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March 14 @ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
This event will be live-streamed on this webpage from 10am – 11am on Thursday 14 March.
More about the event:
“Recruit Well, Retain and Empower” will highlight the benefits of widening the borough’s labour pool to recruit a more diverse workforce, and the support available to do so.
The event will include a live-streamed Business Talk with a panel of local business speakers, and will also showcase much of the support available for businesses and organisations in South Tyneside who are looking to recruit and retain employees who have mental health conditions, experience health challenges, are neurodivergent or are older members of the workforce.
Host Ian Farrar will lead the online panel discussion which will include Michael Hall, Chief Executive of eQuality Solutions (eQS) in Hebburn. This business supplies a range of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) solutions for local, national and global organisations. Michael will discuss why engaging with the diversity, equity and inclusion agenda is not only right, but also smart; bringing in fresh perspectives, new ideas and can open new markets.
Pam Seers is the Managing Director of PRS Inclusion Service, a local organisation offering high quality training, education and outreach services to disabled people across the borough. Pam will highlight the many benefits of employing a person with a disability and outline the support available to do so effectively. Pam will discuss some of the perceived barriers to doing do and outline the support her team can provide to employers with recruitment, placements, training, contracts as well as guiding employers on how to support employees at both interview stage and then in the workplace.
Eddie Czestochowski, MD of Cell Pack Solutions, will complete the line-up to discuss some of the activities undertaken within his business to help recruit and retain staff. Set up almost 25 years ago, Cell Pack Solutions designs and delivers custom battery packs, and was named as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in the North East in 2022. With a clear ethos of “growth through innovation, great service and investment in our people”. Cell Pack Solutions are one of many South Tyneside organisations signed up to the Better Health at Work Award, a way to promote healthy lifestyles and consider the health of employees. They are currently working towards their Silver Award!
Following the panel discussion, attendees will have access to a networking lunch and a small exhibition providing an array of information. There will be information about the Better Health at Work Award, the Disability Confident Scheme and South Tyneside Council’s support for carers. The Escape Pain Project will be on hand to offer advice on ways to support employees with musculoskeletal problems to remain in the workplace; and employers can learn about funding to help with reasonable adjustments to recruit or retain individuals with ‘access to work’. There will also be information and advice about neurodiversity in the workplace, with tips on how to improve recruitment practices in this area to ensure top talent is recognised.
Places are limited. Booking through EventBrite is essential: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/recruit-retain-empower-tickets-813724400587?aff=oddtdtcreator
