Our collaboration with @JobCentrePlus and @WMCA in #Birmingham is growing!
@BaxterStorey and @Portico have confirmed attending @Growing_Talent’s Employer Speed Dating event at the end of February joining @PilgrimsRiskManagementGroup and @Pertemps.
If you are an employer in Birmingham and want to recruit a unique way, why not join us?
Get in touch to find out more!
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!
What a wait it’s been for Kerry – but her tenacity has paid off!
Now she’s completed her SIA licence she’s ready to join her peers @Growing_Talent – Tia and Chyna on site with @Pilgrims
A huge thank you to Lasse, Tam & team for working their magic!
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.
Potential applicants
Check out https://www.growing-talent.co.uk/applicants/ information session will be held on 6 February 2023. Contact me for details before this date.
Employers
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/
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!
Winners announced on 30 November.
Alenchenu, without even knowing it, is sitting next to his future boss! Taken from the Employers’ Selection & Assessment day for Growing Talent 5 on 24 April. He’s in the electric blue shirt with Pauline of Mitie Total Document Solutions on his left. Pauline manages the Service Solution desk for Mitie at PwC’s prestigious offices in Embankment Place. She was impressed with Alenchenu’s style of communicating. He listened to the questions and answered with passion.
Alenchenu is a giant of a man with a heart full of passion and empathy for others. With a Pastor father, he is used to travelling to new congregations and joined Growing Talent to secure a steady job to give him independence. Alenchenu’s passion for others showed in the Social Enterprise idea he devised and presented with his team partner Shennell. Through his father’s work, Alenchenu had supported vulnerable people in deaing with any issues they had. This shone through his presentation. Although in his own words he ‘waffled’ a little. Alenchenu thought this was a bad thing, but acutally it showed how important what he spoke about was to him.
Alenchenu practising his presentation skills ahead of his Social Enterprise presentation with Shennell………..entitled ‘Bridge to Society’, a supportive return to the worlds of work and community for those leaving prison life.
Judges above left to right were Jo from JobCentre Plus, Jordan ex Growing Talent now Executive Host for Portico, Patti – Pertemps, Jon – PwC, Gillian – MHFAEngland, Simon – Portico and Chloe – Iron Mountain.
The Social Enterprise presentations saw the end of the Orientation Week. On Tuesday 5 May, Alenchenu and his peers went on site to learn the vacant roles in situ. Working with the Rapid Response team Alenchenu’s role entails the collection and delivery of high value/critical documentation and goods. Responsible for accurate tracking and dealing with any issues as they arise.
Alenchenu’s dedication paid off! Just a few short weeks in, he’s been employed! It’s a shame he’ll miss the holistic week but Alenchenu aims to catch-up with the guys later. With his steady income, Alenchenu is going to focus on education in his ultimate field of passion – robotic prosthetics.
Seen below in Service Solutions, Alenchenu’s story is just beginning……………..
