Increasingly employers are using employability networking tools to identify potential employees, contact partners or raise awareness. Professional networking tools and social media provide platforms for individuals to showcase their skills, work history and interests. How do young people from the age of 16 improve their employability in this online space?
We’ve been alerted to a free, multi-language, employability networking tool for young people called ‘You Rock’. You Rock not only has a graphical interface which sets it apart from more ‘traditional’ approaches, but it asks the user about their part-time work, interests and school/college activities. This diagnostic aspect helps young people identify their skills and strengths and displays them as a ‘personalised diamond’ which distorts to show their relative strengths. It is particularly helpful for individuals starting with little or no work history. Like other professional networking tools skills can be endorsed and links created to content elsewhere. You Rock is still under development but it already has thousands of users across mainland Europe.
To get a flavour compare the front pages of the profiles of two different people below. The Primary Skill Group on the left is ‘communication’ and on the right ‘organisational’:
At the last Exeter and Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board full meeting we discussed You Rock and decided to seriously consider planning a pilot project to collect feedback from young people, schools/colleges and employers. If you may be interested in participating please contact Oenone Thomas.
This pilot RWC 2015 Event Customer Service Training for Hospitality and Tourism sectors was highly successful. It received very positive and complimentary delegate feedback, exceeded targets, was within budget and developed a model which could be adapted for training in preparation for other significant events in this region and beyond.
Some learning points from the pilot are listed in the table below. We also carefully reflected on other areas including how to reach participants, the information required by Europe and the Skills Funding Agency on the application form, the “Logo Conundrum” (the Catch 22 of logo compliance) and collaborative working. The evaluation report is available in full below.
Learning Point
Reason
Use the event venue or location if possible for the training
It forms an important part of the learning
Encourage the event venue or location to positively support and engage with the training
Ultimately the venue or location will benefit from the training and a positive relationship would add value to the programme
Encourage accreditation, make it free but not compulsory
To reinforce value to employers and encourage individuals especially those attracting priority sector payments
Integrate event resources in to the programme delivery
To acquaint the delegates with the material and demonstrate its usefulness
Use networks and multi-media for recruitment
To reach a broad spectrum of potential delegates and reach those with which you do not currently network
Mix cohorts from different organisations
For mutual benefit and more interesting discussions
Invest time in clarifying the funder’s requirements for paperwork at the outset despite the pressures to start to recruit
In order to minimise irritation to delegates and work load of training organization
Some interesting facts and figures:
Participants
256
Funded
231
Non-funded
16
Non-eligible
9
Percentage of target achieved (excluding non-eligible)
109%
City & Guilds Level 2 taken
203
Percentage of delegates undertaking accreditation
79%
Courses delivered
14
Businesses trained
80
Businesses with 1 or 2 delegates
55%
Mean rating of trainers
97%
Mean rating of overall course
91%
Exeter and Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board and Purple Cloud Consultancy worked well together. Our approach leveraged our capacity to use networks, to quickly formulate the bid for the second tranche of funding and most importantly to access the initial funding opportunity and deliver excellent customer services training to the local hospitality and tourism industry. We would like to work together again!
REEP is for any young person between 16-24 years who is struggling to take first steps on their career ladder. With the benefit of an intensive 10 day programme and on-going mentoring from trained volunteers REEP is currently making a positive difference to the lives of two groups of young people
REEP 1
REEP 1 individuals celebrated a successful end to their 10 day programme on Friday 13th February and since then 8 of the 9 young people have continued to make real progress. Their volunteer mentors maintain their support which can bring many challenges but which has undeniably had a very positive impact. This is what Charlie who is working for an IT company reported to his mentor:
“Anyway! Good to hear from you, everything is going pretty darn well with the job, still there and my probation period is up at the end of May so it’s all looking pretty good. They’ve already got me going up and around the country to do stuff at our other sites, including today where I’ve been up to Oxford to fix a bunch of stuff.
That REEP course though has really helped me out with my confidence and all as well, lost a bunch of weight already and buying a motorbike in the next couple weeks, so it’s all go!
Thanks for the job advert, really, I don’t think I’ll be applying for anywhere at the moment though, one of the first times I’ve really enjoyed my job; great people, good work, never bored and waiting for anything and it’s right up my alley, big smiles all round!”
