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Bridges Programme – Building for the Future

Employability & Welfare
Building for the future
Image for Bridges Programme – Building for the Future
Lead Organisation:
Bridges Programme
Theme:
Award Amount:
£58,955.58

The Bridges Programme is a non-profit organisation that supports the social, educational, and economic integration of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and anyone for whom English is a second language living in Glasgow.

Bridges works with employers and partners to ensure that our clients have the support to help them into work (if eligible), education or further training.

Our “Building for the Future” project was a collaborative initiative designed in partnership with employers, and operated across various sectors, including Construction, Maintenance, and Environmental Services.

New Scots reached
56

Key Information

Our goal is to equip New Scots with the tools they need to confidently navigate the job market and secure rewarding employment opportunities.

Our Building for the Future project was conducted in and around Glasgow, serving clients from North Lanarkshire and involving several departments of Bell Group, one of the UK’s largest property services contractors.

Over the course of 7 months, participants were divided into groups, focusing on careers in maintenance, painting and decorating, joinery, and related trades. Each group received 45 hours of employability training and one-on-one support from a caseworker.

Outputs:

  • Skills profiles linked to a relevant skills matrix.
  • Interaction with partner employer’s staff through Q&A sessions and short work placements.
  • Tailored CVs and application support.
  • Mock interviews and interview skills training.
  • A Personal Employment Action Plan.

Key Information

Partnership

Bell Group, Wheatley Group

Geographical reach

Glasgow & North Lanarkshire

Dates

April 2023 – November 2023

Target Groups

Male & Female Adult Refugees, Migrants, Asylum Seekers

Project Type

Range of Employability Services, including employer engagement with placement and work experience, skills profiling and employer skills matrix.

Situation

New Scots often face significant obstacles when seeking employment.

One major challenge faced by our clients, besides language barriers, is the difficulty in comprehending qualifications and experience, both from the perspective of job seekers and employers.

The aim of this project was to identify the necessary skillset and assist our participants in recognising their strengths and how these aligned with the skills required by employers in specific industries or roles.

Involvement of New Scots in project

As we continue our efforts to support New Scots, we gain a deeper understanding of the challenges they face when seeking employment or trying to showcase their skills to potential employers.

This insight prompted us to partner with an employer to deliver the “Building for the Future” project, aimed at providing our clients with a competitive edge in the job market.

By collaborating with employers, our clients gained valuable insights into what prospective employers seek in candidates, as well as guidance on tailoring their applications and skills to meet these expectations.

Impact

The ‘Building for the Future’ project helped 56 clients (over-achieving our 30 target) with career development by providing the necessary employability tools and resources. The programme helped many people overcome the challenges of finding employment and has given them the confidence to pursue their career goals.

The following were some of the advantages our clients gained from this project:

  • Direct contact with employers
  • Opportunities to visit employer premises
  • Insights into employer needs
  • Creation of tailored CVs
  • Q&A sessions with employers
  • Completion of bespoke training programmes tailored to the sector
  • Increased confidence in engaging with the labour market
  • Enhanced ability to understand and articulate their skills
  • Greater confidence in interview settings, particularly in answering competency-based questions
  • Progress towards sustainable employment in Scotland

Challenges encountered

After discussing with our initial linked employer, it was determined that they could not fully commit to the project. Therefore, we sought another employer to fill the gap. We are happy to report that we were successful in finding another employer, Wheatley Group, to join the project and provide valuable resources to our clients.

Solutions

We formed connections with other companies that hire individuals in the same industry as our project. After a fruitful meeting with an employer, we were able to secure the support of two employers for this project, Bell Group and Wheatley Group. This enabled us to successfully execute all aspects of our project and even exceed our initial goals.

We created flyers to promote the project and advertised it in Bridges Programmes newsletters. Our clients showed enthusiastic interest in the project, which helped us surpass our initial target of participants. Thanks to our clients’ positive response, we achieved 186.67% of our target.

Case Study

Rocky relocated to Glasgow in May 2022, hoping to start a new life in the city.

He was determined to find employment and support himself financially. Fortunately, he discovered our 6-week Fresh Start programme, which gave him essential skills and knowledge to boost his employability. After successfully completing the programme, Rocky joined the Building for the Future Project, which allowed him to explore different job opportunities and gain valuable industry insights.

While on the project, he underwent skills profiling, attended 1-1 meetings with potential employers, participated in mock interviews, and went on on-site visits. Thanks to Bridges’ referral, Rocky also had the opportunity to participate in a 4-week Changing Life Program organised by Wheatley Homes Glasgow in July 2023.

The program included two weeks of work placement, where Rocky worked hard and demonstrated his commitment to his job. Impressed with his performance during the work placement, Wheatley Homes Glasgow offered Rocky a 1-year Trainee contract, which he happily accepted.

Rocky was grateful for the support he received from the Building for the Future Project and Wheatley Homes Glasgow, which helped him build his skills and kick-start his career in Glasgow.

Reflections

The Bridges Programme’s “Building for the Future” funded by the  Supporting New Scots Fund, was a tremendous success, achieving significant milestones. Here are some key takeaways from the project:

  • The initiative assisted 56 clients—exceeding our target of 30—by providing essential employability tools and resources. It helped many individuals overcome the challenges of securing employment and instilled the confidence needed to pursue their career goals.
  • Collaboration and partnerships played a crucial role in the project’s success. By partnering with two companies, the project leveraged each partner’s strengths, resulting in a more impactful programme.
  • One of the programme’s key strengths was its focus on long-term impact. It not only facilitated employment for clients but also provided ongoing support to ensure their continued success.

Ultimately, the Bridges Programme’s “Building for the Future” exemplified how organisations can positively influence their clients’ lives. The programme demonstrated that with dedication, hard work, and collaboration, it is possible to create initiatives that significantly improve people’s lives.

Further Information

Keywords

Collaboration, Employability, Employer Engagement, English, Refugee, Skills Matrix, Skills Profiling

Contact

Contact:
Karen McIntyre

Address:
Flemington House
Suite G6
110 Flemington Street
Springburn
Glasgow
G21 4BF

Telephone:
+44 (0)141 558 9749

Email:
admin@bridgesprogrammes.org.uk

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