It’s been a great learning journey on Growing Talent’s Orientation and Holistic week with Gabriel.
Lauren and her team at Honeywell in London Bridge look forward to welcoming Gabriel on Tuesday!
Now an accredited Manager in the global I-Act Managing and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing programme, Gabriel is equipped to keep growing and share his knowledge and experience with his new team.
None of us ever stop learning if we open our minds to do so.
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
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.
Employers Community guru’s specialising in getting our hidden talent into employment Unemployed people who want to work but have lost their confidence to do so
I say ‘yes’ if they aren’t using Growing Talent – the collaborative journey into permanent work comprising enlightened employers, unemployed talent, #JobCentrePlus and community specialists guiding people into permanent jobs.
They say there is strength in numbers. I’d agree. Our collaboration ensures any issue – no matter how small – is resolved quickly through our collaborative partnership.
Disrupting the usual recruitment methods and replacing cvs and job interviews with a speed dating session and 1-2-1 meetings has delivered premium results over the years Growing Talent has run for all parties.
Employers secure unique, sustainable talent they would never find using traditional methods. Unemployed talent are empowered to secure a permanent job they have the tools to grow into a career. Finally, JCP and community specialists see their customers go into permanent work and gain the ability to take control of their lives and move forward.
On arriving at the office today, I was greeted by “We met Mariia – she’s great, so friendly” by the Welcome Team. Upstairs, Mariia’s boss’s boss made a point of seeking me out to tell me how impressive Mariia is “she’s always early – look she’s in now”.
Mariia has only been in the UK for a little over a year following her move from Ukraine. Her courage and determination has seen her collaborate with her peers Growing Talent undertake #I-act accredited training in Mental Health and wellbeing as well as completed all tasks in English even though she feels her English isn’t good enough!
Like so many other unemployed people who really want to work, employers can’t always see their hidden talent in a traditional recruitment method.
The cherry on the top for me was Mariia coming over to tell me how happy she was to now be working with the Honeywell team – “they are all lovely”.
Throughout the Orientation and Holistic week Mariia always had a big smile but now it seems bigger! She’s loving the work and people. Although she’s exhausted at night she is so happy!
Mariia completed the Orientation & Holistic Week last week along with Kerry, Tia, Chyna, Liam, Parry & Nora who respectively started onsite this week with their insightful employers
Parry and Liam take a well earned break from Growing Talent’s O
Parry and Liam take a well earned break from Growing Talent’s Orientation and Holistic Week. Along with Chyna, Tia, Kerry, Mariia and Norhan. Parry and Liam have been absorbing a lot of information, sharing their views/opinions and ultimately learning together to be more prepared when they go into the next stage of Growing Talent – the in-role mutual evaluation with their future employers and team.
So what have we covered so far?
Exploring what employers want including from our viewpoint if we had our own businesses!
Impact of Behaviours – ours on others and others’ on us! People never forget how we made them feel.
Communication – all components to consider – modes to use, elements to consider, understanding types off conversations, danger of assumptions, what is conflict and how to manage it, the power of I vs You statements, how to have a difficult conversation.
Digital Dementia – what is it, how to manage it and, more importantly, how to prevent it!
Basic finance – exploring different types of bank/savings account, credit rating, modes of payment and when to use them, managing debt, increasing credit ration, budgeting – key things to consider
Personal empowerment – over coming procrastination, brain hack, understanding the importance of sleep, building mind muscle, sketch class
What’s to come?
Nutrition – how to eat well on a limited income, understanding the impact of marketing on our buying choices, the hidden dangers of what we love (sugar)!
Waste & Environment – why it’s important to business and communities. Why can’t everyone recycle? – no, it isn’t just ‘laziness’!
Time to move on – tips and tricks for personal branding, elevator pitch, cv tools, networking
Finally, we round off the week with I-Act’s global proactive programme for Managing and Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing course accredited by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
After coffee, back to work!
