Location
Years
2019- 2020
Activity
Following exploratory conversations with key people in local agencies, we engaged local connectors in Coldhurst in Oldham via voluntary, community and faith networks. We then held in-depth focus group discussions with local people – mainly young people and young adults.
The discussions focussed on:
- define the problem – discover how the organisation is perceived as an employer
- determine the (perceived) barriers to employment
- discover potential solutions with local people
- design ways to engage and build trust that people like
The insights of and potential solutions by local people were then reflected back to the organisation.
Impact
The organisation reflected on the insight report and applied solutions. These went to where people were, started with their skills and ambitions, and offered minimum two-week work experience, which was treated as the ‘working interview’.
Initially, on the place-based programme, eight people from 16 moved into jobs, with another 11 awaiting work placements. Amongst 28 young people, eight moved into jobs and five went to college.
The organisation eventually increased the proportion of Oldham residents in its workforce from 45% in 2019 to over 60% in 2024. It then spread the same approach to the other localities in which it operates.
Funded by
