A great meeting with Anna & Bal from South London Job Centre Plus this morning to discuss the promotion and support for the next Growing Talent programme in September.
A date for the diary of anyone London-based looking for work!
Fed-up of being ‘ghosted’ when applying for jobs?
Time to disrupt things?
Why not join us? We’ve got proven success over 10+ years of getting people into work – and not a cv in sight!
If you are over 18 – no upper age limit, want to work in London and are seeking a job you can grow into a career – check out the carousel attached.
If you aren’t looking for a job yourself, but know someone who is, pass it on!
9 points you’ll learn if you read the carousel to the end – up for the challenge?:
1. You don’t have to leave your home/favourite coffee shop 😀 2. Instead of a cv…. 😀 3. PPP – all about you 😀 4. What’s cool about slow dating? 😀 5. 1-2-1 meetings 😀 6. Workplace and life skills 😀 7. Talent Hub 😀 8. When to apply 😀 9. Reassurance – Jane knows what she’s doing & she’s bloody good at it! 😀
Absolutely no ghosting in sight!
Are you ready to join us in a little recruitment disruption?
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…
CIS-Security, ISS, NG Bailey, Portico, SPS UK & Ireland, choose innovation to discover new talent for their businesses.
After a couple of inspiring weeks during which we held a getting to know each other event, London Challenge – ideas to make London better, employer spotlights – insight into recruiting businesses and managers, networking over bags of nibbles, and finally1-2-1 meetings – the results are in!
We welcome Antoinette, Filsan, Mark & Yohana to start the next stage in their Growing Talent journey – the Orientation and Holistic week! Starting Monday, we will explore workplace and life skills, effective communication, making better connections, the power of EI, understand and manage unconscious bias, even an art class!, before finishing with a qualification in the global pro active i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training course aligned with ISO45003.
Check back to see how this awesome quartet gets on.
Meanwhile, over in our innovative new Talent Hub, some awesome talent who didn’t make it past the selection stage – before any judgement, some employer offers were made and declined – will collaborate and explore their journey into work, empowering themselves and learning tools to build their resilience with weekly virtual workshops starting 4.11.24 for eight weeks.
So, in 2025 – will you choose traditional or innovative to secure your new talent?
Thanks to our applicant referring organisations who also jumped into innovation to help their awesomely talented, but currently unemployed people including:
Many in the wrong job will know that Sunday night feeling of dread.
Boomtown Rats had a No 1 hit about this very subject back in ’79.
At Growing Talent – we LOVED this Monday! Our 38th Employer Speed Dating event – aka 1st mutual stage selection.
Uniquely, this followed an in-depth ‘getting to know you’ event held for the first time last week – so there was already a connection between candidates and employers. Takes the heat out of nerves a little.
Conversation flowed. As did the laughter and smiles. Who thought recruitment could be this much fun?
In small groups, Antoinette, Dejanae, Elizabeth, Filsan, Hosil, Luliia, Leena, Mark, Jibrail, Niketa, Rahime, Riaz, Sarah & Yohana met the employers again from SPSCIS Security Limited#NGBailey, ISS A/S & Portico to get to know each other a little more.
Feedback on the new format from employers and candidates was 100% positive – so it’s a keeper!
Next steps are currently being decided by the employers – so the suspense for our awesome candidates continues a little longer.
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!
The power of business and military charities working together to really make a difference was all around me at an event hosted by Andrew Ingham and the team ISS A/S this morning at #SierraQuebecBrava in SouthQuays.
Zeba Lunat was the technical guru for this unique event ahead of Armed Forces Day with speakers in different rooms and dotted around the country, I and the other guests watched in awe as #MartinBurhott, COO ISS A/S UK opened proceedings. Martin shared some startling facts – females make up over 50% of the UK population but only 11.3% of the military population. Why don’t girls consider a career in the Armed Forces?
Kat shared how important the synergy was between armed forces personnel and ISS’s business. Kat shared the six pillars at ISS’s core – generations, culture, pride, abilities, gender balance and military community. Kat shared ISS’s formula for bonding all staff – diversity + inclusion = belonging for all staff.
Breaking the wall of gender exceptions and assumptions, the next speaker Liz spoke with passion about her career as a member of a Chinnock helicopter crew over a 17 year journey – the only female in the team! – including multiple tours of Afghanistan. Sharing times she should have died not least when the helicopter flew into electrical wires. Liz then shared her poignant silent journey with mental ill health – not speaking up because she didn’t want to let her team down. This silence was almost catastrophic. Liz has now written a book and gives illuminating talks to educate.
