The Recruitables Project - Care Leavers Employer Network Feedback

As part of the project, they are looking to reach out and gather feedback from businesses around the idea of creating a network of employers who can support each other to hire and retain care leavers in the area.

The Idea:

The project wants to create a peer support and learning network for employers who are (or want to be) inclusive of care leavers. The aim is to make it easier for employers to:

1.      Share good practice (e.g. how to support care leavers in recruitment, onboarding, and retention).

2.      Access guidance and training from others with experience.

3.      Find encouragement and confidence to take practical steps towards employing care leavers.

4.      Connect with local partners (colleges, The Warren etc.).

The network could start as something 'light-touch', for example:

1.      An informal online group or mailing list for sharing updates and resources.

2.      Quarterly meetups (in person or virtual) hosted by a few committed employers.

3.      A 'buddy' system pairing experienced inclusive employers with those just starting out.

Research and Development Questions:

As an essential part of developing the idea of a dedicated network of employers, there are some key questions which The Recruitables Project would like your feedback on as an employer. Please could you take a few minutes to click this link and complete the questions: https://forms.office.com/e/gPtU3e2iyu.

Challenges:

The project is already aware of some of the challenges faced by this idea, including:

1.      Employers may struggle to commit time to attend meetings or engage with the network.

2.      Some may not see the immediate benefit of connecting with other employers on this topic.

3.      Risk of overlap with existing initiatives or forums  (we don't want to duplicate efforts.)

4.      The network may start small, so initial impact might feel limited.

However, they do welcome your open and honest feedback.

Please note that the answers to these questions are being gathered by CR Reynolds Limited on behalf of The Recruitables Project.

Thank you in advance for your support.