If you would like to know more about Skills for Work Month, including information about the types of workshops that you could run, read through our frequently asked questions below.
- What is Skills for Work Month?
- What activities happen across Skills for Work Month?
- What is a workshop, what formats can they take and what topics do they cover?
- Signing up for Skills for Work Month
- What is in it for me?
- Who else is signed up to Skills for Work Month?
- Can you share any best practice tips, tools and templates?
- Are there any promotional resources I can use to raise awareness?
- What happened last year?
- What's the role of IGD and that of Jobcentre Plus
- Is FBF on social media?
- What is a Jobathon?
- Where are Jobathons located?
1. What is Skills for Work Month?
Skills for Work Month is the most established stream of the Feeding Britain's Future programme, now in its fifth year of providing support for young unemployed people looking to enter the world of work.
We collaborate with Jobcentre Plus to help food and grocery industry companies offer workshops focused on different stages of the job-hunting journey. Participants gain an understanding of the opportunities in our industry and leave equipped with practical skills: last year 98% said the campaign helped them prepare for the job market!
In 2015 nearly 200 companies supported over 11,000 individuals across the month and this year we want your help to make it bigger and even better.
Feeding Britain's Future also has a Schools Programme, which takes food and grocery industry volunteers into schools to talk about the world of work. Read more about that here.
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2. What activities happen across Skills for Work Month?
Since the start of Feeding Britain's Future industry companies have hosted workshops, and this activity is what takes place across Skills for Work Month - which this year runs between 12th September and 14th October.
Companies from across the food and grocery industry run employability skills workshops at their premises. These provide young unemployed people with an insight into the food and grocery industry and equip them with practical skills to aid their job search. More about workshops here.
This year we are building on Feeding Britain's Future's amazing successes by launching a new stream of activities called Jobathons. These are one day events bringing together several food and grocery companies in one place, to offer employability skills training to unemployed people. Read more about them here.
The Schools Programme brings professionals from across the food and grocery industry together to help inspire and educate school students, so they understand how to translate their education into skills for work while learning about the wide range of food and grocery careers.
Last year we trained over 5,000 year 9 and 12 students across the UK. Direct engagement between students and volunteers from food and grocery companies is at the heart of this programme and we have plenty of opportunities for you to take part to share your knowledge, experience and career stories. Find out more here.
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3. What is a workshop, what formats can they take and what topics do they cover?
Company-based workshops are held for unemployed 18-24 year olds and differ to suit a company's environment, resource availability and priorities.
They can run for just 1-2 hours, be a half or full days of activity, or there could be a week-long schedule or multiple shorter sessions throughout the month, perhaps across different teams. No contribution is too big or too small and we welcome companies of all sizes to take part.
Here are a few examples of workshop topics employers may offer during Skills for Work Month:
- The online job application process - including top tips for standing out/best practice
- Interview techniques, which can cover more in-depth topics like telephone interviews, for example
- Light touch work experience (e.g. job shadowing)
- Site tours and meeting the team to understand roles and key skills
View highlights from Skills for Work Month 2015 here.
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4. Signing up for Skills for Work Month
Taking part in Skills for Work Month is absolutely free, all we ask from you is time and companies of any size can participate!
Once you have registered your interest by filling in this simple form, we will be in touch to talk through what workshop training you can provide and what topics you may want to cover.
Depending on the facilities and resources you have available, workshops can range from a two-hour session on a specific topic, to a longer, more in-depth programme that includes job shadowing, and 'light touch' work experience.
As well as running a workshop on your premises there are opportunities to get involved in other parts of Feeding Britain's Future - Schools Programme, and Jobathons and you can host as many Skills for Work Month workshops as you like!
5. What's in it for me?
Taking part in Skills for Work Month is hugely beneficial for you as well as the people who attend your workshops. It helps you:
- Raise awareness of the variety of FMCG careers available
- Ensure the next generation of talent is prepared for the world of work
- Engage your community
- Identify local talent
- Support seasonal recruitment
If you can spare just a few hours between 12th September and 14th October we encourage you to do so! Register your interest in taking part here.
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6. Who else is signed up to Skills for Work Month?
The 2016 list of companies who have registered will be available shortly! Make sure you're on it - register to take part today.
You can see the companies who engaged in the 2015 campaign in our summary report.
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7. Can you share any best practice tips, tools and templates?
Please email [email protected] and a member of the team will contact you and be able to provide some tips for running successful Skills for Work Month activities. You can also access the employer's guide here.
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8. Are there any promotional resources I can use to raise awareness?
New best practice guides will be available shortly. In the meantime, please email [email protected] and a member of the team will contact you.
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9. What happened last year?
Last year the programme supported over 11,000 people and their feedback was excellent, with 98% of participants saying the skills workshops helped them prepare for the job market. The programme was supported by local Jobcentre offices across the UK and nearly 200 companies from across the food and grocery industry opened their doors to support our programme.
View our summary report to learn more about what we achieved last year, here.
10. What’s the role of IGD and that of Jobcentre Plus?
IGD is the conduit through which the food and grocery industry can help unemployed people through Feeding Britain's Future. We recruit companies to take part and ensure that they are paired with the right Jobcentres to make the workshops a success. We project manage, plan and track all activities to ensure the Skills for Work Month is delivered successfully, and to guarantee that all participants have a great experience.
Department for Work and Pensions Jobcentre Plus fully support IGD’s campaign by identifying locations of high youth unemployment, hosting Jobathons events and recruiting claimants for both workshops and Jobathons, ensuring maximum impact for young people and the wider unemployed across the UK.
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11. Is FBF on social media?
Yes and we’d love you to get involved! Follow us on Twitter @fbf_uk, and please Tweet about your FBF activities using #fbf16. The Tweets, photos and case studies that we receive will help us show how much our industry supports the employment agenda and it's your chance to showcase what you have achieved.
When you register to take part in the campaign we will also send you a full media toolkit, which includes details on how to publicise campaign activities externally, press release templates and further guidelines on social media use.
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12. What is a Jobathon?
Designed to complement the Skills for Work Month offer, this year we are building on Feeding Britain's Future's amazing successes by launching a new stream of activities called Jobathons.
Jobathons are one day events bringing together several food and grocery companies in one place to offer employability skills training to unemployed people. They are supported and hosted by selected Jobcentres in areas of high youth unemployment across the country.
At each Jobathon there will be 45 minute workshops providing employability skills training, delivered by food and grocery industry companies and repeated two-to-four times throughout the day. We expect each Jobathon to be supported by at least 5 employers (with up to 30 at some locations) and employers will also host a stand.
Designated employer stands provide a great opportunity for companies to give an insight into recruitment processes, skills required for various role types, career options and what they look for in candidates; employers also have the opportunity to advertise any seasonal job vacancies, however, this is not a mandatory requirement or guaranteed feature of Jobathons.
Jobathons will take place during Skills for Work Month (12th September – 14th October 2016) but are a separate stream of activity from the company workshops that many will provide. At this stage, we are working with selected companies on the Jobathons programme, but if you would like to know more or are interested in attending a local event, email us at [email protected].
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13. Where are the Jobathon located?
Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Still can't find what you're looking for? Contact the FBF team on [email protected].
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