Helping York businesses be Ambitious about Employment

Members of York’s business community are being encouraged to take part in a new movement to increase opportunities for York residents to get into the world of work.

In partnership with City of York Council, 4front Partners will deliver the Ambitious About Employment project, which will help businesses tap into the pool of hidden talent represented by those from diverse communities who may struggle, under existing recruitment practices, to access work.

This group includes those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), neurodivergent individuals, young people and more. 

Adopting inclusive recruitment practices means designing a system that is accessible, inclusive and supportive for everyone.

Attracting a more diverse workforce can support business innovation, enhance an organisation’s reputation, improve employee retention and much more.

Businesses who are interested in accessing this support can sign up to one of three online masterclasses, where internationally-renowned Human Resource Management expert Professor Jo Ingold will guide attendees through the fundamentals of inclusive recruitment and cover the practical approaches businesses can adopt to make their recruitment practices more accessible.

To register for one of the events, please visit the links below:

28 January: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/4frontpartners/1507489

30 January: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/4frontpartners/1507603

6 February: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/4frontpartners/1507604

Businesses will receive expert advice and training on making their recruitment practices as inclusive as possible, as well as support to find and onboard new talent into their organisations.

Cllr Pete Kilbane, the council’s Executive Member for Economy and Culture, said:

“Embedding diversity and inclusion into HR practices is not just desirable, but essential for businesses to succeed in a competitive marketplace.

“We see again and again the positive impacts that diversity has on all aspects of our community, including in the workplace.

“We know that so many businesses in our city are already committed to providing opportunities for a wide range of people to take part in rewarding employment, and we hope that this project will support them and encourage more businesses to make their recruitment practices accessible for all.”

Tony Carr, Director of 4front Partners, said:

“The York labour market benefits from relatively low unemployment, yet businesses in York still experience a range of different challenges when recruiting and retaining talent. The tools and case studies we will provide in the sessions aim to assist businesses to broaden their talent attraction strategies and increase the productivity of their entire workforce.

“This programme complements the activity and approach of City of York Council and the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub perfectly. In my view, this truly is the future of how business support services can be developed alongside employability and skills programmes seeking to create opportunities for those who may be overlooked in the job market.”

This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.