Education and Skills
Top-level training delivers bottom-line rewards A “turbo-charged” learning and development programme delivered a 677 per cent return on investment in its first year for a leading recruitment specialist.
Restart Scheme
opens doors into employment A successful work experience scheme is enabling people to build skills and experience to strengthen their CVs and open up employment opportunities. The Restart Scheme is part of the Government’s wider “Plan for Jobs” programmes to help people develop their skills so they can find sustainable employment. Serco delivers the Restart Scheme in West Central England on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The Serco Restart Scheme has been running 10-day work experience sessions for participants on the Restart Scheme since July 2022. The work experience programme gives participants 40 hours of activities over a two-week period and covers five functional areas of the Restart Scheme. These are: social value initiatives, operational activities, working with the training and development team, employer engagement work and partnership team-related work. This then gives participants tangible, recent work experience they can add to their CV and talk about at interviews. Two participants who have found sustainable employment with Serco on the Restart Scheme are Emma and Nikita. A short video is available online which shares more of their story. Find it at https://youtu.be/kvprWz8hv0M To find out more about how the fully funded service could benefit your company, email eewestcentral@serco.com or visit https://www.serco-ese.com/restartscheme/employers
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Carmen Watson, Chair of Pertemps Network Group, said the statistic demonstrated the value of investing in talent and warned that those who don’t will struggle to find and retain the right people. Carmen was speaking at a Skills Share event organised by City & Guilds and attended by HRH The Princess Royal. A member of the City & Guilds Foundation Committee, she said Pertemps, based in Meriden, West Midlands, had received a Princess Royal Training Award for its learning and development programme focused on further upskilling sales consultants. She chaired a panel discussion on “The Instrumental role of training in achieving core organisational priorities” to discuss the importance of investment in training to create a productive and progressive workplace, focused on achieving sales, productivity and growth.
Andy Long, People Development Director at Pertemps, said: “We took a hard look at our learning programmes on the back of Covid and have, effectively, turbo-charged our development plans to help people upskill and be the best they can be. “The return on investment from our first cohort was phenomenal and the programme
has been rolled out across the business. It is helping us attract and retain the right people at a time when the marketplace is difficult. “Businesses not looking to invest in their people in this way are more likely to struggle with good staff going forward.”
Students thrive in hospital roles as part of college programme and are really friendly and welcoming. This has been a great chance to get some experience of work, and I am aiming to get a job at the hospital in the future.” And Jack, from Hinckley, who has previously completed qualifications in games design at NWSLC said: “Working in haematology has enabled me to get better prepared for the world of work, which I sometimes struggle with because of my autism. I still want to work in the field of games design and feel that this experience at the hospital has helped me to improve my employability skills.”
Young people with an Education, Health and Care plan are thriving as they work alongside NHS colleagues after being offered life-changing opportunities on Supported Internship placements at Nuneaton’s George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust. Eight students from North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College (NWSLC) are working at the hospital in departments from haematology and radiology to portering and pharmacy as part of placements that will enable them to apply for permanent job roles in the NHS at the end of their programme. The scheme, run by NWSLC, is supported by Warwickshire County Council and DFN Project SEARCH and is designed for young people aged between 18 and 24 with special educational needs and disabilities
(SEND). It provides them with a variety of work-based learning opportunities alongside a daily employability programme to help them to secure meaningful paid employment. Jordan, from Polesworth, had completed college courses in floristry with NWSLC but was unsure of her next steps. Currently working in the hospital’s outpatients booking team, she is reminding patients about appointments and making bookings. She said: “I was nervous at first, but I really enjoy working here and I can talk to anyone now. It has helped me on my journey to accept my disability and my confidence has really grown.” Sam, from Nuneaton, who is in the medical records liaison team, said: “My colleagues don’t regard me as an intern, they see me as part of the team
Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said: “We’re delighted that our students have been getting on so well and are enjoying their placements at George Eliot Hospital and are grateful to the hospital for their support with this project. “Being part of our Supported Internships programme enables students to work within a key local organisation and to develop vital employability skills and competencies in order to be successful. “NWSLC is proud to be expanding our Supported Internship programme by further increasing our team of job coaches so that we can offer additional roles within the local area. Our coaches work with a fantastic cohort of interns alongside our dedicated employer partners, supporting them to gain valuable skills, knowledge, and experiences.” NWSLC is keen to hear from organisations of all types that are prepared to offer a placement ahead of the next programme start in September. Businesses can get in touch via paula.jeffries@nwslc.ac.uk
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