For employers
Growing Talent - the innovative way to find your potential new talent ethically and cost effectively. Note: this film is historic and some of those featured have moved on to other roles. The process below gives the current format.
To determine if it makes sense for your business, contact jane@thejjc.net to discover how it can make a difference to you.
What some of our current and historic employers say
Click to see quotes from employers who have taken part previously.
SPS
UK
and Ireland
Restore Harrow Green
Iron Mountain
Front of House Expert
Master-Fix Property Services
ConnectPlusServices M25
Red Personnel
UpTown Oil
Pertemps
ME London Hotel
Meliá White House
Holiday Inn
Manager, SPS UK and Ireland
“Growing Talent has offered us so much more than the usual recruitment processes. Jane has a very people-centric approach going beyond just matching skills and experience to a job spec, but is all about helping people with little or no experience become a valuable asset to a company. The holistic approach builds greater self-esteem with the candidates giving them a sense of pride and achievement in having a good job that they can develop in. This partnership delivers new talent to our business which fits our culture. They are really keen to absorb everything to grow in their new roles.”
Sharon Sales, then Restore Harrow Green
“Growing Talent is a fantastic programme and has worked very well for us at Harrow Green. We’re pleased to be supporting people who are keen to work and who just need an opportunity to show what they can do. We have given them a chance, and they have repaid us with their hard work and commitment. Through the programme, we have gained new staff members who are capable and very motivated, and it’s great to see their confidence and abilities increasing. They are an asset to our company and I am extremely proud of what they have achieved.”
Michelle Wooton, then Iron Mountain
“PwC’s Growing Talent Programme has provided a great opportunity to recruit new talent into our business. The programme works closely with and supports both new recruits and the specific requirements of our organisation. It offered a personalised approach to recruitment that allowed both parties to assess and handpick the right fit. The level of support provided by this programme for the new recruits has enabled us to secure enthusiastic, professional people for Iron Mountain and set them on a career path within the organisation.”
Simon Pratt, Front of House expert
“Growing Talent is all about investing in the next generation of a company's key asset - their people and potential leaders who have that personal drive, determination, passion, confidence and ultimately the inner desire to deliver impeccable service.”
Ella Broughal, then Master-Fix Property Services
“Growing Talent is a transformational programme that takes a uniquely holistic approach to employment. Candidates are encouraged to see their individual potential without being reduced to their past employment- while employers get a risk-free opportunity to widen their talent sourcing pools. Having been on both sides of the Growing Talent coin, I could not recommend it enough to potential candidates and enterprising employers alike.”
Andy Nicholson, then ConnectPlusServices M25
”Having met with Jane James and learned about Growing Talent, we at CPS were keen to find out more. I was very impressed with the focus of the programme and the way it can change people’s lives for the better. Subsequently, we had a role within the business that we felt would be a great opportunity for someone to learn about the Highways sector and kick start a new career. I attended a Speed Dating session and met a fantastic array of candidates with a wide range of skillsets and experience as well as a fantastic outlook and energy. We took on one candidate who quickly adapted to our business and was soon offered the role on a permanent basis. She has been a great addition to our Projects team and I am sure will go on to have a long and successful career at Connect Plus Services. We hope to build a long lasting relationship with Growing Talent for future roles, and would recommend the service to all employers.”
Jamie So, Red Personnel
“At Red Personnel, the currency we work in is people, for this reason we encourage our clients to look beyond a CV and at the individual we represent. Growing Talent allowed us to select someone, from a pool of candidates, to come in to our business who could assimilate themselves in to our team and be trained and mentored to do exactly what was needed. From the initial rigorous assessment to the holistic support throughout the programme Growing Talent does exactly what it promises in an economic environment where the value of the individual is so much greater.”
Nigel Jewison, then UpTown Biodiesel
“Our placement arrived well prepared for the workplace and quickly adapted to his role within Uptown. We are very pleased to have been involved and to have gained a now valued fulltime employee. Thank you Growing Talent”
Pedro Tsiamas, Manager - Specialist Division
“Once again, we have been successful using Growing Talent candidates in finding our newest team member. From the off the process is efficient for employers and beneficial for the candidates from support throughout their journey. As always, we will continue to use Growing Talent and look forward to meeting the next cohort of candidates.”
Emma Brierley, then HR Director, ME Hotel
”Growing Talent has been a fantastic and valuable experience for us at the hotel; we are so pleased to be part of this programme and supporting such an enterprising initiative to get people who truly wish to work in to the work place and not necessarily in business that they are skilled for. We have learnt to recruit in a different way and changed our mind set and it is interesting to meet people without seeing a CV first!”
Frances Lees, then HR Manager, Meliá White House
“Growing Talent has opened our eyes to a different way of finding driven individuals who genuinely want an opportunity to show employers what they can do – and we have not been disappointed! We look forward to working with Growing Talent again next year.”
Ebb Kanga, then Holiday Inn
“I was sold on trying Growing Talent because it is an innovative way to attract new talent. There are no cvs or job descriptions involved. It’s based purely on personality. The model ensures the match is right for us as the employer and the new talent joining our business. It’s been amazing and I look forward to next year”
Sharon sales, Harrow Green
“Growing Talent is a fantastic programme and has worked very well for us at Harrow Green. We’re pleased to be supporting people who are keen to work and who just need an opportunity to show what they can do. We have given them a chance, and they have repaid us with their hard work and commitment. Through the programme, we have gained new staff members who are capable and very motivated, and it’s great to see their confidence and abilities increasing. They are an asset to our company and I am extremely proud of what they have achieved.’
The process for employers taking part:
Important note: Jobs on offer must be real, permanent and already signed off. Applicants are looking for stability to close their own social mobility gap.
Employers’ participation core points
A few things for employers to know about using Growing Talent to secure new talent are set out below at zero cost to you:
1
Details of participating employers are shared with applicants prior to the Getting to Know You event. If you agree to take part in Growing Talent, you commit to being present at both the Getting to Know You and the Slow Dating events.
2
You are not obliged to select anyone to join your business but if you do, roles must be permanent to give stability.
3
We ask you to seek out those ‘hidden gems’ you feel you can mould into a strong team member.
4
CVs, interview scripts and job descriptions are often barriers to the unemployed. So, we’ve banned them! However, the applicant will provide a cv if required for your onboarding process.
5
Getting to Know You – where connections begin. You get to know the applicants as individuals, how they work as part of a team and they get to know you as humans not just scary job titles!
6
7
8
1-2-1 conversations are held at your site to discuss the role in more detail. Please ensure you check their right to work documents/Government share code at this.
9
Any offers you make which are accepted result in the individual(s) undergoing a robust pre-onboarding with Growing Talent. Focusing on work and life skills including qualification in I-Act – mental health and wellbeing in line with ISO45003 and CPD certified.
10
Growing Talent provide a mentor for you and your new joiner(s) for as long as you require. Neurodivergent 1 to 1 coaching is also available where needed at zero cost.