Harborough Jobs Week is back from Monday 15 - Friday 19 May to provide support to both job seekers and employers.

This edition of the Harborough Business Bulletin will focus on the support and opportunities available to you as employers!

What's on:

• Interview Skills Workshop

• VAL: Multiply and Volunteering Information Event

• Job Fair in Market Harborough

• Business in the Spotlight: Jobs Week Special

• Free information and resources

Get involved in the below events for employers!

Do you have open vacancies? Due to cancellations, we have a few places left at the upcoming Harborough Job Fair. Book a free space to speak directly to local job seekers about your opportunities. 

This is a great opportunity to meet potential candidates face to face, enabling you to break down the barriers which could be stopping people from applying to your roles.

The Job Fair usually attracts between 150 - 300 job seekers. Please get in touch if you would like to get involved. 

Email business@harborough.gov.uk to secure your place.

Calling local businesses and employers. The next spotlight event is a special for Harborough Jobs Week and the spotlight will focus on the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions).

Discover the range of free recruitment support that is available through the local job centre from the local Employer Adviser and you will also have the chance to learn how you can become a Disability Confident Employer and the benefits of doing so!

This is a fantastic opportunity to network with fellow business owners within the Harborough District, and have a guided tour of the Harborough Innovation Centre and their multi-functioning workspaces and meeting areas. Coffee and cake included!

Support local schools in their career activities and build up your future talent pipeline. Schools are often looking for employers to support career sessions such as mock interviews, CV workshops, career talks, career fairs, site visits and more. Perhaps you have a specific activity or opportunity for local students to enhance their awareness of your sector. 

If you are interested in supporting local schools, please email business@harborough.gov.uk or keep an eye on the Business Bulletin for upcoming events you can support, like the below.

Welland Park Academy - Careers Fair

Welland Park Academy will be holding a careers fair on Thursday 5th October 2023, 6pm-8pm. They hope to welcome local and national employers and education providers, which will provide excellent network opportunities as well as a chance to inspire the next generation to find their perfect career. 

To get involved, please complete the Microsoft Form.

Further details will be sent out closer to the date, but if you have any questions in the meantime, please do get in touch with Sarah Hix hixs@wellandparkacademy.com

Have you considered using apprenticeships to train new or existing staff members? 

They are a great option for many employers and government funding is available to help cover most or all of the training and assessment costs!

Apprenticeships are suitable for people at any age and any level so you can hire someone new or upskill an existing employee, allowing you to grow talent and develop a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. They help you to:

• Offer on-the-job training in a safe working environment

• Build a culture of learning and development

• Enjoy higher staff retention and morale

• Promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Why hire an apprentice? 

• 86% of employers said apprenticeships helped them develop skills relevant to their organisation

• 78% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve productivity

• 74% of employers said apprenticeships helped them improve the quality of their product or service

Flexi-job apprenticeships

Flexi-job apprenticeships have been designed to ensure that those sectors and occupations where short-term contracts or other non-standard employment models are the norm can access the benefits of apprenticeships. They are available to employers and apprentices in 2 ways.

Applications for new organisations to join the register opened on Friday 28 April 2023. Applications must be submitted no later than 10am on Wednesday 31 May 2023 via the Department for Education e-tendering portal (Jaggaer). There are currently no plans to open another application window after this period, so if you are interested, please do apply now.

Find out more: Flexi-job apprenticeships - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

T Levels are another tool for your box to build the future of your workforce. They are a new qualification for students aged 16 to 19 who have finished their GCSE's. 

The aim is to give young people the technical and practical skills they need to enter the workplace. They combine classroom learning with an industry placement. A T Level student completes an industry placement that lasts a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days). Industry placements give you a unique opportunity to help develop new talent in your industry, and get young people work-ready.

If you are an employer in England, you can offer an industry placement to a T Level student.