Careers and Recruitment
There are many ways that employers can help to shape careers in Cheshire & Warrington.
Schools, Colleges and Universities welcome links with local businesses to help enrich their curriculum and give students an up-to-date view of the world of work.
What sorts of careers engagement activities can employers support?
- Offering experience of the workplace. This could be via tours or offering work experience
- Attending careers fairs
- Doing mock interviews / assessments
- Being a guest speaker at a school event
- Demonstrating new equipment / processes to students and teaching staff
- Helping with curriculum development
Benefits of careers engagement for Employers:
- Raises the profile and understanding of your business and sector
- Highlights new opportunities and job roles
- Develops a future talent pipeline
- Supports Corporate Social Responsibility objectives
How can I get involved?
There are several routes to engage in careers activities:
The Careers and Enterprise Company
Are you struggling to find the right people for your vacancies?
Your local Jobcentre Plus can help. They offer recruitment advice and tailored services supporting employers to grow and develop their business.
Follow the links below to find out more:
What is a Care Leaver?
Care leavers are defined as young people aged 16-25 who have previously spent more than 13 weeks in care since the age of 14 including their 16th birthday.
Children are taken into care for a variety of reasons and the impact of their challenging life experiences may hinder them from accessing work.
How can I engage with care leavers?
Employing a care leaver can bring many benefits to your business and increase diversity within your workforce.
There are several ways you can get more information:
Apprenticeships:
For more information about supporting a care leaver with an apprenticeship and accessing bursaries, please visit:
Apprenticeships care leavers’ bursary guidance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Organisations which can provide business support with a care leaver focus:
- Drive Forward Partner with us! – Drive Forward Foundation
- Barnardo’s https://barnardos.org.uk
To learn more about recruitment opportunities relating to care leavers in each of the three Local Authorities in Cheshire and Warrington please follow the links below:
Cheshire West and Chester Council
- contact Anne Lewis, Care Leaver Employment Co-ordinator lewis2@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Cheshire East Council
Warrington Council
Engaging with ex-offenders may be a way for your business to reduce skills gaps and increase diversity in your workforce. The government has produced guidance and toolkits on employing prisoners and ex-offenders.
The Probation Service’s Education, Training and Employment programme helps men aged 18+ with gaining new skills and qualifications, training and finding work: see https://recruitmenthub.maximusuk.co.uk/employers/
Employers can sign up to the Armed Forces Covenant Employment Recognition Scheme:
Details about the covenant can be found at:
https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/employing-armed-forces-community/
And further government guidance:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/corporate-covenant-guidance
Marius Leon is the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Armed Forces Champion (AFC) covering Cheshire. The AFC provides a key role between Jobcentre Plus and the Armed Forces community. Armed Forces Champions help raise the profile and maintain the Jobcentre Plus commitment to support the Armed Forces and their families and veterans.
Contact: MARIUS.LEON1@DWP.GOV.UK