An inspiring update on the young people on REEP 1:
Aaron
Doing voluntary work for Hospice Care, has applied for the Army, looking to do CSCS card and possibly finding work in construction
Amy
Working at Crealy Park
Charlie
Working at Co-op, completed CSCS card
Charlie
Working at an IT company and contributing to REEP 2
Hamish
Applied for Bricklayers apprenticeship at Exeter College
Jacob
(Jacob’s mentor is trying to make contact sadly without success at the moment.)
Jemima
Working at Coaches Cafe
Mike
Working at Devon Recycling
Ryan
Re-taking CSCS card, improving CV and has a part-time job at Yodel
REEP 2
Meanwhile young people on REEP 2 are just coming to the end of their 10 day programme. REEP 2 is a smaller group of young men who have overcome significant multiple challenges to make huge amounts of progress on the programme. Some young people have not received help from any of the usual agencies. Confidence, self-esteem and aspiration building have been fundamental stepping stones to their progress. They have met their new mentors. For one young man who was extremely nervous and who literally froze prior to the first meeting with his mentor Motiv8-SW’s coaching and mentoring techniques successfully persuaded him to meet his mentor. His satisfaction at finally overcoming his severe lack of self-confidence was immense.
We are looking forward to the REEP 2 presentation day Friday 22 May at St Loye’s. We are really proud of the REEP programme and cannot thank everyone enough for their help, time and involvement. REEP 1 has an 89% success rate of young people starting the REEP programme to progressing into work. But we are we are fortunate to be able to and feel compelled to focus on every individual as an individual. Where other programmes targeting unemployed young people may have cancelled a programme with a small number of individuals we have remembered that “every individual matters”.
Once again thank you to everyone who has supported REEP. Between us all we are making a positive difference to young people’s lives!
Over 50 Advanced Apprenticeships graduated at the Higher Apprenticeships Gradu8 2015 Ceremony at AugustaWestland Conference Centre in Yeovil on Wednesday 13th May which was full of fun, recognition and promise!
It was an exciting event where the Key Note Speakers:
Graham Cole CBE – Chairman AugustaWestland
Nigel Fenn – Organisation & Employee Development Manager South West Water
and Master of Ceremonies:
Rupert Cox – Chief Executive of the Royal Bath & West of England Show
were unanimous in recognising the hard work, dedication and success of the apprentices present. Indeed they made the apprentices, employers, training providers and their families were ‘the stars of the show’. To those receiving their awards Graham Cole said:
“The road you have taken can take you right to the top”.
The Government hopes that Apprenticeship Graduation Ceremonies will help raise the profile of Apprenticeships, putting them on an equal footing with a university route to success. Their ambition is for it to become the norm for young people to achieve their goals by going into an Apprenticeship or to university or, in the case of some Higher Apprenticeships, doing both!
Alex Ledbrooke from Education Business Partnership South West and member of the Exeter and Heart of Devon employment and Skills Board writes –
There is a little over a month to go before The Big Bang Fair South West takes centre stage in Exeter. This annual event is now a major feature of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) calendar for schools who come along to celebrate the very best in youth STEM in the region.
The event includes a variety of offers for students that attend including the exciting British Science Association backed, National Science and Engineering Competition. Students from the area have an excellent track record in the competition with winners at the South West event attending the National finals where they been placed as high as runner-up against thousands of other students. The projects students present range from the weird and wonderful to the truly mind boggling. Our judges on the day always come away feeling inspired by the students and reassured we have a lot of talent in the area.
Petroc students hands-on at Big Bang
But how to keep hold of that talent? Another feature of The Big Bang Fair South West is the “Career Zone”. STEM employers attend with fantastic interactive displays helping students understand what their business is about, what sort of career it can offer and what skills the employer is looking for if a student wants to pursue it further. For many companies this is a brilliant way of raising their profile amongst the next generation. If you’re not on the high-street it can be hard to get noticed but here every one can been seen and the opportunities become tangible. From here we are able to identify opportunities in the South West and hopefully keep hold of the talent that might otherwise be lost as students feel the need to migrate.
If all that wasn’t enough students will also attend huge live STEM shows which this year are being delivered by the National Space centre and BAE Systems. Both shows offer students a unique experience of learning with some of the county’s leading experts in a room full of people that simply love STEM subjects.
The whole event is delivered by Education Business Partnership South West (part of the CSW Group) and hosted by the University of Exeter. Two thousand of the region’s brightest young talent will be under one roof, can you afford not to support an event like this?
