Ready for Work' is a programme run by 'Business In The Community’ to help disadvantaged people get back into employment.
Running nationally across 16 locations in England, Birmingham is the 2ndmost successful programme after London, with 56% of clients finding sustainable employment within 12 months across the Midlands.
These individuals tend to have a history of homelessness, mental health issues, long-term unemployment, or are ex-offenders or ex-military.
Across Birmingham, 68% of individuals registered to ‘Ready For Work’ have experienced homelessness, with 29% having a history of rough sleeping.
The issue of homelessness is an ongoing problem in Birmingham, with the number of rough sleepers rising year on year, with 57 people sleeping on the streets in 2017.
With the West Midlands unemployment rate being 1.4% higher (5.7%) than the UK average of 4.3%, this was an issue 'Business In The Community' wanted to respond to in order to "make a long-term difference to people’s lives."
Over the last year in Birmingham, through the programme 52% of individuals have gone into employment with 11% starting college, 7% starting voluntary work, and 16% having sustained an employment status for up to 12 months.
The three-stage programme offers professional training, a two-week work placement provided through a number of partner companies, as well as support to gain and sustain work.
One company who joined the partnership in 2013 is the ‘John Lewis Partnership,’ who have offered 15 placements at Waitrose as part of the course to prepare these individuals for employment.
Andreaa Tudor, employment programme manager for RTW (Ready to Work) said:
"The feedback 'Back in the Community' receives from the clients who attend a placement with Waitrose has always been very positive and they found the experience useful, insightful and motivating.
"For the work buddies, they found the experience rewarding and appreciated the support they were able to give to people in need."
Stacey Smith, a sales assistant at Waitrose in Birmingham has been helping to implement 'Ready to Work' at the Colmore Row store.
She said: "We provide a two-week placement for them, they come and work with us and learn everything that there is to learn about working in the store.
“I believe that it's really good for the community, it is very hard at the moment to get a job, especially for ones that haven’t had a job for so long, this helps them to get their foot in the door, so that’s what we do."
There are many ways to get involved and support the work of 'Business in the Community' across the West Midlands:
· Offer a ‘Behind the Scenes’ visit to your company to explain the background of your company and recruitment process
· Hosting a training day at your business around work readiness and confidence building
· Offering work placements to help participants skills
