Creating opportunities to combat inequality

Our dedicated Community Investment Team work with a variety of partner organisations and throughout the last year has created opportunities and initiatives that are helping us to combat the impact of poverty and inequality within our neighbourhoods.

Last year we helped over 1400 households into employment, training and volunteering opportunities. This saw us achieve our original three-year target in just two years.

The team provides help and support to anyone who lives within our communities who wants to access employment, training, education and volunteer opportunities. The team includes specialist Employability Coaches that provide one-to-one support and create connections to our trusted partners and their services.

Over the last year they have:

• Promoted job, apprenticeship, work experience and volunteer opportunities offered across all our regions.
• Helped customers to write their CV, cover letters and job applications.
• Provided practice interview sessions and techniques.
• Supported customers with funding applications for employment-related costs such as training, childcare, travel expenses and work-related clothing.

Working in partnership with one of our contractors Caseys, we supported a customer to gain employment in the sector he desperately wanted to work.

Our Employability Coach was able to assist the customer to gain their CSCS card, to enable them to find employment opportunities within the labour sector. Not stopping there the customer then went on to gain his Dumper Truck Licence, so he could expand on his skills and progress with other employment opportunities.

Finding it difficult to access and find opportunities to match his experience and skills, the customer worked with their Employability Coach to explore opportunities available across our framework of contractors and through the partnership with Caseys, was able to identify an opportunity at one of our new-build development sites in Rusholme, Manchester.