We're delighted to welcome this business, which is already great at investing and offering progression routes to their staff, with apprenticeships from Level 1 to Level 3 on offer. 

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With discussion around staff disability inclusion, work tasters for our participants, sharing of vacancies and the Disability Confident Scheme, this employer is already great at investing and offering progression routes to their staff, with apprenticeships from Level 1 to Level 3 on offer.

We're delighted to welcome on-board John O'Conner Grounds Maintenance to join our network of local supportive employers.

John O'Conner Grounds Maintenance Ltd

Part of the Step2Skills employer network

The course really set me up perfectly for interviews and the knowledge I needed to get a job!

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We are so pleased to receive news that a recent learner on our Level 1 Award in Preparing to work in Schools, Lucy, has secured a position as a TA at a school on Digswell. Lucy recently relocated to Hertfordshire and wanted a career change, working with children, so signed up to the course. 

"Hi Joy, just wanted to say a big thank you! The course really set me up perfectly for interviews and the knowledge I needed to get a job! I’ve just been offered a Teaching Assistant position in Digswell, and just really wanted to say thank you."

Lucy

Learner, Level 1 Award in Preparing to work in Schools, 2024

'Thanks to the hard work of my Employment Advisor Jonathan, I was offered an excellent opportunity of a work trial within the Legal Services department at Hertfordshire County Council. The opportunity was offered by Michael, Head of Legal Operations.'

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Michael and the team in Legal Services at Hertfordshire County Council recently gave a work experience opportunity to Step2Skills participant, Jack.

Work tasters are a valuable part in the process of helping people with a barrier into paid work; giving the participant an experience of something they think they might like to do, helping us to see how they get on and for the participant to gain feedback from an employer.

Jack's CV listed financial, audit, and research skills and qualifications and it was for this reason that Michael felt he could benefit from a work taster within Legal Services.

In Michael's words; 'The biggest lesson I have learned from this experience is, we can do lots of work to assist in preparing candidates for the workplace. However, the real work is preparing the employer in how to spot the hidden talent. A work taster offers a candidate the opportunity to show a potential employer their skill set as opposed to simply narrating it. A little additional time spent up front saves time and money in the future, not to mention employing candidates who are qualified, enthusiastic and committed/dedicated.

This is exactly where Step2Skills come in, educating employers, and walking them through the journey. The key is time. You get far more back than you put in so investing time up front is essential. I would say that Step2Skills is not a recommendation but a necessity. Interviewing skills need to be more diverse and more time spent on preparing a suitable setting that can be adapted for different individuals.' 

Jack

Employment Support participant, 2023