You know how anxiety and excitement give the same feelings right?

Well yesterday was a mixture of both for a few amazing people!

It was our information session for JobCentrePlus staff who refer some of their customers to @Growing_Talent.

We have a new format which gives even more benefits to unemployed people and our employers taking part.

Our new pre-hub – for nervous applicants, our Talent Hub for those who don’t get selected and our getting to know you event with employers BEFORE the selection stage will enable strong connection foundations to be laid.

Applicants gain confidence and self-empowerment through our new format – whatever their individual outcome.

Employers gain a solid insight into potential new talent from a variety of interaction stages.

Public speaking is rarely anyone’s favourite thing to do but sometimes you just have to steps up and support what you believe in – right?

Jamie and Navin certainly think so.

Jamie joined @Growing_Talent eight years ago after dropping out of University and not really knowing what to do. He joined his current company’s predecessor on completion of Growing Talent and shared his journey since.

Navin joined @Growing Talent a year or so after following referral by Jamie! Both Jamie and Navin shared their sense of purpose and belonging as well as having savings and being able to go on holidays when they want!

Navin also referred his Dad to Growing Talent who secured a role with a bespoke hotel group!

Alison, one of @ISS’s awesome managers based in Birmingham, popped in to share her experience as an employer recruiting through Growing Talent.

The team from JobCentre Plus listened in awe to the varied experiences and to Adam from Growing Talent’s sponsors, on why they continue to sponsor such a niche programme.

A great event, information was shared, pasties, coffee and juice consumed before enthused people left the room!

Thank you to everyone involved – especially Ads our behind the scenes superhero who makes the magic happen and David and Anna – @JobCentrePlus superstars who never stop cheerleading.

Let’s close the social mobility gap together.

If you are in London – are you in?