Soon they go on site as follows:
Chyna, Tia & Kerry – join Lasse, Tam and the team at Pilgrims Risk Management
Parry – joins Breyer Group
Mariia – Joins Honeywell
Norhan – joins Jamie, Pedro and the team at Pertemps
After weeks of preparation and collaboration with #JobCentrePlus, #Ingeus, #HaveringWorks #YouthBuild, #Heretoga and #BreyerGroup our first stage selection by employers has arrived!
Today, 53 unemployed people have been invited to our London event to meet some inspiring employers with the insight to recruit a different way.
Who needs cvs, job descriptions and recruitment interview scripts? Growing Talent does things differently and the results, for many, have been life changing.
Our collaborative employers this time around are:
BreyerGroup, #Honeywell, #Pertemps, #PilgrimsRiskManagement, #SPSUKandIreland, #WSHGroup – #Portico and #BaxterStorey who will meet some hidden talent to consider for their roles this morning.
Going on our track record, some amazing stories will begin today. Check back to learn what they are!
A big thank you to #AnnaM and #JillF from @JobCentrePlus for their support over the years at our speed dating events – which start off very quietly and rise in volume as confidence grows, laughter rises and connections are made.
Monday night saw the relaunch of Growing Talent at the London HQ of our host and sponsor PwC.
With over 90 people present the pre-event networking was a hub of energetic networking. Interspersed with ‘OMG it’s been so long’ as ex-Growing Talent Associates over the years met-up for the first time since their journey began.
In addition to these awesome people, guests included members of JobCentrePlus, senior management of DWP, community organisations including SLAM, Southwark Care Leavers and Breyer Foundation as well as employers – veterans of Growing Talent and those new to the collaboration – looking to find out more.
The co-ordinator of Growing Talent kicked off proceedings explaining what Growing Talent was and when it started, why, in their view, it is as important today as when it started, the social value it has delivered and the benefits to all taking part.
We were incredibly lucky to have Ian Elliott, Chief People Officer at PwC join us to share why social mobility programmes like Growing Talent are so important to the Firm, why they support these initiatives and how important it is for businesses to engage with their local communities to gain innovative talent to grow effectively.
Following Ian, David senior manager from DWP, a long-time staunch supporter of Growing Talent, shared why they support Growing Talent when it is not a Government programme.
Following David, were the stars of the event – ex-Growing Talent Associates Charlie-Ray and Rehana – sharing their experience, where they were at the start of their journey and where they are now.
From a starting point of no confidence nor direction at the start of his journey on Growing Talent, Charlie flourished and won promotion to his current position as Senior Welcome Host with Portico leading a team of 30 direct reports!
He’s taken ownership for a lot of diverse projects nationally, including a secondment for a number of weeks to help mobilise a new regional office ensuring new staff feel they belong and have a strong sense of connection. This secondment was meant to be a one day trip!
Rehana was next to share her roller coaster journey on Growing Talent. Working with Portico for a few years as Welcome Host following completion before returning to full-time education to study to be a Counsellor – a long held passion.
But how to fund such an intensive course?
Rehana started her own craft business ‘Sealed with a Stitch’ selling crochet items within the UK and internationally – ideal for corporate gifts, unique birthday presents or to mark a special event.
Easter Bunny example of Rehana’s work during Covid!
Rehana juggles this business with her position as a Counsellor supporting vulnerable people with Headstrong.
Charlie and Rehana both shared the power of what saying ‘yes’ to someone can have.
Neither of them would have been recruited by their employers in a traditional recruitment process – but look at the awesome talent that would have been missed!
Allen, Head of Information Management Services at PwC as well as lead for Growing Talent at PwC, was last to speak and share his personal experience of supporting Growing Talent over the last nine years, from holding roundtable discussions on basic finance considerations to being a judge on our previous social enterprise challenges.
It was powerful to listen to Allen share his thoughts of meeting the Growing Talent Associates at the start of their journey and see the empowering transformation they underwent. He still sees many working in the PwC offices continuing to grow every day.
It was fantastic catching up with some of the ex-Growing Talent Associates and learning of where they are now…..
Chloe and Sophia joined Growing Talent virtually during Covid in August 2021.
