Glen McLellan’s Post

It's been a busy January so far for the Lone Parents, Poverty & Work Project! Earlier this month, we recruited for 4 placement opportunities with Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, funded by our partners at Fife Council. These roles include 2 receptionists, a leisure attendant, and a membership administrator, all tailored to support lone parents as they re-enter the workplace. Today we welcomed all four lone parent candidates to begin three weeks of pre-employment training with Fife Gingerbread, focusing on employability, vocational skills, and confidence building, before moving onsite to gain hands-on, paid experience at local Fife Sports & Leisure Trust Centres. This exciting initiative highlights the power of partnership working to tackle child poverty, while challenging the barriers lone parents face when moving into employment. We're so excited to see how the lone parents thrive in their roles and to tell the story of innovative employers such as Fife Sports and Leisure Trust who want to make a difference in their communities and create a positive work culture. #LoneParentPositiveWorkplaces #LoneParents #FifeGingerbread #PositivePartnerships

Something that made me hesitate to accept the contract job at my current company this past January: Uncertainty about summer. For families who have school aged children, no stay at home parents, no nearby extended family, and one vehicle, summer logistics are stressful. We might be dealing with a different camp program every week, with different drop off / pick up / bus / before care / after care schedules. It's difficult to get into a routine. Also, families often have to make their summer camp registration decisions in January/February. If your job situation 5 months from now is uncertain, it's difficult to plan for summer camp. You have to just put down deposits and pray. When considering the job offer, in the back of my mind I was thinking "how are we gonna get the kid to and from camp? Will the employer be flexible with summer scheduling? If I bring up summer needs now, will I seem neurotic and difficult?" I didn't know the answers, but I decided to just take the job and figure the summer out later. I needn't have worried. A couple weeks in, my manager casually mentioned that if I ever needed to leave early to pick up my kid, it was no problem. Relief. It had been weighing on my mind. To all the working parents balancing full time work and childcare transportation: solidarity! We can get through the summer 💪 #workingparents #summer #parenting

To get more under resourced youth in life-sustaining careers, employer partnerships are key.

Today I had the pleasure of talking about my career at St. Michael’s primary school in Middleton. It also happens to be the same primary school my lovely mum works at. As I do in all schools I challenged the students to think of a career that doesn’t use technology. To this day no one has been able to think of one, but we always get some interesting answers! Today we had fisherman, gymnast, window cleaner, and maid to name a few! All of which will use tech in some way (even if they’re paid in cash) Can anyone think of a career that doesn’t use technology?? #womeninstem #careertalk #softwaretesting #qualityengineering

No doubt in my mind that this would offer hope for the younger generation coming through to earn a good living for a 18 - 25 year old! It will also also help to bridge the gap of skills shortages throughout our industry! 🏗️ I’ll break down the pros and cons for the youth from my perspective (using hod carrying as an example)… Pros ✅ Hod carrying is a relatively easy thing to be taught ✅ Trainees can learn fast and ultimately take home more money faster than other trade apprenticeships ✅ If you graft, you’ll be fit as a fiddle ✅ You get to be involved in the camaraderie of a building site ✅ Site work offers you structure. Regular working times during daylight hours, lunch breaks and offers of overtime ✅ A sense of achievement when a wall, house etc is built. Not many other industries give you instant feedback on how much you have collectively achieved in a day, week, month etc. ✅ Offers a natural route into bricklaying for those excelling at hod carrying Cons ❌ Trudging through footings may not been seen as attractive or macho as a life of crime ❌ Being judged by piers for grafting for a living may look weak in the eyes of a young person ❌ There is a limit on what you can earn ❌ Employers won’t suffer fools. If you’ve got a bad attitude you’ll be told to shape up or ship out My verdict… Yes Construction can offer a good living, structure and peace of mind. But that all depends on how much the younger generation want it. My advice for youngsters… Attitude reflects leadership. Find yourself a good leader that models how you wish yourself to be💡 It’s not too late to avoid a life of looking over your shoulder 👍🏻 Would love to hear other opinions and success stories on the topic? The Construction Index Ltd #constructionnews #constructionrecruitment #constructionindustry #constructionjobs

