FEATURE
Benefits to your business As well as making a lasting difference to local people ’ s lives , working with Step Forward Tees Valley will benefit your business too by :
> Opening doors to your local community so that people can get to know your business .
> Raising your community profile and identifying PR opportunities . > Giving back to your local community . > Identifying and achieving your corporate social responsibility targets . > Strengthening the local workforce . > Developing and training your existing staff to learn new skills .
More about Step Forward Tees Valley Step Forward Tees Valley helps people overcome barriers to work or training so they can move forward with their lives . These barriers are wide ranging and include mental and physical health issues , financial worries , substance use , lack of skills and confidence issues .
The partnership has a range of specialist delivery partners who support participants to improve their health and wellbeing , ease money worries , develop work-based skills and much more .
Vikkie Wilkinson , Humankind ’ s assistant director for work and skills , said : “ Step Forward Tees Valley provides a vital service supporting those furthest from the labour market back into work . Although we ’ re seeing record numbers of job vacancies , there is a continuing participation issue in the labour market . We know there is a huge amount of untapped talent and we ’ re here to help businesses access that in a way that meets their needs .”
If you are interested in supporting the programme , please contact the Employer Engagement Team on 01325 529210 .
CASE STUDY
Katy Boon joined the Step Forward Tees Valley programme in January 2022 . Living with anxiety and having low confidence , she only left her home to shop for food and to take her dog for a walk . Having recently moved to Hartlepool , she felt very isolated with no family or friends nearby . But with her confidence low , her anxiety and nervousness increased , meaning that social situations and groups terrified her .
Step Forward Navigator at the Hartlepool Hub , Lisa Kirkham , spent time getting to know Katy and what her hopes and aspirations for the future were , utilising the range of specialist services within the Step Forward partnership to ensure that Katy got the right support at the right time . These included :
> Health and wellbeing activities and support . > Focused careers Information advice and guidance .
Katy expressed an interest in getting back into work in childcare but wasn ’ t keen on an ordinary nursery setting – and Step Forward ’ s employer engagement team was able to source something to fit the bill perfectly . Let ’ s Pretend , a Hartlepool business run by mother and daughter team Tracy and Terri Bromley , provides a space where children and parents can learn together through play and imagination . Established in 2019 , the centre has a variety of play spaces including a shop , fire station and doctor ’ s surgery , along with a real café for refreshments .
Although Katy was nervous , with the support of her Step Forward Navigator Lisa , she was able to go along and meet Terri , one of the business owners . Katy was subsequently offered an initial six-week work placement , allowing them to get to know Katy and Katy them . They were so impressed with Katy ’ s dedication , attitude and performance that they applied for , and secured , funding in order to be able to offer her a paid role . Terri said “ This has been a great opportunity for us to help our community by supporting someone to get back into work . It ' s definitely a win-win situation and Step Forward have been brilliant . I ’ d encourage other businesses to get involved .”
Of her newfound employment , Katy said : “ Lisa and Step Forward have been amazing . I wouldn ’ t have got this far without them - I ’ d have still been sitting at home .”
The voice of business in the Tees region | 121