Several promotions later for each of them, they are still working for PwC and ‘so happy’ – their words.
Sophia is now Team Leader and PwC Support Specialist coaching and developing many team members into other areas of PwC’s business. Sophia shared she can now make ‘grown-up’ decisions on investments and pensions.
Chloe is now an Executive Assistant organising and supporting her managers delivering projects.
In addition to clearly loving their careers, both shared how making their children proud of them was a powerful realisation.
L-R – Stephan, Miyuki from ISS, Kieron, Bernie of Swiss Post Solutions, Anna – JobCentre Plus lead who has taken countless early morning calls to sort out any issues participants were experiencing over the years, Charlie-Ray of Portico, Navin and Jamie of Swiss Post Solutions with Chloe & Sophia – PwC.
The ripple effect of the positive impact on those around the Growing Talent Associates is clear. One example, Navin shared the huge recognition his dad, Nalin, received from his employer recently (met on Growing Talent in 2019). Nalin has won so many testimonials from guests and colleagues over the years, the hotel recognised this commitment by awarding him a visit to New York taking his wife and Navin along for some shopping and sightseeing! How great is that?
Of course, I had to get in the photos too!!!!
The post event networking went on longer than anticipated with wonderful bitesize canapes and drinks. Thanks to the team at Baxter Storey especially the particularly tasty beetroot bites!
Employers were buzzing about what roles they could ring-fence to take part in the next programme and community groups were thinking of the awesome clients they could refer.
It was certainly a night to remember!
The Growing Talent story continues…….
Let’s recap the benefits so you can decide to get involved:
Potential applicants
No cvs nor job descriptions = no assumptions.
Mentored to grow into a permanent role which you can turn into a career
Empowering orientation and holistic week which includes a qualification in positive mental health before going on the employers site
Retain your benefits, have all fares paid and get paid by the employer during the mutual ‘test drive period’
Be confident the role, employer and team is right for you
Start to believe in the talent you have within you
Cost free robust pre-onboarding process aiding retention
Differentiator with competitors in commercial bids
Fish from an innovative, diverse talent pool to grow some awesome new talent
Confidence the match is right before making a permanent hire
If you are an employer with vacancies to fill in London, why not recruit a different way? Contact me for more information or see https://www.growing-talent.co.uk/employers/
What are you waiting for? Experience the power of saying yes!
A big thank you to all organisations including Pertemps, MasterFix Properties, Swiss Post Solutions, ISS@PwC and Aviva, ISS UK & Ireland, Office Concierge, Honeywell, Portico, Baxter Story, senior management from PwC, ex-Growing Talent Associates, members of DWP and JobCentre Plus, community groups including SLAM, Breyer Foundation and Southwark Care Leavers who gave up their personal time to attend.
A very special thank you to Adrienne Simpson who juggled her ‘day job’ as Allen’s Executive Assistant with organising the whole event start to finish – Ads – you are a superstar!
PwC I&P who back Growing Talent have been shortlisted by Personnel Today under their Innovation in Recruitment category. This is a huge achievement considering the age of the programme which only began in Feb 2014.
As Architect of the programme it’s a privilege to work will all partners. However, for me the biggest prize is getting someone into work. Growing Talent has now got over 40 fabulous Growing Talent Associates (formerly known as unemployed) into work including some great talent in their mid-fifties!
When I reflect back to what the partnership has achieved since Feb 2014, I’m amazed! We now have a website – http://www.growing-talent.co.uk – designed by a brilliant niche organisation – Shine Design, a twitter @Growing_Talent and a linked in page. Copyrighted manuals for the Orientation and Holistic week give great onward learning. In addition strong relationships have been built with JobCentre Plus – under the District Director for London and the Home Counties along with stalwart supporters – Portico, Harrow Green, Mitie, Iron Mountain, Aramark, Pertemps, Property Research Co, UpTownOil, Honeywell, Baxter Storey, Red Personnel, MHFAEngland and Wilson James.
It’s amazing what can be achieved through the power of working together and dogged determination!
