Our Jigsaw Employment Team held the first event to mark the start of the Greater Manchester Housing Providers (GMHP) 20% Movement project last week.
The initiative aims to increase opportunities for people who live in housing association properties across the region to access employment. Its ambition is to increase the number of tenants and their families who work for social housing providers to 20% by 2036, while also helping housing associations to improve the services they deliver.
The event, held at the Jobcentre Plus in Ashton-under-Lyne, came during National Careers Week (2-7) March and provided residents with information about the various job roles and support services available in housing.
Paul Ellison, our Assistant Manager – Caretaking, Fatema Uddin, our Connect Team Manager, Darrel Rogers, our Grounds Maintenance Manager, and Louise Porter, our Employee Engagement Co-ordinator each provided an overview of their departments, the roles available, the qualities they look for in candidates and what working in their team involves.
More than 30 people attended across the three information sessions, 26 of whom were Jigsaw residents. One has since been offered an interview for a Seasonal Gardener role.
Our Neighbourhood Engagement Officer John McGlynn said: “Everyone who attended agreed to be included in our new talent pool which is a great start for us. We offered to review their CV’s and provide additional support going forward to give them the better chance of getting back into work. Everyone was genuinely interested in learning about the 20% Movement.”
Future events are scheduled to be held by other Greater Manchester housing providers, in the coming months.
