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27/03/2002
Marks & Spencer’s helping hand for the homeless
In partnership with business in the community, Marks & Spencer is set to reinforce its commitment to the community with the nationwide launch of an initiative to help the homeless find jobs.
Stores in Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Nottingham have been nominated to take part in the first phase of the Ready For Work programme this year, providing homeless people with work experience.
A second phase of the scheme in a further six areas is scheduled to take place during 2003. These are Belfast, Brighton, Dublin, Cardiff, Newcastle and Cambridge.
The scheme will see Marks & Spencer will assist approximately 600 homeless people over the next two years.
The initiative follows a successful pilot scheme during which eight homeless people were provided with work experience at one of Marks & Spencer’s London stores and its Baker Street head office.
During their work placements, in addition to day to day work, the trainees were given advice on how to write a CV, coaching on job interview techniques and a reference to take to prospective employers. As well as having lunch and travel paid for during their fortnight’s placement, they were also provided with a suit to wear for work and interviews.
Ed Williams, from Marks & Spencer’s Corporate and Social Responsibility Unit, said: “We want to break the vicious circle of no job, no home and no home, no job that many of these people face. We want to encourage other employers to follow our lead to provide the same sort of help to those who need it.”
The scheme forms part of a campaign by the group Business In The Community. BITC, whose President is the Prince of Wales, was formed in 1982 by a number of blue-chip companies, including Marks & Spencer, seeking to promote social responsibilities among major corporations.
Meanwhile, Ready for Jobs, a project which will help homeless people gain access to jobs through an on-line job bank, www.readyforjobs.com has been launched.
The only on-line job bank for homeless people, the scheme has initially been piloted in London and is being run by Reed-on-line, BAOH and Centrepoint Streets Ahead.
The aim is to increase the number of companies participating in Ready for Work campaign to 100 with each offering at least one vacancy.
(SP)
Stores in Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Nottingham have been nominated to take part in the first phase of the Ready For Work programme this year, providing homeless people with work experience.
A second phase of the scheme in a further six areas is scheduled to take place during 2003. These are Belfast, Brighton, Dublin, Cardiff, Newcastle and Cambridge.
The scheme will see Marks & Spencer will assist approximately 600 homeless people over the next two years.
The initiative follows a successful pilot scheme during which eight homeless people were provided with work experience at one of Marks & Spencer’s London stores and its Baker Street head office.
During their work placements, in addition to day to day work, the trainees were given advice on how to write a CV, coaching on job interview techniques and a reference to take to prospective employers. As well as having lunch and travel paid for during their fortnight’s placement, they were also provided with a suit to wear for work and interviews.
Ed Williams, from Marks & Spencer’s Corporate and Social Responsibility Unit, said: “We want to break the vicious circle of no job, no home and no home, no job that many of these people face. We want to encourage other employers to follow our lead to provide the same sort of help to those who need it.”
The scheme forms part of a campaign by the group Business In The Community. BITC, whose President is the Prince of Wales, was formed in 1982 by a number of blue-chip companies, including Marks & Spencer, seeking to promote social responsibilities among major corporations.
Meanwhile, Ready for Jobs, a project which will help homeless people gain access to jobs through an on-line job bank, www.readyforjobs.com has been launched.
The only on-line job bank for homeless people, the scheme has initially been piloted in London and is being run by Reed-on-line, BAOH and Centrepoint Streets Ahead.
The aim is to increase the number of companies participating in Ready for Work campaign to 100 with each offering at least one vacancy.
(SP)
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