How many employers experience silence in the workplace instead of teams feeling confident in sharing how they feel, speak about where their heads are at, and feel secure in asking for help when they need it?
From my work delivering i-act (for positive mental health and wellbeing) training. Mental Health Training to multiple industries and sectors and the introduction of International Standards 45003 for workplace psychological safety – clearly we all need to be talking about mental ill health much more. Talking about our feelings and giving someone the gift of trying to help us when we need it is a strength – not a weakness.
If you need great talent in your business, see the person before you – not their label. Basing your decision to meet someone on the content of their cv, means you could be missing some great talent.
Lisa from the Employment Forces Charity shared this point with clarity. Service personnel use a different language to ‘Civvy St’. CVs won’t always convey the immense talent someone has. So why are employers still using cvs?
On Growing Talent, we have never allowed cvs – the hidden talent employers were able to reveal, the social mobility, the diversity and inclusion is amazing!
Ex Armed Forces personnel have solid transferable skills – highly valuable in business. Business opens up a whole new chapter once military life is over – a win, win.
“I have the pleasure getting into this program and working with Jane at Growing Talent. Since the whole job market has changed after Covid, many people struggle with finding themselves or finding their confidence for looking for a job.
Growing Talent gives this confidence back to people, who are talented, keen and willing to work but maybe they are just not visible enough to employers.
Instead of going through the same old recruitment process of sending CVs, trying to stand out from thousands of resumes, catching employers’ attention in 6 seconds (which often feels like a battle), at Growing Talent your resume is your personality, your charisma, energy and you have the opportunity to show & talk about yourself the way you want the employers to know about you.
Great companies give you their time and attention in a fun event that can actually lead to your next amazing role. And the best thing is that Jane guides you through the whole process, making sure that you are prepared and perform at your best.
This is such a unique experience that could benefit more companies and candidates – l wish more organisations would operate this way! Thanks to Growing Talent, many of us had the chance to step into a pool of great opportunities.” Fru, Growing Talent participant March 2023 joining SPS Global
Wing, joining Pilgrims Group & Fru joining SPSGlobal during the Orientation and Holistic week.
Growing Talent works because of our 360 collaboration with employers, the currently unemployed, the JobCentre Plus ‘All Stars’ led by David & Anna and of course our awesome funders – a global financial services organisation.
Thank you all with special thanks to those partners taking part this time – as you can see Fru eloquently shows the difference we all make when working together.
Take a bow everyone 👏 👏 👏
Our employers taking part this time: Breyer Group, Office Concierge, ISS, Restore Harrow Green, Honeywell, Portico & SPS, our JobCentre Plus ‘All Stars’ and cheerleaders – David Steeds & Anna Matthews & of course our fabulous Growing Talent Associates: Fru, Wing, Shanika, Ola & Joseph who took the leap to do something completely different 👏 👏 👏
If you are an employer looking to fill your vacancies with some awesome talent in London or someone who has lost their mojo to secure a job they can grow into a career why not check Growing Talent out?
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!
It’s risk and cost free. There is some amazing, diverse talent amongst the invisible unemployed because they don’t have the skills, qualifications or ‘blag’ to ‘sell’ themselves in a recruitment interview. Believe me – employers/recruiters are missing out using cvs and traditional interview methods.
Be honest – were you trained for your job before being hired? I know I wasn’t – but I do have lots of ‘blag’. It wasn’t always that way for me. Which is how the seed for #GrowingTalent was planted back in the early 90s. With more labels than you could shake a stick at, I was stereotyped. Employers saw my labels not my potential.
A mutual ‘test drive’ saw me secure a foot into a job – which I held for over 4 years – before securing a permanent job in recruitment which I grew into a career before starting my own business. Multiple awards for getting well over 600 people with ‘labels’ into work later, I’m still amazed at employers hesitancy to give the same opportunity to others they received themselves when they were starting out.
The feature photo shows the diverse talent of those on the 21st programme of Growing Talent. All have commitment, empathy and drive to succeed. They just need a chance to shine. Luckily these guys have that chance.
Let me ask you a question – Where would you be now if someone in your past hadn’t given you an opportunity to shine? Pay it back and make a difference. Permanent employment changes lives – literally and adds value to employers’ bottom line.
Amongst our Growing Talent Associates we have care leavers, single parents, those with strong employment history and those with little, those with learning, social and medical issues, some are degree educated, some have been managers some run their own businesses. Now they have the opportunity to secure permanent jobs by training and growing in those vacancies before being hired. Open to anyone over 18 – no upper age limit. Defined by their performance not label.
Employers for Growing Talent 21 include MitieTDM, Portico, ISS, Firmdale Hotels, ME Hotel Group
