay and Troy have shown up, each day hungry to learn and willing to share their existing knowledge.

As we ploughed through the three Growing Talent books growing together, concentration filled the room.

Energised. Enthused. Confident. We completed the week today with all three attaining qualification in the manager level of i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training

Ready to join their respective teams on their new employer sites to begin growing their careers. 👏 👏 👏

CIS Security Limited

SPS. UK & Ireland

Challenges – could you do the London Challenge

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

The number is 24!

Following the Growing Talent virtual information session last Friday, I’m pleased to announce 24 awesome applicants have chosen to leap into their unknown and join our next stage -‘Getting to Know Each Other” on Wednesday 12 February.

Meeting recruiting employers a different way:

🎯 Spotlight! – Employers share their insight to the world of work

🎯 Let’s Talk! – without the employers, explore why people aren’t working

🎯 London Challenge! – working in small groups to devise an idea to improve London.

🎯 Present London Challenge ideas to employers and gain their thoughts

🎯 Networking coffee! Chat with employers – no discussion of jobs allowed though!!!

So, what makes employers join Growing Talent and recruit differently?

Maybe…..

✅ They get to confidently ‘fish’ from a diverse, unique talent pool

✅ Get to know how applicants think, how they work as part of a team, what their passions are BEFORE the recruitment stage

✅ It’s fun to disrupt the norm!

So, why would applicants choose to try Growing Talent?

✅ Meet employers a different, more confident way

✅ No need to showcase their ability in a cv when they don’t have the words or self-empowerment

✅ No trying to think of an answer to ‘what’s your strengths/weaknesses’?

✅ Get wrap around support every step of the way

✅ If offered an opportunity by an employer – this permanent role is ring-fenced for them!

✅ Builds their self-empowerment and confidence from the start

We thank our awesome employers participating this time:

Adecco

CIS Security Limited

Iron Mountain

ISS A/S

NG Bailey

Pertemps Network Group

Portico

SPS UK & Ireland