Tag: Jobs First programme

Council proud to recognise the Jobs First Programme

The Council is proud to recognise the work of Social Bite’s Jobs First programme through our parking contractor NSL (part of Marston Holdings).

We’re also sharing the inspiring story of Patrick who has benefitted from this programme and is now employed as a Parking Attendant here in Edinburgh.

Jobs First was established by Social Bite in October 2021 as a pathway for homelessness experienced individuals to employment – and in that time they have helped over 90 people. 

The programme guarantees living wage employment for each person and provides wrap-around support for both the employer and employee.

Each Jobs First employee is allocated a support worker from Social Bite who assists them throughout the programme and their employment contract, meeting weekly initially to offer practical support on bills and forms, as well as emotional guidance and confidence building to adapt to working life.

Social Bite also provides training to each employer to help them appropriately guide the employee while the support worker will help facilitate appraisal processes and employee progress.

Today we’re sharing Patrick’s story to highlight how the programme has had a positive impact on his life and in turn added value to the services we provide to the people of Edinburgh.

A video on this is available on the Council’s Instagram account.

In October, the prestigious ‘Parking in the Community Award’ was also awarded to the Council, NSL and Social Bite at the British Parking Awards, recognising this important work.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “Homelessness is one of the key challenges that we face in our city and I’m incredibly proud of the work that is ongoing between our services and Social Bite on the Jobs First programme.

“Behind every case of homelessness is an individual story and Patrick’s shows what can be achieved when the right support is in place. Gainful employment is about so much more than simply earning a wage. It’s a route to rebuild a life with confidence, social relationships and other transferrable skills.

“I’m hopeful that this relationship with Social Bite will continue for many years to come and that we can help more individuals like Patrick to overcome these difficulties and lessen the impact of homelessness in Edinburgh as much as we can.”

Emma Colgan-Blair, Social Bite’s Jobs First Programme Coordinator, said: “Over the past three years, Social Bite’s partnership with NSL and the City of Edinburgh Council through the Jobs First programme has helped people affected by homelessness build brighter futures.

“With a shared ethos of creating pathways to employment, together we’ve been able to support many individuals like Patrick to achieve financial stability, career growth, and personal transformation. This collaboration shows the life-changing impact of offering people from all walks of life the right support and opportunities.”

Keith Hanshaw, Group Managing Director of NSL, said: “Marston Holdings have been supporting Social Bite since 2022. We work closely with them in Edinburgh and across the UK to support those who have experienced homelessness through meaningful permanent employment opportunities.

“Social Bite were also voted internally to be one of our two Christmas reward sponsors. We have employed numerous people like Patrick and look to continue to do so for many years to come. We are really proud of the impact this makes on our local communities.”

Social Bite launches Jobs First initiative with UK’s largest employers

New UK-wide programme launched to help people experiencing homelessness into employment

Social Bite has launched a pioneering initiative to help revolutionise the access people who have experienced homelessness have to job opportunities across the UK.

Through its new Jobs First programme, Social Bite will work directly with some of the UK’s biggest employers to help breakdown the barriers people who have been homeless face on their route to employment

To date, businesses including BaxterStorey, Mitchells & Butlers, Andron FM, have signed up with a plan to help create a target of 60 employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. The program is being part funded through a grant from the Oak Foundation.

The initiative, which guarantees living wage employment for each person, will provide wrap around support for both the employer and employee.

Each Jobs First employee will be allocated a support worker from Social Bite who will assist them throughout the programme and their employment contract, meeting weekly to offer practical support on bills and forms, as well as emotional guidance and confidence building to adapt to working life.

Social Bite will provide training to each employer to help them appropriately guide the employee while the support worker will help facilitate appraisal processes and employee progress.

As measures put in place in response to COVID-19 are wound down, it is feared that more people will experience homelessness with latest statistics released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) showing that many of these measures helped to reduce and prevent homelessness.

Data in London shows that between April and June this year, the number of people sleeping on the streets increased by 25 per cent, making Social Bite’s Jobs First initiative even more timely. Firms across the UK are also sounding the alarm over staff shortages, with Britain’s worst labour shortage in decades putting economic recovery from lockdown at risk.

George Watson kickstarted the programme today, taking on his role with hospitality provider BaxterStorey who supply Royal Bank’s Gogarburn headquarters in Edinburgh where Social Bite recently opened a café.

Josh Littlejohn MBE, CEO and Co-Founder of Social Bite, said: “Social Bite started life nine years ago by offering jobs in a small café to people who had experienced homelessness and over that time we have seen the power of employment to change lives.

“Too often, the response to people experiencing homelessness is to ‘get a job’ – however, it’s not that easy. Proactive employers stepping out of their comfort zone to provide chances for those who would otherwise be excluded and a wraparound support alongside the job are the solutions.

“That’s why the Jobs First programme is so important. We will match people who are excluded from the jobs market with some of the UK’s largest employers.

“The wrap around support we will provide will help both employers and employees enjoy a fruitful working partnership. At a time when the UK is facing a serious labour shortage, we are incredibly proud to be partnering with major employers to deliver a program of scale throughout the UK that can act as a blueprint for how we can provide employment opportunities for homeless and marginalised people.”

Over the past four years, Social Bite has supported 34 people into employment from a background of homelessness and in total, one quarter of its workforce has experienced homelessness.

Of the 34, many have moved into employment roles with other companies, some into higher education and in many cases, they have developed careers within Social Bite. These learnings have formed the basis for rolling out Jobs First across the UK.

Operations Manager, Caroline Bacigalupo at BaxterStorey, said: “Jobs First is a fantastic programme and we’re proud to be working with Social Bite to offer training and employment opportunities to people who were previously homeless.

“We’re all thrilled to welcome George on board and can’t wait to support other Jobs First employees reach their full potential as the programme develops.”

George Watson said: “Social Bite has been like my family for the past seven years. I am really excited to start my job role with BaxterStorey. I am grateful for the Jobs First programme and hope it will help many others into employment.”