CR has recently recruited a new Horticultrual Apprentice, Paul Hatfield (Estates Manager) oversaw the process. Paul writes,
“Earlier in the year I met with Rebecca, from Kirklees Council Employment and Skills Service; she came to the Community to speak about the Local Supported Employment scheme. I found this very interesting, as it aligns closely with the ways in which the Community has supported people with autism and disabilities in the past.
As part of the Council’s Employment & Skills service, Rebecca and the team support residents in getting work or better work via the ‘Employment Kirklees’ programme. The programme offers personalised, one-on-one assistance to help individuals find jobs or apprenticeships, change careers, or even move into self-employment. Where possible, they also help people overcome various barriers to employment.
Rebecca visited our site for a tour and introduced us to the head of Real Employment, Joanna Long. We spoke about helping support other people who are on the program and the possibility of them working with kitchen staff and the cleaning and gardening teams.
Rebecca has supported us in taking on a new horticultural apprentice. She put a job description together for us and advertised the role to the Real Employment participants. Five people applied and were invited for an interview. The second stage involved a work trial where they were all given a task to complete: weeding and preparing a flowerbed for autumn. We were very impressed by the work carried out by them all but only had one place to offer.
Following a discussion with managers, we made the decision to take on Adam as our new apprentice. He was informed by email and came in the following week so we could sit him down and go through the paperwork needed to take him on.
As to the other four who completed the interview and work trial, we emailed them individually to encourage them to take up a voluntary position here, with the thought that this will assist them with confidence-building and give them more experience to enable them to find future roles.
Rebecca liaised with the college provider and applied for funds to save us paying the employer contribution for the college aspect of the apprenticeship. Rebecca has popped in this week on Adam’s first week to see how he is settling in. And in future weeks Adam’s work coach will visit and give in-work support.
We would like to thank Rebecca and the team for their help, and we welcome Adam and hope he enjoys his new role at the Community.”
Paul Hatfield (CR Estate Manager)
If you would like to learn more about Kirklees Council Employment and Skills Service, please click here to visit the website.