I’m just back from speaking to 6th formers in Bicester about career choices, not quite recovered from realising they *weren’t born* when I was making my own 6th form decisions. Seeing “2015” on the wall as part of a history display just underscored the point ... They were so thoughtful and reflective, I’ve got no doubt they are going on to great things, especially with such committed teachers. Today was a special day to do a careers event, as it's Social Mobility Day 2024. Research by the charity Inspiring the Future, who connected me to The Bicester School, shows that young people’s aspirations are heavily influenced by the jobs their family and neighbours do, TV, and social media. Far too many young people are failing to achieve their potential simply because, as the saying goes, ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’. I grew up with huge amounts of social and educational support, which gave me the freedom to pursue jobs I love (including this one!). However, OCF's publication Oxfordshire Uncovered highlighted that in our county there is huge inequality when it comes to life chances for our children. Careers days are only one small action, but I think they are especially valuable - and enjoyable - for building connections within our local community. I really recommend volunteering with Inspiring the Future, who today celebrate having made 4 million connections between volunteers and young people, through coaching, interview practice and talks. Oxfordshire Uncovered: https://lnkd.in/ebVJGHvD #InspiringTheFuture #ShareMoments Oxfordshire Community Foundation

The Value of a Day's Work In an era of "quiet quitting" where doing the bare minimum seems to be a growing trend, it's worth reflecting on the value of a day's work and the commitments we make. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) tells the story of a landowner who hires workers throughout the day, ultimately paying them the same wage regardless of how many hours they worked. While this parable explores themes of grace and God's generosity, it also raises questions about our own dedication and work ethic. The work we do is not solely about benefitting the company or shareholders. It is a form of worship to our Lord. Are we fulfilling our end of the agreement when we do just enough to get by? Or do we have a responsibility to contribute our best, regardless of external rewards? When we interviewed for our jobs, we presented our best selves. Our resumes highlighted our accomplishments and potential. Let's not lose sight of that initial commitment. Quiet quitting may be a response to feeling undervalued or overworked. But perhaps the answer lies not in doing less, but in rediscovering the intrinsic value of a job well done. Let's strive for excellence, not just for our employers, but for our own sense of purpose and professional growth. What are your thoughts? How do we balance fair compensation with a genuine commitment to our work? #workethic #quietquitting #dedication #professionalism #motivation #leadership #parableofthelaborers

Have you heard of the T.O.O.L.S. program ⁉ Find out more about this awesome program below

Vocational Services Open Days Transitioning to work can feel daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone! Join our on-site information session for personalised guidance on pre and post-school employment support. Whether you’re currently studying, leaving school, or ready to develop your skills, we’re here to help you chart a path to success. Our vocational supports are specifically designed for people with a disability aged 16+ (currently receiving NDIS funded supports).  Empower your potential and take the first step towards a fulfilling career and life skills independence. RSVP today below for our free informative open day at your preferred location. What you’ll learn: –         What supports are available for you to find work, –         What life and vital work skills we can tailor to suit your needs, –         How we can assist you to find a job you love, –         How we can support you in building your independence and life skills –         What tailored and goal-oriented career plans are available to you to succeed at work. To register for our open days, click on the link below. https://lnkd.in/giTmKx3g

Match My Project is revolutionising the way businesses approach diversity and inclusion. Our new Pathways to Work feature is connecting companies with organisations that support underrepresented groups, facilitating quality work placements and job opportunities. Our platform recently facilitated successful two-week work placements for care-leavers in the Stockport area. The care-leavers brought fresh perspectives and first-hand insights that diversified the host company, Ridge and Partners LLP’s workforce practices. The Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) and the Stockport Leaving Care Team commended Ridge’s professionalism and their positive impact on the candidates. By posting opportunities on Match My Project, businesses can tap into a vast talent pool while driving meaningful social impact in their local communities. Phillippa Wilkinson from the Stockport Virtual School emphasised the value of companies understanding and accommodating care-experienced individuals, who can offer unique viewpoints that enrich the workplace. Laura Perry, Social Value Project Consultant at Ridge, cited Match My Project’s clarity and direct access to organisations as key reasons for posting the work placement opportunity on the platform. The platform’s targeted approach and quick turnaround time expedited the matching process, allowing Ridge to find the right candidate within two weeks. Do you want to play a part in building a more diverse and inclusive workforce? Read the full story about the care-leaver work placement below 👉 https://lnkd.in/efsyyjsn 👈 #DiversityAndInclusion #SocialImpact #CSR #YouthEmpowerment #InclusiveWorkplace #TalentDevelopment #EmploymentOpportunities Birmingham City Council The Hyde Group Onward Homes Stockport Council Metropolitan Thames Valley SNG (formerly Sovereign Housing Association)