We are delighted to be able to offer 100 more free customer service courses to businesses in Exeter and the Heart of Devon in preparation for an autumn of international rugby. The original 160 places on customer service courses were booked in no time at all and the feedback was great. Fortunately, the Exeter and the Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board has been successful in securing additional European Social Funding through the Skills Funding Agency for a further 100 people to participate in these courses delivered by Purple Cloud Consultancy. Previously only businesses with less than 250 employees have been eligible for free full funding so we are thrilled that we can now offer 32 places to larger organisations.
The courses help businesses:
Maximise the opportunities for rugby-related business
Understand how to manage super-happy or unhappy rugby supporters
Promote places to visit in the area
Gain a competitive edge
In addition to the training each delegate receives:
A mini-tour of Sandy Park
A special Visit Exeter guide, a Host City pin badge and a certificate
The option of taking a free City & Guilds Level 2 qualification at the end of the day. 97% of the first 160 delegates have taken this opportunity.
Delegate feedback from the first eight courses has been very positive:
‘Everyone should do it’
Hotel, Leisure & Golf complex
‘Very thought provoking and made me think how I handle situations and how I can improve’
Holiday Park
‘A very motivating course’
Paintball Venue
‘Really good day – very useful and thought provoking’
Self Catering businesses owner
‘Very helpful, very engaging, we had a most enjoyable and beneficial day!’
Hotel
‘Very good and well presented’
Cruise company
Visitors greeted with world class customer service leave with a positive image of Exeter and the South West and are more likely to return. To find out more please select the appropriate contact below or email helen@purplecloudconsultancy.co.uk .
Sandra (right) catching up with Amy during a working day at Crealy
REEP could be EEP! REEP gets its name from Rugby Empowering Employment Programme. The connection to rugby is due to generous funding from Rugby World Cup 2015 legacy funding. REEP uses some sporting values: preparation, commitment, hard work, skill and collaboration but in reality REEP is for any young person between 16-24 years who is struggling to take first steps on their career ladder regardless of their interest in sport or rugby.
Young people from the first REEP are still on track! They are demonstrating their determination, newly acquired skills and confidence, whilst continuing their valuable relationships with trained volunteer mentors.
We are delighted that a second REEP project will start on Monday 11 May 2015. We would like to hear from three groups of people:
Young people aged 16-24 years from East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon and Teignbridge who would like to join the project. Charlie from the first REEP programme said: “The course leaders have been great. They know how to motivate and really got everyone to open up… the course has been good for me already.” Charlie is now working for an Exeter IT company.
Potential mentors who receive free training to help them with their vital role of helping young people transition from the REEP 10 day programme in to work or education. Sandra, Amy’s volunteer mentor from the first REEP programme said “Amy was devastated when she was initially unsuccessful at her first interview at Crealy (before REEP), this shows how empowering this 10 day programme is and how her renewed confidence and skills have resulted in such a positive outcome for Amy”.
Employers who would consider recruiting a local young person who has completed the REEP programme and who has the support of a mentor. Craig Clews, Assistant General Manager at Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park said: “It was a real pleasure to attend the REEP presentation day and I’m delighted that Amy got in contact with me. We’re thrilled that she’ll be joining the Crealy Crew. We’re always on the search for new talent, especially those with a ‘Can Do’ attitude and Amy showed just that. We are fortunate to be able to offer flexible working in a fun environment at Crealy. New members of the team will join us for our biggest and best year to date.”
“Every individual matters” (Karime Hassan, Exeter City Council Chief Executive and Growth Director ) so we encourage you to find out more about REEP by reading the blogs posted here or by contacting Motiv8-SW on 0844 848 9594.
Amy is congratulated by Karime Hassan CE Exeter City Council at St Loye’s Exeter
Further good news! Just three weeks after completing the ten day intensive REEP programme three young people have already started work and continue to be touch with their volunteer mentors. Charlie, 22, from Cowick was the first to be offered an opportunity to work for an IT company in Pynes Hill. Jemima, 19, from Exeter, is now very happily working at a café, where the owners look after her really well. Whilst working, Jemima is looking at ways of accessing University to do a Midwifery course.
