The new service they are offering in partnership with REED counters this frustration by setting up an on-site employment ‘shop’ at a college, targeting the 75% of vacancies which are never advertised and matching them to students at that college through tailored intervention. The result is the provision of a focused recruitment centre at the heart of the local business sector.
The initiative reacts to research supported by Harvard University and carried out with over 2000 employers. According to this research, 97% of employers would choose mind-set over skill-set as the key element in those they seek to employ and retain. This means that those who display the right mindset are 3 times more likely to find work.
The REED NCFE Job Search and Interview Skills qualifications are an active response to this research. The qualifications equip learners to identify vacancies, promote themselves, prepare for a job interview and maximise their chances of success at interview.
David Grailey, NCFE Chief Executive said: “Whilst Ofsted’s report highlights many of the issues faced by colleges and their learners, I firmly believe that a partnership such as the REED NCFE initiative is the right response to the challenges they face. We are continuing to roll out this distinctive service and a number of colleges will ‘go live’ in the new academic year.”
Lawrence Vincent, Principal of Bournemouth and Poole College said that since the initiative was launched at his institution in January, the service has had an average of 160 live vacancies each month, placing a large number of students in employment at the end of their college courses. Vincent added: “The Wolf Report sent a very clear message that employment outcomes were set to become a major challenge for colleges; the latest report from Ofsted only strengthens that position. Here at Bournemouth and Poole College we have embraced this challenge. We are very pleased to be able to offer our students a successful jobs brokerage service that is creating real opportunities.”
For more information on the REED NCFE initiative, please visit www.reed-ncfe.org.uk
