Pertemps – Page 2 – The JJC Ltd

Employers’ Speed Dating – 21 January 2020!

10 Feb 2020Jane JamesLeave a comment

Our first speed dating (first stage selection) for Growing Talent commences with a quick fire speed session which enables employers to identify those they wold like to meet for a more in-depth chat about their roles on their sites.

With no cvs nor formal interview to undergo, the atmosphere is relaxed and laughter quickly flows.

Andy from Winlight Recruitment chatting to some participants….

For employers Growing Talent is the only way to ‘test drive’ someone in their vacant role ensuring they fit the role, team, company BEFORE hiring. Even more attractive is this doesn’t cost s penny. Run and funded by business for business.

Always smiling! Pedro and Sharaz from Pertemps checking out the untapped talent out there….

Equally important is the applicant experience. Growing Talent is only open to unemployed people over the age of 18 – no upper age limit – in London who have a strong will to work but need a little TLC.

Growing Talent enables unemployed people to shine and grow on their journey to employment. With a provisional job upfront, they are aware of the end job. As the employer trains them in that role during the programme, there are no surprises.

Kate from Firmdale Hotels returned to share the opportunities available……

If you are looking to get new talent in your business confidently and cost effectively or an unemployed and looking to get a role where you have the opportunity to prove yourself …… check out Growing Talent now.

Sergio & Lina from ISS – Sergio’s first time at speed dating!

What have you got to lose? Why not check out Growing Talent 26 in March?

Social mobility in action delivering equality and diversity automatically.

Growing Talent’s Holistic Week…….

25 Jun 2018Jane JamesLeave a comment

The definition of ‘holistic’ aptly fits what we cover on Growing Talent’s Holistic Week……. Dealing with the mind as well as the body delivers lifelong learning and empowerment.

18-23 June inclusive saw our return to Southwark Cathedral for this element of the Growing Talent programme. We generally start with the two day Mental Health First Aider course which delivers a qualification. An intense two days of growth in how we see mental health. This time we were joined by Sirio an employer from Ballymore. The MHFA is so thick, the guys get a gym workout by default – who needs weights!

‘I think it was very informative and raises awareness on the importance of our mental health’

‘I felt confident in my knowledge of mental health before the course but I had no idea how to deal with it. I do now!’

After an intense couple of days, we relaxed a little with ‘fun learning’. In Everyday Finance we cover amongst other things bank accounts, standing orders, direct debit, credit and debit cards, debt management, the power of money, saving and basic investing options – generally how to make the most of our money.

‘This workshop made me more penny conscious!’ ‘It made me challenge the way I currently bank’.

Just as putting the right petrol in a car is key to it’s efficient running, so is eating/drinking the right things for us humans! Kate from HBN (Health Bites Nutrition) shared some myth busting knowledge as well as healthy swaps and eating nutritionally on a budget. The practical was making a healthy pot noodle which the guys reported on the following day as being great and something they would repeat. Shae even said she might reduce her visits to the chicken shop!!!

A curve ball on the Holistic Week is always the Art project. The guys have to agree on which art gallery they will visit – The Tate Modern or The National. Armed with their project sheet, they pick a piece which ‘speaks to them’. Either love it or hate it. They then have to ask a series of questions and bring their completed sheet in the following day. The purpose of this is to make everyone make use of these free institutions we’re lucky to have in London. By asking questions whilst looking at exhibitions, it makes appreciation easier and effectively reduces stress levels without even realising it! Although there was some hesitancy at the start, all the guys enjoyed this exercise…..

‘It wasn’t something I’d choose to do but it was a new experience. I enjoyed it. Art is a tool to de-stress’.

‘I haven’t visited an art gallery for years. I liked this visit and it made we realise my appetite for art is maturing and growing. I found the drawing exercises therapeutic and will use my drawing kit as an escape from my work life’.

Next time you think of grabbing a quick bite at your desk, why not grab a quick bite outside with a pad and pencil. Just drawing what you see is a great de-stresser, reboots your energy levels and makes you way more productive in the afternoon. Why not try it?

Meet Growing Talent 16’s Head Judge

29 Jan 201829 Jan 2018Jane JamesLeave a comment

A long-time supporter of Growing Talent, Allen often gives-up his time to preside over the Growing Talent Social Enterprise Challenge.

These are ideas selected Growing Talent Associates devise and present to a panel of managers from their employer companies during their first week of Growing Talent – no pressure then!

At the end of each presentation, collective feedback is given before the Head judge delivers the verdict and prize.

The ideas have to benefit a local community, have a revenue stream and be easy to maintain. The ideas presented in the past have always been innovative and well thought out.

