“Recruit Well, Retain and Empower” highlights the benefits of widening the borough’s labour pool to recruit a more diverse workforce, and the support available to do so.
Host Ian Farrar leads this panel discussion with Michael Hall, Chief Executive of eQuality Solutions (eQS); Pam Seers is the Managing Director of PRS Inclusion Service and in a change to the advertised programme Zoe Malam from Cell Pack Solutions.
Michael Hall is the 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 discusses 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 highlight the many benefits of employing a person with a disability and outlines the support available to do so effectively. Pam discusses 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.
Zoe Malam is a Sales Account Manager at Cell Pack Solutions, and is soon to be the Health Advocate of the year for South Tyneside Council. 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! Zoe talks about some of these initiatives and why they are so important to this local business.
South Tyneside Council wants to work with employers to help them to understand how they can widen their recruitment and selection pools, encourage more local candidates, particularly those with diverse or additional needs. There is a wide range of information and advice to support businesses in doing so which can be found: https://investsouthtyneside.com/south-tyneside-pledge/recruit-retain-empower/
