Where talent meets business – Elmfield Training and Morrisons

9 August 2012

There’s been a true partnership approach to supplying the new Morrisons store, opening in Edgbaston this October, with the skilled and committed workforce it needs to get off to a great start.

Since launching a dedicated Morrisons recruitment hotline in May 2012, Elmfield Training has handled over 1,300 calls from interested local applicants, 87% are currently unemployed. These applicants have been reviewed and many are now busy preparing for their interviews with the stores new management team.

In addition to these direct applicants, a number of have been referred and are guaranteed interviews after recently graduating from a pre-employment programme ran in conjunction with Birmingham City Council and quality assured by Elmfield Training. Referred by Rathbone and the local Job Centre Plus, this group have been out of work for some time and have recently participated in a number of workshops designed in conjunction with Morrisons to brush up their skills, give them valuable insight to their potential new employer and prepare them for the interview ahead.

At Elmfield Training, we recognise that young people who are unemployed or not in training or education may require more support and guidance than your average job seeker. It’s our role to launch meaningful partnerships with referral organisations such as Job Centre Plus, Rathbone, The Princes Trust and Remploy, who can provide the right mix of coaching and mentoring to applicants whilst supporting our large employers to play an active role in the communities they operate in. Elmfield Training’s employability experts work in the local community, understand the needs of Morrisons, bring together the best local partners and handle all applicants documentation and final checks ahead of interviews taking place.

Tackling youth employment has to be our number one priority because it’s such a big problem. Elmfield Training, Morrisons and our partners know that unemployment damages young people’s job prospects, health and other outcomes. By working in partnership in this way, we can continue to help tens of thousands of young people learn the skills for employment, get jobs and supply a pool of employable young people to match today’s business’ expectations.

Once recruited, new employees have the opportunity to be inducted on to their Apprenticeship programme and begin their work-based learning journey.