I don’t doubt this will be the case on Friday 9 February! – check back to find out…….

Holistic Week – Growing Talent…..

28 Mar 2017Jane JamesLeave a comment

This is the ‘soft skills’ section of Growing Talent’s 12 week programme. Usually carried out halfway through. It’s a time for the Growing Talent Associates to meet up again and encourage each other face-to-face as well as learn some wellbeing techniques and ‘kick back’ a little from their usual work timetable!

We returned to Southwark Cathedral were we held the Orientation Week back in early February! At least no more presentations before senior managers!

So what did we cover?:

Monday – parts 1 & s of Mental Health First Aid – a global course resulting in a qualification as a MHFAider. This is an intense four part global programme so we lightened the learning a little with Lesley’s 3Rs!

Lesley, seen above, is part of the Health & Safety team at PwC. Her 3Rs are Refuel, Recycle and Refresh. It’s all about what to eat, how much sleep, exercise all the usual things we need to consider when making choices. It’s especially difficult doing this on a strict budget!

‘I got a lot of information which I’ll put into practice!’ ‘Another important segment that allowed growth within the unknown.’

Tuesday – saw parts 3 and 4 of the MHFA programme be completed. This time, Healthy Bites Nutrition was sandwiched between the two sections. This invaluable workshop by Kate from HBN (www.hbnutrition.org) dispels myths around diets, the latest fads and new guidelines – such as only 7 tsp of sugar a day. Kate shares the cost savings in making your own food, cost comparison and ingredients as well as how to eat quickly prepared nutritious meals on a budget!

Kate below preparing the Associates for making their own Pot Noodle!

‘A good workshop for sustaining health both in and out of work” ” I know what food groups are now!’

Sharing why recycling waste is so important was Dan from Suez, on the left below, on Wednesday. This got everyone thinking. A quick roundtable showed the difference between residential recycling across boroughs. Indeed one of the Associates who has never recycled was inspired to go through her bins!

Thursday we talked finance. Covering the basics we should know around debt, regular payments budgets, and so on. It’s surprising how well received this workshop is but on reflection maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising. After all, where do you learn this stuff if you don’t have supportive, informed parents? Does the Education system have the time to do this?

‘The 3 x thirds will be really useful’, ‘I learnt about saving money and ISAs – really useful when we start earning’, ‘this was the most important topic covered for me’ ‘I learnt how to plan ahead’ ‘One million % worth it. I understand now how to be financially stable.’

In the afternoon it was off to do an Art project! Terrifying for some! Their task was to visit Tate Gallery in Bankside and select an item that ‘spoke’ to them. This could be in a good or bad way.

Left to right above inside the Tate are Mokhtar, Leon, Zainab, Ilamathy, Stefan, Ashley, Sebastien & John.

Friday morning we had a good discussion on their visit to the Tate, why they selected their piece of art and what they would ask the artist……… then they had to draw it! You can see the results in the feature photo. So much laughter in the room. For some it ignited a childhood love of drawing for others it opened their eyes to a possible new creative way to feed their soul during lunchtime break and outside of work.

After some paperwork we finished up the week at lunchtime.They guys presented me with a lovely gift before going home for a well deserved break!

On Monday they returned to their employer sites: Zainab, Ashley & Mokhtar – Harrow Green, Craig, John & Ashling – Iron Mountain – Ashling had to work this week, Leon – Pertemps, Ilamathy – Red Personnel, Stefan – Mitie Connect and Sebastien at Invest In Buy To Let.

Growing Talent’s Orientation Week – Southwark Cathedral

8 Feb 2017Jane JamesLeave a comment

Southwark Cathedral hosted the 12th Orientation Week for Growing Talent in their Chapter Room. A light, airy room in which to learn, build confidence and relationships of trust.

Within 10 minutes of entering the room, the 10 ‘strangers’ started to plan their first presentation to the room. ‘Six pictures of your life’! Using landmarks in their lives the Growing Talent Associates – they are no longer allowed to call themselves ‘unemployed’ – confident public speaking ensues! This is the foundation we build on for enhancing confidence and assertiveness for going on site.

Tuesday dawned with Gosia – part of Honeywell’s Audit/H&S team delivering a manual handling workshop. This is delivered to ensure the guys have basic knowledge prior to a more in-depth session bespoke sessions in their roles.

A slightly nervous Gosia above with the guys talking manual handling!

On Wednesday the Portico team – represented by Michelle, below, – came across to deliver their ‘Give Yourself The Edge Presentation’. Unfortunately the gods of technology weren’t listening and Michelle’s films would not play! Still, she delivered an interactive session and gave an overview of her journey to her current role – not a straight line at all!