On Saturday we heard that Amy who was particularly lacking in confidence has been offered a job in the tourist industry at Crealy which is regarded as the South West’s number one family day out. Amy’s story is particularly inspiring as her first interview with Crealy coincided with day one of the REEP programme and she did not get the job. Her lack of self-confidence was the main barrier. Nevertheless, despite initially feeling crushed by this news, Amy picked herself up and battled on during the next 10 days of the programme, gaining in confidence and learning presentation and interview techniques. At the end of the programme Craig Clews Assistant General Manager at Crealy Park came to the REEP presentation day and was really impressed by Amy. Craig gave Amy his business card so that she could email him and reapply for the job. This culminated in her achieving her goal.
Craig Clews, Assistant General Manager at Devon’s Crealy Great Adventure Park said: “It was a real pleasure to attend the REEP presentation day and I’m delighted that Amy got in contact with me. We’re thrilled that she’ll be joining the Crealy Crew. We’re always on the search for new talent, especially those with a ‘Can Do’ attitude and Amy showed just that. We are fortunate to be able to offer flexible working in a fun environment at Crealy. New members of the team will join us for our biggest and best year to date.”
Sandra, Amy’s volunteer mentor is particularly delighted that Amy’s determination and goal setting has reaped such positive rewards. Sandra said “Amy was devastated when she was initially unsuccessful at her first interview at Crealy, this shows how empowering this 10 day programme is and how her renewed confidence and skills have resulted in such a positive outcome for Amy”. Sandra will continue to be in contact with Amy as she settles in to her new role at Crealy Park. But the last word, for now, should be from Amy “I’m really excited to have been given this opportunity. Crealy looks like such an exciting place to work and I look forward to being part of the Crealy Crew and embarking on this new adventure.”
Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership Labour & Skills Study January 2015 – Figure 3.6.1. Showing Labour Demand in Devon 2015-2019
Labour demand for construction workers in Devon is expected to increase from now until 2019, peaking at 17,000 workers in April 2016. At the moment there is a mismatch between labour supply and demand. So the challenge is to get the people with the right skills and knowledge in place to meet the workload. The dynamic is further complicated by planned re-development work in Plymouth and the construction of Hinkley Point C, the largest construction project in Europe.
Construction labour demand in the South West is expected to be 22,000 higher in 2019 than in 2014 representing an annual increase of 1.9%, higher than the UK average of 1.4%. Labour demand isn’t all about brick laying, it includes a huge spectrum of occupations:
Number of workers employed in a small sample of the 28 broad construction occupation groups (2014) for Heart of the South West (HoSW) (Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay)
Architects
830
Building envelope specialists
3,350
Electrical trades and installation
4,130
Non-construction professional, technical, IT, and other office-based staff.
9,500
Plumbing and HVAC Trades
6,200
Senior, executive, and business process managers
3,870
Wood trades and interior fit-out
9,140
The Exeter & Heart of Devon Employment and Skills Board (EHOD ESB) have been working with local councils and the Growth Point team to maximise the potential for recruitment of local skills development and labour. Council leaders from East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council and Teignbridge District Council have now signed a concordat to align their approach to construction skills development and employment opportunities. This will set the expectation that construction companies and their sub contractors, whether new build or for maintenance, will invest in local skills development in the same way across all three council areas.
Over the coming months we will be:
Supporting the newly formed South West Shared Apprenticeships, an organisation set-up to employ apprentices who are then allocated jobs within a number of construction companies and contractors. Over a number of projects and over a two-year period apprentices will accumulate enough experience to complete Level 1 and 2 NVQs. Thus, removing the barrier for some building companies, who do not have sufficient work to employ an apprentice full-time.
Working towards the implementation of the Construction Industry Training Board’s‘Client Based Approach’ which has clearly defined requirements in support of the development of a local skilled workforce through key performance indicators (KPI) for skills development and employment, commensurate with project type and scale.
Considering the benefits of a two stage procurement process through the Construction Framework South West for greater collaboration and localism.
Working with the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and the Construction Industry Training Board to develop their construction employment and skills strategy.
The EHOD ESB has set out it’s mantra of ” Improving peoples’ lives through Employment and Skills whilst consciously reflecting that we are doing the right thing”. The size of the opportunity within the construction sector is significant. The proactive approach in tackling difficult challenges in an open forward-thinking collaborative approach, has begun to bear fruit, and it is vital that the momentum continues in order that the potential is realised.
Mark Shepherd, Chair of EHOD ESB said: “The success of this initiative so far, is a real credit to all those from Local Government, Employers, Funders and Facilitators whom without their contributions this would not have been achieved. For all partners this is a fantastic example of what proactive collaboration can achieve!”
