OPEN DOORS
An industry-led initiative was launched recently with the aim of increasing employment rates among marginalised groups in society
An industry-led initiative to support marginalised groups
It is inspiring that in a very short time so many companies have come behind the pledge and committed to bringing about this change
Fourteen private sector companies have come together as founders of the Open Doors initiative, which will assist three marginalised groups in society to gain access to workplaces through training, work experience and related supports.
It is focusing on refugee, asylum seekers and non-native English speakers; people aged under 25 with educational barriers; and people with a disability.
Each of the 14 founding companies has signed a pledge, which commits them to running at least one specific programme of support in each of their organisations. A goal of supporting 50% of people who complete the programmes into paid employment, apprenticeships or further study has been set.
The founding companies come from a range of sectors, including food and drink (Coca Cola, Diageo Ireland and Dawn Meats), services (Aramark and Sodexo), recruitment (CPL) and retail (Aldi).
“It is inspiring that in a very short time so many companies have come behind the pledge and committed to bringing about this change,” says Oliver Loomes, country director of Diageo Ireland. “In Ireland, our Learning for Life programme has supported over 300 people here in the past four years and is set to grow. We will be investing €1m in funding on training and placement programmes over three years.”
Learning for Life is the first programme of its kind run by a corporate organisation in Ireland. Based at the reception and integration centre in Mosney in Co Meath, it involves 22 residents taking part in a pilot programme. It provides eight-weeks’ training, followed by a four-week work placement in a pub, hotel or restaurant.
STAYING AHEAD
“Our doors are open” is one of founding company Enterprise Rent-a-Car Ireland’s stated values. An active partner with the Association of Higher Education, Access and Employment (AHEAD), it is currently recruiting two graduates with disabilities from its WAM programme. The company hires people every year from the AHEAD database of graduates and has two graduates currently working full time in the business.
Enterprise Rent-a-Car is also a long-standing partner on Business in the Community’s Employment for People from Immigrant Communities (EPIC) programme. It provides training on effective interviewing to over 100 EPIC clients every year and has also hired candidates from this programme.
“Our commitment to being an inclusive company extends to every employee, customer and business partner,” says George O’Connor, managing director, Enterprise Rent-A-Car. “It’s also very important to us that we mirror the communities in which we operate. Through this partnership with Open Doors, we reaffirm our commitment to providing opportunities to individuals from all backgrounds, irrespective of disability, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or social status.”
Accenture is another partner of the EPIC programme. Its volunteers have helped over 550 participants to build skills to get a job. Over 50% of those have moved into employment, mainly directly with Accenture. Its ‘Specialisterene’ programme provides internships to people with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum.
“Within this rapidly changing digital world, the skills and talent agenda is crucial to our growth,” says Alastair Blair, country managing director, Accenture in Ireland. “Over the coming year the cross-sector coalition of Government, industry, notfor-profits and academia will look at ways of unlocking pathways to employment to create new opportunities. This is a core element of our Skills to Succeed programme at Accenture, where we leverage our people and digital innovation to help close skills and employment gaps.”
Dawn Meats employs people from over 40 different countries, ranging in age from 18 to 70, with a wide range of educational and training backgrounds. It engages with programmes such as Turas Nua and Jobsplus directly or through Intreo and Jobs Ireland, all of which are targeting people who are unemployed for 12 months, and in some cases, 24 months.
Over the past three years, Dawn Meats has engaged with over 600 people through these programmes, reviewing their CVs and undertaking interviews. It has offered fulltime employment to over 100 people.
FAIR AND TRANSPARENT
“As a family company, we recognise the role work plays in enhancing family life and the communities where we operate,” says Niall Browne, CEO, Dawn Meats. “We are committed to fair and transparent recruitment practices and support the people we hire with training to enhance their career prospects.”
One of the speakers at the Open House launch event was Mei Lin Yap, who took part in a training and employment placement programme at CPL. She was invited as one of the first graduates of the Trinity School for People with Intellectual Disabilities to have a permanent position in human resources at the firm.
“As a person with an intellectual disability I am aware that when we dream big and others dream big for us, then we can achieve our potential,” said Yap. “Having a job makes me feel accepted and included and a fully-fledged adult who can contribute to society.”
“Open Doors’ vision to open up opportunities to those who may currently be marginalised from employment is an important one, especially in a time of full employment,” says Anne Heraty, CEO, CPL Resources.