Real Opportunities – Real Futures

In Wythenshawe, Manchester

Helen HawxwellEmployment Initiatives ManagerParkway Green Housing Trust/Willow Park Housing TrustWorklessness 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

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 HorizonsApprenticeships

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 2010

55% 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 13th 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 McDowellACADEMY MANAGER0161 946 9170VICTORIA.MCDOWELL@WILLOW-PARK.CO.UK

Helen HawxwellEMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES MANAGER0161 946 6351H.HAWXWELL@PARKWAYGREEN.CO.UK