The changing workplace – homeworking jobs via the Restart Scheme
The Restart Scheme is part of the Government’s wider ‘Plan for Jobs’ programmes to help people develop their skills so they can find long-term meaningful employment.
From January to August this year, the Restart Scheme in Wales has supported over 120 Restart Scheme Participants into homeworking roles. This has enabled them to find employment across all areas in Wales, including coastal and rural areas where traditional contact centres are not present.
For homeworking roles, interested Participants are asked to complete a series of learning sessions to ensure they are suitable for the roles. This includes:
- A pre-employment workshop prior to job application. This includes a ‘Customer Services workshop’ where Participants complete training around the fundamentals of customer services, including conflict resolution as well as how to manage wellbeing in a fast-paced role.
- Employability training – including an overview of the employer/business’ expectations, and interview preparation.
- A pre-screening with one of our Restart Scheme Employer Engagement team to gauge if they are a good fit. The pre-screen is tailored to the job requirements for the business. This will only take place once they have completed the pre-employment workshop.
- A competency-based screening – Participants are asked questions around customer services, dealing with customer complaints, targets, and their previous use of IT in employment. Participants meeting the scoring benchmark are referred the business who can either arrange the interviews, or the Restart Scheme Team can step in and organise it.
All in all, there is a robust process which means Participants who are screened and selected for an employer are committed, prepared and ready to start employment if successful at interview.
Claire Lane, Employer Engagement Manager for the Restart Scheme said: “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, employers have had to review their existing ways of working and this has allowed businesses to explore alternative business and recruitment models. I am delighted to see employers embracing homeworking opportunities.
“Since January this year, we have been able to support over 120 people into homeworking roles, which is a fantastic achievement for both our Restart Scheme Participants and the employers we have worked with. We are operating in an incredibly tight labour market in Wales so by delivering pre-employment workshops designed to prepare and support Participants into these roles, we have been able to source individuals from all over Wales. This has opened up a large talent pool for employers, matching the right candidates for their roles, all of whom have an abundance of transferable skills for these roles. This has truly helped individuals to change their lives by finding long-term, sustainable employment.”
Want to know more about how the Restart Scheme can help your business? Get in touch to gain access to a vast pool of candidates who can add value from day one. Find out how this fully funded service brings the right people to your door and makes sure your business has access to the right candidates with the skillsets to flourish.
