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The power of collaboration…
07/07/2023
An insightful meeting yesterday with West Midlands Combined Authority, employers and the Mayor, Andy Street.
I had no idea of the innovation in aerospace – think space taxis, manufacturing – pretty much every moving part on an aircraft is made in Birmingham – who knew?, entrepreneurship support via a Dragon Den style process, funding to up skill existing workers to achieve a better future via qualifications and training, the high levels of employment overall – just really powerful work being reported and shared across all areas of the combined authority. Action, not just talking!
The power of collaboration to deliver the shared vision of ‘levelling up’ bringing growth to all areas of the West Midlands was refreshing to experience.
I had joined to share the opportunity to bring Growing Talent to Birmingham. The uniqueness of recruiting without a cv/interview, the robust pre-onboarding week Growing Talent delivers BEFORE the employer’s selected applicant goes on their site, not only addresses key workplace skills but life enhancing skills too. Included in this week is a qualification in mental health and wellbeing enabling. All of the knowledge sharing and collaboration of empowerment over the week sees a rise in confidence of the applicant starting the four week mutual test drive and an increase in retention for the employers once completed and permanently employed.
Our inclusive process has seen participants from diverse social backgrounds including long term unemployed, those aged in the sixties, single parents, living in hostels, diverse ability and so on. Why does the Government decide key areas JCP should focus on – 18-24 or over 55s – surely everyone, regardless of their age, deserve the tools and knowledge to work…… don’t they?
Thank you to the team @WMCA for inviting me.