Julie Hawker, Chief Executive, Cosmic, and Board member of the Exeter & Heart of Devon Employment & Skills Board writes –
We’re all very aware that most young people now in their teenage years come with a skill, experience and aptitude for IT and digital technologies ‘built in’. These millennials (born since 2000) have grown up in a world where digital has played a part in every stage of their lives so far – entertainment, healthcare, education, social interaction, communications and more.
At the very same time then consider how many businesses locally are desperately in need of new digital skills and the talent to harness its potential within the business. In fact, when asked most SMEs don’t yet know what digital technologies can offer to improve their businesses – they simply do not have the time, expertise and basic knowledge to start this type of review.
And then, there’s the dilemma which older teenagers are now facing: to go to university in order to develop their knowledge, skills and career opportunities (whilst at the same time racking up student debt of course), or have the courage to step straight into employment or work placement. Or, of course, get the best of both-worlds and find a great apprenticeship!
And so it was against this backdrop that Cosmic set out to develop our own digital apprenticeship programme – harnessing the potential which young people can offer for the growth of our business and partner businesses too. Our first step was to recruit the right individuals, and ideally to get the local schools working with us to provide the links to the recruitment process. Hugely disappointing reactions from these schools – unwilling to promote apprenticeships to students, too busy to share our flyers, or just not keen to interrupt other ‘priority’ school activities. And further disappointment in the balance of applicants when we finally did get enough response – why aren’t more girls interested in IT career paths at the moment?
Pie chart to show the lack of female applicants for digital apprenticeships at Cosmic
Once the recruitment was progressing, and during interviews, the inspiration and motivation levels for the project increased significantly, and we appointed six young guys with huge potential and commitment. During their 12 month programme we enjoyed watching them grow and develop new skills, become great team players, and more importantly take on income-generating roles in our business. We also provided them with major opportunities for work experience in partner organisations – Mole Valley Farmers, Yarlington Housing, Eloquent Technologies. And so the benefits to their development were very valuable.
And at the end of September 2014 Cosmic were able to offer three full-time, permanent roles on our staff – Jack, Alex, Jamie (one of whom already secured employment through the pilot project) are all now a part of the team and further developing their learning, skills and playing a part in business development too. Others who left us at this point have been supported to gain work in other businesses – web development and tech support. And so we look back at the programme with a great deal of pride and also a clear understanding about the value which this project gave us in return. For example –
Cosmic has now implemented a Living Wage policy – ensuring that the pathway from apprenticeship (lower paid) to permanent position also comes with a significant increase in wage levels to recognise the contribution made to the business
Travel costs to-and-from work are increasingly becoming a barrier for younger employees who seek to gain great jobs but at distance from home. Not just the cost of fuel if they are drivers, but the cost of insurance is massive! And then for those relying on public transport both the time it takes to journey across rural south west, and the costs involved are off-putting. (and so we put in place an additional travel subsidy based on the miles from home)
Harnessing young, enthusiastic talent in our business effectively is a challenge – we need structure, planning, quality management and customer focus. They need autonomy (freedom to choose), motivation, incentives, peer-support and (they need but may not want!) understanding how it fits in business – i.e. commercial awareness.
Customer service skills are not taught in our education system – and yet they are fundamental to every business! We invested a lot time with apprentices so that they learned and developed great customer service skills. Emails, phone calls, meetings, presentations all provide people with a link to our business and we must get that right every time.
Last month the House of Lords published a report about the significant need for digital skills to be embraced by British businesses – “Make or Break”
The report outlines numerous issues facing businesses and the need for digital skills, and plenty of recommendations for the incoming government in May to focus on –
“Including a digital element in all apprenticeship schemes, as well as offering more digital apprenticeships for specific technology occupations and sectors (taking into account the predicted changes to the labour market), could improve general digital skills”
But more locally, even the business community doesn’t recognise the major challenges ahead and we all need to inform and educate our colleagues and associates more fully. Digital skills will be needed by every business in the years ahead. There isn’t a ‘digital sector’ which will be the only employer of young talent, and we need to have schools, colleges, employers and careers support which understand this context for apprenticeships. And digital businesses and agencies, like Cosmic, are keen to sit at the heart of future developments and to support other employers.
Greater Exeter Skills Partnership is an independent body and voice for employers, aiming to improve employment across Devon and beyond.
Greater Exeter Skills Partnership 