wellbeing

Sometimes a little disruption to the norm is needed!

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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.

Thank you to all our collaborative partners over recent times:
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Pertemps Network Group
Masterfix GB Limited
SPS UK & Ireland
Pilgrims Risk Management Group
Honeywell
ISS A/S
Portico
BaxterStorey

The final countdown has begun!

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The last London [programme of 2023 commences in October with a virtual information session on 23 October.

If you know someone based in London who is looking for a permanent job a different way, please let them know.

@Growing_Talent has no cvs nor formal job interviews. Instead we have Employer speed dating and one to one events.

Finding new talent a different way!

Knowledge is power – but only the right knowledge will be really powerful….

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It’s really important for employers to select a training programme that will deliver the results they want, which fits their business and people.

All too often I speak with businesses who select based on title and popularity without ensuring the content is right for them. “It’s a First Aider programme in Mental Health so it must be good”.

But is it right for every workplace?

In my view, having delivered a popular Mental Health First Aider programme for over 10 years, the answer is no.

There is no ‘one size fits all’, which is why it’s critical to select the training for your business based on the content and impact that will be delivered to your people.

I stopped delivering this course three years ago because there were a number of areas I wasn’t happy with. Having read Stephen Bevan’s (Institute of Employment Studies) concerns – back in 2019 and again last month and the latest Cochrane review – its clear content should be a deciding factor not a course name.

Over the past three years it’s been insightful delivering the Practitioner and Manager levels of @I-act globally in diverse workplaces and seeing the knowledge and confidence gained in delegates.

Yesterday saw another course delivered to a global corporate’s #OneTeam and what a collaborative journey of learning it was.

Now they have the knowledge and tools to make a real difference to themselves and those around them.

Contact me direct if you want to know how this training could benefit your business.

Kerry’s got this…..

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Awesome phone catch-up with Kerry Growing Talentwith Pilgrims Risk Management Group yesterday was a rollercoaster of fun.

At the end of Growing Talent Orientation week, Kerry had a little trepidation on what to expect with the imminent SIA and first aid course in London.

Of course, she nailed it!

Kerry’s enthusiasm for this next chapter was clear in her voice. Delegates on the course were from diverse security positions with a range of employers – so Kerry had plenty of opportunity to use her skills from the orientation week – especially networking!

She was a little faxed when a couple of delegates were removed by the instructor at the start of the week but she kept focus. Absorbing all the information given.

Kerry learnt so much and wasn’t unsettled by the arrival of the exam invigilator – remember those days?!

Now comes the wait for the results. 10 days and counting!

Regardless, Kerry has learnt so many new skills including how to use a defribulator!

Kerry has shown us the benefits of pushing through the fear of negative overthinking to experience new things, gain new skills and move on.

Check back to see some more of Kerry’s journey.

1st week done & it’s all good for Parry…..

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The following are Parry’s thoughts on his first week @BreyerGroup last week. Parry is on the left in the feature photo below.

I was intrigued to learn what the first week held for Parry….

Speaking on Bank Holiday Monday, Parry was in the middle of a declutter spree ahead of going to his local shoreline to get some head space time.

It was a bit of a shock for Parry based in Wandsworth to be at Breyer Group’s induction at Dartford – starting 8am! – He made it there at 7.30am!

The next two days Parry shadowed James a Multi-Skilled Operative with Breyer before joining Jose, another Multi Skilled Operative based in Wandsworth. Parry is enthused by the variety of tasks – electrical, carpentry, plumbing and electrics coupled with working with diverse members of Breyer’s team – every day is different.

Collaborating with referring, funded organisations to explore options for Parry to secure his own electrical toolkit is currently underway.

Who knew power tools are regarded in the same way as chef’s knives – i.e. every professional has their own set which NO ONE ELSE BORROWS!!?

Check back to see what the following weeks hold for Parry……

The Cavalry Ain’t Coming – It’s On You!

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Fantastic meeting this afternoon with Suzy and Mark from the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment’s Welfare Office on potential new projects today.

Arranged by the awesome Anna, Armed Forces Champion at DWP and leading cheerleader for @Growing_Talent!

I’m excited by the potential of the ideas we discussed.

I also learnt a huge amount – so thank you Suzy and Mark.

Now to action!

Missing a trick?……

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Could the following be missing a trick?

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 

#PilgrimsRiskMnagement #SPSUKandIreland, #BreyerGroup #Pertemps

Our final programme of the year in London commences at the end of September – why not get involved?

Disrupt the norm!

Growing Talent
PwC
Honeywell
David Steeds
Rob Matthews
Pilgrims Risk Management Group
Honeywell
Pertemps Network Group
Breyer Group

#SPSUK&I

Legends!

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Working with the awesome Growing Talent Associates over the years, I consistently encounter their self-doubt – whatever their age, culture, background! 

The sassiest voice in the room is often trembling inside.

Every now and then an inspiring example emerges of pushing through the fear of self-doubt. 

What legends Zovita & Liz are! Not only still playing tennis as they approach 90 – but playing competitive tennis! 

Liz didn’t let a quadruple heart bypass eight years ago stop her achieving her dreams.

So, from this day forth, give any negative voice in your head a firm ‘slap’ and push forward with your dreams. As Will Smith (Actor) said “success lies on the other side of fear”

Respect to all Growing Talent Associates this week as they enter the next stage with their respective employers – you’ve got this #yesyoucan

Another coffee break?????

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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

Liam – joins SPS UK & I

Awesome times ahead!