Real Opportunities – Real Futures In Wythenshawe, Manchester

Helen Hawxwell Employment Initiatives Manager Parkway Green Housing Trust/Willow Park Housing Trust Worklessness Coordinator for The Airport Group

In this 10 minutes …  The Background  The problem – why address it?  The solution – pathways and partnerships  The result – Real Opportunities  The ‘How’  Successes

The background

The problem

A range of innovative employment and training initiatives The Solution PG Gateway Attendance initiatives Adult Work Placements Get Hired Raising Horizons Work Experience Talent Pool Travel Project Willow Futures Academy Get Britain Working BW3 Get Trained to Get Hired Raising Horizons Apprenticeships Reading mentoring

LEAP – A Greater Manchester Initiative 26 RPs in Greater Manchester Commitment to fill 25% entry-level roles with local people Creation of Talent Pool 79 vacancies sent to Talent Pools 48 filled through Talent Pool 650 Wythenshawe residents joined Talent Pool since July % have secured employment Over 75% Wythenshawe entry-level vacancies filled through Talent Pool

Enabling residents to access a personalised pathway to work that develops their skills and maximises their potential and opportunities All key public facing bodies in Wythenshawe Over 450 referrals – 85% from housing colleagues 300 colleagues trained Access to the Talent Pool Barriers identified Tracking outcomes We’ve all got day jobs – but we’ve got jobs! Access to Willow Futures Academy

Successes – Laura, 23

Successes – Riki, 17 Riki left school before completing his GCSEs. His family have been supported by the Family Intervention Project for over two years. Riki completed a Real Opportunities form with his FIP worker in December 2011, and was referred straight to under-19 Foundation Learning/pre-employment provision in Wythenshawe, run by Skills Solutions. Riki started the 48 week course on 13 th January and is four weeks into a work placement with Parkway Green. He is progressing well and impressing everyone!

Successes – Nicole, 33 My Neighbourhood Officer told me about Real Opportunities and arranged a careers appointment for me. I was in the process of applying for a part time job on top of my hours at Wilkinsons, and the advisor helped me with the application form. I also spoke to the Travel Advisor who was there on the same day. I got the job at Matalan but the buses were difficult early in the morning, so the Travel Advisor asked if I wanted a free bike! I’m still using it to get to work – it’s good exercise as well as getting me to work on time! I’ve just been offered more permanent hours at Wilkinsons and I’m really pleased.

Thank you

Willow Futures Academy THE BRAND NAME FOR ALL WILLOW PARK’S EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING INITIATIVES

Today’s Potential. Tomorrow’s Talent

50 Work Experience & Adult Placements HOUSING PROPERTY SERVICES REGENERATION RESOURCES

Willow Park Jobs Fund COMMUNITY CENTRES HOUSING COMMUNICATIONS STREET CLEANSING GROUNDS MAINTENANCE HUMAN RESOURCES REGENERATION

WORK EXPERIENCE STUDENT 2010 APPRENTICE 2011 MANAGEMENT TRAINEE 2016? OWN BUSINESS 2025? APPROVED CONTRACTOR FOR WILLOW PARK 2029? Meet Ayden… APPRENTICE TRAINEE PROJECT MANAGER? PROJECT MANAGER? SELF EMPLOYMENT?

So What? THE FINANCES ‘RIPPLE EFFECT’ IMPROVING THE SOFT STUFF ENHANCING OUR EXISTING SERVICES RAISED PROFILE

Many thanks! Victoria McDowell ACADEMY MANAGER Helen Hawxwell EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES MANAGER