Warwickshire jobs portal targeting those who face employment barriers
A Warwickshire jobs website has been launched in a bid to attract the talent pool of people who face barriers to employment.
The site - the fair chance jobs portal - was launched by the county council's Warwickshire Skills Hub as part of its Fair Chance Employment Programme, which was first started in late 2021.
The jobs are targeted, for example, at foreign nationals who are part of a resettlement programme or individuals with a special educational need or disability. They are also aimed at ex-armed forces personnel and their families, young people not in education or training, those leaving care, young carers, and over 50s.
"Helping businesses to address skills shortages while breaking down long-term employability barriers for individuals are two key issues that the Fair Chance Employment Programme is trying to address, and the new jobs portal is a crucial next step in helping us to make this a reality," said Fay Winterburn, the lead commissioner for employability and skills at Warwickshire Skills Hub.
More than 50 businesses have so far committed to the programme so far and over 25 have already already listed jobs on the site, which currently has around 30 listed vacancies.
"Individuals who face barriers to traditional recruitment methods are an untapped talent pool, and we have been working closely with businesses to explore ways that they can make both their recruitment processes – and the jobs themselves – more accessible, and with room for progression," she added.
"This includes softening the traditional interview approach by incorporating work trials as part of the interview process, so that candidates are being asked questions as they work, whilst also being offered flexible working hours.
"When a candidate is appointed to a role at a Fair Chance Employment Programme employer, they will also have a dedicated mentor within the business to help them settle into their role," said Winterburn.
For more information about the website and to view the latest vacancies, people are asked to click HERE.
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