1. Biz Network May 2021 1-38.qxp_Chamberlink 30/04/2021 09:30 Page 28
CHAMBER NEWS
Get the right people at the
right time In the March issue of Business Network, the Chamber’s head of employment services Paul Needham (pictured) explained how his team supports unemployed people to find work – a service that has grown in importance during the pandemic. Here, he turns his attention to how the team supports businesses and encourages them to hire people who are often from long-term unemployed backgrounds.
I’ve previously written about the importance of getting into the mindset of individuals who are unemployed in order to change their attitudes to the world of work. Encouraging people to have a more positive outlook on their job prospects is only one side of the equation, however, as businesses may need to be persuaded to hire someone without experience – either in their industry or, sometimes, in any form of regular work. Just as we take a tailored approach to the individual jobseeker, it’s important to treat every business and its needs on a unique basis.
WHAT DOES THE BUSINESS NEED? Understanding what the business wants is the most important aspect of any journey to sustainable employment. Otherwise, the person being recruited won’t last too long. We’ll help to prepare individuals by sifting out those who aren’t the right fit for a particular job, while we also offer training to tailor their CVs and equipping them with interview skills. To help a business decide on a candidate, we’ll arrange for them to do a few days of work experience to demonstrate they can do the role. It’s a risk-free opportunity for the company, which doesn’t need to pay wages for a short period of work, while we ensure the individual continues to receive outof-work benefits during this time. The Chamber will also remunerate them for any expenses. 28
business network May 2021
This is particularly useful when the jobseeker’s background doesn’t match the job. For example, they may have previously worked in office-based roles but an industrial cleaning company has vacancies. As the job would require an understanding of chemicals, specialist equipment, and health and safety measures, we can offer training on the fundamentals before they do a work placement. The employer can then make a decision on whether to hire the person.
SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES AFTER HIRING AN INDIVIDUAL When someone starts a job following our support, we don’t just step away immediately. We’ll create in-work action plans to ensure the individual stays focused and becomes a crucial part of the team. But we also support the business, which may not be equipped to deal with that person depending on their circumstances. It might not have employed someone with a disability, for example, so our team will work with the company to ensure it can accommodate that individual. The Chamber holds Disability Confident Leader status, which recognises organisations that support disabled people and those with long-term health conditions into employment, so in this situation we provide detailed assistance to the employer. We can also help it to access the Government’s Access to Work programme, which offers grants to help cover the costs of practical support in the workplace, such as
special equipment and adaptations, as well as to support people experiencing mental health issues in the workplace. This support is very wide and varied, but may include adjustable height desks, specialist chairs, stair lifts or ramps at entrances. It may not even involve new equipment and could just adapt the rhythm of work to suit individual needs. For example, if a factory worker has a physical impairment and struggles to stand for long periods, rather than asking them to do a job on their feet for six hours, they
could do two hours stood up and then four hours sat down carrying out another task.
BENEFITS FOR BOTH SIDES Ultimately, it’s not just individuals who benefit from support that gets them back into work. Businesses are keen to have someone who is keen, eager and possesses some spark. The world of work is changing and there’s more people coming into the labour market with lowlevel barriers, so companies need to be a little sharper and more agile because one size doesn’t always fit.
Supporting businesses Business Network speaks to Nick Perry, director of recruitment company Total Support Recruitment, who has worked with the Chamber’s employment services team to find Covid marshalling work for jobseekers. How did you first come into contact with the employment services team? I received a call from Dan Worthington at the Chamber, who had seen an advert I had issued and we have worked together brilliantly ever since. What was the result of the support you received from the Chamber? We’ve now got about 30 people into work. Dan supported me with screening and vetting customers, and kept participants warm when work on site was delayed. Has it changed your perspective on the types of people you now employ? It hasn’t because I would always be happy to use people that are out of work. I like to make a difference to people’s lives and therefore I usually prioritise the people who are out of work. How important is it to offer job opportunities to people who may otherwise be at risk of long-term unemployment? It’s very important – otherwise they can get into a routine of not working and this can have an effect on their morale.