After Michelle’s workshop, Linda one of the guides at Southwark Cathedral gave a tour on ‘hidden opportunities’. The synergy was people who over the centuries had taken up challenges at the Cathedral – not really knowing what they were doing. Learnt as they went and left a legacy. This was the venue for one of the first London hospitals back in the 11th Century.

Above the guys met Linda in the Courtyard to be briefed for the tour – great feedback!

The guys below working hard on some case studies!

On Thursday, Chris dropped in to support the guys and share his insight. Chris undertook Growing Talent on the 2nd programme when there was less support from Job Centre Plus and things were pretty tight. He completed, joined Mitie Connect where he worked for two years before accepting another position with Portico as front of house reception at one of their prestigious accounts.

Chris agreed to return to be one of the judges at the Social Enterprise panel on Friday. It shows the level of commitment and passion in Growing Talent Graduates return to support those following them – Chris has to loose two days annual leave to attend!

Interjecting the above guest visitors with workshops, case studies, debates etc on communication, assertiveness, Social Enterprise challenge – we were finally ready for the Growing Talent Dragon’s Den – also known as the Social Enterprise ideas presentations to the judging panel.

(l-r – Anna from JCP, Shane – Invest in Buy to Let, Steph – Iron Mountain, Jon – PwC, Kayleigh – MitieConnect, Christ – Portico and Tony – PwC)

Ideas were diverse and innovative including:

A Multi-cultural radio show by Stefan

A teenager interactive tv documentary by Leon

A community hangout for people with addiction/ex-offenders to creatively find a different path ending with an X-Factor style event – by Ashling & Zainab

A cultural learning space for arriving refugees to grow into contributing, integrated members of the community – by Mokthar

A support venue for aspiring musicians with demo production, instrument repairs, jam sessions growing to a noticeboard website for

A creative venue, website and sale for member of the local community to learn new skills, make something, showcase it and sell it by Ashley

Lastly an internet cafe run by the community for the community with facilities for hourly hire of deskspace for those who want to set-up their own business by John.

After an exhausting week learning together the Growing Talent Associates departed for a restful weekend before joining their new employers………

Check back to see how they get on

Growing Talent 12 Begins!

8 Feb 20178 Feb 2017Jane JamesLeave a comment

After the preliminary screening sessions by JobCentre Plus, charities and myself we were ready for the Employers’ Speed Dating sessions held at Southwark Cathedral’s Gary Weston Library on 24 January 2017.

We call it speed dating because there are no cvs nor job descriptions. The selection is based on personalities alone! A unique way to recruit.

Employers had a table each and small groups of applicants on 10 minute rotation to decided who they wanted to see for the final selection stage.

(l-r – Scott, James & Lois from Mitie Connect)

Scott and James were new to Growing Talent. Despite not knowing what it was all about properly – they embraced the change and identified Stefan who joins the team on a global cosmetic account.

Frances & Dan above are used to Growing Talent having recruited several members of staff on previous programmes. Here they are chatting with Ilamathy. Working for a global hotel brand – it’s not always easy identifying the ideal candidate(s). Growing Talent allows confidence in all hires for all parties.

Selvan and Shane of Invest in Buy to Let have several companies between them. On this occasion, they were seeking a personality to fill a marketing role.

Jamie & Adam of Pertemps are huge supporters of Growing Talent not only filling their own consultant vacancies but trying to support those who don’t get selected for a place.

Ebb and Christina her colleague from Holiday Inn Bradford Lock were joined by newcomer Gemma of Crown Plaza hotel in Canary Wharf. Ebb is a cheerleader of Growing Talent having recruited from the programme previously. She also appears in the latest film with Michel Burke – check out the Case Studies tab at http://www.growing-talent.co.uk

A welcome return to Iron Mountain who have just undergone a global takeover which meant they were away from Growing Talent’s last few programmes. Above are Steph, Russ & Michelle speaking with one of their three recruits on Growing Talent – John!

Finally – the Growing Talent Associates below were selected…….

John, Ashling & Craig join Iron Mountain

Mokhtar, Zainab & Ashley – join Harrow Green

Sebastien – joins Invest In Buy to Let

Leon – joins Pertemps

Ilamathy – joins Red Personnel

Stefan – joins Mitie Connect

Check back to see how the fabulous 10 get on………

Yay………. Growing Talent is shortlisted!!!!!

30 Jul 201530 Jul 2015Jane JamesLeave a comment

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.

‘I’m finally a working man again’, Alenchenu

4 Jun 20154 Jun 2015Jane JamesLeave a comment

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……………..