Our final Growing Talent programme of 2023 reached the next stage with the commencement of the Orientation and Holistic Week.
As a result of employer requests, Gabriel has found himself in the unique position of being the only one on this section of the programme. The first time this has happened in 10 years Growing Talent has been running!
Rising to the challenge of collaboration a different way, Gabriel has embraced this unique experience which ended today with a meeting with Lauren – his soon to be line manager!
Still smiling and laughing – that’s a great sign of things to come!
With Workplace nailed, tomorrow we commence the Holistic section.
Halloween not only saw trick or treaters out and about, it also saw the 35th Growing Talent Employer Speed Dating event take place in London.
This time, Tia was on the employer team with her colleagues at Pilgrims Risk Management Group! Parry who was a previous Growing Talent programme with Tia, popped in to say hello and catch up.
What an awesome Employer Speed Dating event – 1st stage selection on Growing Talent today.
Hosted by our funders close to London Bridge we had five amazing employer teams and over 30 hugely talented, but currently unemployed people looking for their next opportunity.
The road to new opportunities has started.
What will be the outcome? Watch this space!
Huge thanks to the applicants who overcome their nerves to come along today – lots of laughter in the room indicates the experience wasn’t as bad as first expected!
Initial thoughts from one of these amazing people:
“I wanted to express my gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the dynamic recruitment session and networking event. It was truly an enriching experience, and I’m thankful for the chance to engage with such a talented group of individuals.
I thoroughly enjoyed the session and the chance to network with professionals in different fields. It was not only informative but also inspiring. I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.
Thank you for your support and for making this event possible. I look forward to the future and the potential it holds.
If you ever need an assistant in your workshop count me in. 😊”
Isn’t that awesome?
Massive thanks to our awesome employer teams this time around:
Master-Fix Properties – Martin Pilgrims Risk Management – Lasse, Tia & James SPS UK & Ireland – Lois & Bob Pertemps – Sharaz & Jamie Honeywell – Lauren & Andra
Amongst the employers attending @Growing_Talent’s 35th Employer Speed Dating event on 31.10.23 will be Haj joining her colleagues from @Pertemps and Tia joining her colleagues from @PilgrimsRiskManagementGroup.
Both joined their employers via the Growing Talent programme, now they are involved in giving others the opportunity they had.
A chance to change for some willing to take the leap into the unknown has arrived!
The 35th Employer Speed Dating event on Growing Talent takes place Tuesday 31 October in London
Weeks of preparation have led up to this point. Information sessions, job fairs, marketing on social media – not my strongest attribute!!! – completion of registration forms, security, hospitality and venue arrangements just to name a few things.
Of course none of this would be possible without our funders, the work coaches in JobCentre Plus – passionate to support some of their customers into jobs a different way – the customers themselves taking that leap of faith to go through a recruitment process that doesn’t involve a cv or traditional interview and the trailblazing employers willing and open minded to seek their new talent in a unique way.
34 hugely talented, but currently unemployed people are invited to our event on Tuesday.
What will the outcome be? You’ll need to check back to find out!
Running Growing Talent (www.growing-talent.co.uk) I’m often invited to attend Job Fairs across London hosted by JobCentre Plus.
I’ve always declined these invitations. Growing Talent is a successful journey to employment programme which runs four times a year in London. It is not an employer and does not have jobs direct, nor is it a recruitment agency so, for me, going to Job Fairs is a little misleading for attendees.
Yesterday, after some persuasion from Zara on the JobCentre Plus team at Twickenham, saw me attend their event. The only reason I agreed to do this was the imminent start of the next Growing Talent so there is something tangible attendees can consider.
Unfortunately for some of the employers and Government funded providers attending – the lift at the JobCentre was out of order meaning a little morning workout climbing the stairs – though not as intensive for the team who had to do relays escorting everyone in from street level!
I got some insight into how disruptive hosting a jobs fair is for JobCentre Plus teams who give up their work stations for hours to enable employers, Government providers and Growing Talent to meet some of their customers looking for work.
A diverse range of unemployed people attended despite the awful weather. Looking around the floor all employers and Government providers seemed to have people eager to see them. I had none! But that soon changed and then I had queues of people waiting to see me! One incredibly well presented person attended with their mum. They thought ‘Talent’ referred to improving the existing creative talent people have – in their case music. As I explained the ethos of Growing Talent, why it was devised and the positive impact it’s had on people – their enthusiasm increased despite music not being part of the formula!
Leaflets were given out – including to a work coach at JobCentre Plus who wants to share the opportunity with her 20 something son.
The proof of how successful the event was for Growing Talent will be in how many people request the Zoom details to join the virtual session on 23 October.
The screenshot above is part of a post Bolaji issued on linked it and contained a number of her excellent suggestions on who to recruit better.
I reposted Bolaji’s thoughts with my own and how we’ve disrupted the recruitment norm:
@BolajiShote illustrates what recruiters of integrity have been saying and doing for years! The points Bolaji sets out are simple, clear and logical for recruiting employers to follow. I might put them in a slightly different order of importance to me.
#Ghosting – remember, people will never forget how you made them feel. Not feeding back after an interview can leave people feeling worthless and negatively impact their performance at their next interview. But here’s the other thing to remember that could directly impact those ‘Ghosters’ – the candidate you have ghosted could be interviewing you in a few years time – they won’t forget you…. ever.
Growing Talent we recognised a little disruption to the norm was needed.That’s why almost 10 years ago Growing Talent commenced – no cvs, no formal interviews, therefore, no assumptions. Almost 200 people aged 18-64 from all different social economic backgrounds have secured jobs they have grown into careers which they would never have secured through the traditional recruitment method.
Our collaboration with #JobCentrePlus, their partners, #Employers our global business funders and the #GrowingTalentAssociates going on the journey delivers an empowering, confidence boosting experience building connections and support on the journey into work.
The #Orientation and #Holistic week delivers core workplace and personal skills that last a lifetime including accreditation in a global mental health and wellbeing programme in line with #ISO45003 enhancing the onboarding and retention experience with the employer.
An assigned mentor for both the employer and Growing Talent Associates ensures a smooth journey.
Doing things differently:
· Advertising – via David Steeds & his work coach warriors at JobCentre Plus & partners.
· Their interested customers join an information session
· 1st stage selection – Employer Speed Dating – fast, loud with a lot of laughter in the room as people put down their ‘armour’ and be themselves.
· 2nd stage is a 1-2-1 meeting with the employer on their site to find out all aspects of the role.
· Orientation and Holistic week
Finally a mutual evaluation paid period in the permanent role commences. This means at the point permanent contracts are issued, both sides are confident the match is right for them – without a single “what is your strength and weakness” question!
No recruitment costs either!
Keep doing the same things, you will keep getting the same results.
Last Friday, I spoke with Chyna who is on the @Growing_Talent journey with Pilgrims Group.
She is an inspiration for all unemployed people dealing with that very loud voice of self-doubt struggling to get into work.
Apart from the ebb and flow of self doubt at each stage of @Growing_Talent – she conquered that voice, pushed through the fear, completed her SIA licence and is now ready to go on site with her employer team at Pilgrims Group in London.
Self doubt didn’t stop her. Nor did Covid!
Now Chyna knows her ability is LIMITLESS!
Whatever the future holds for Chyna, she knows she will nail it!
