Hi everyone<\/p>\n
I\u2019m Laura and work as a HR Advisor at the University of Gloucestershire.\u00a0 I have been invited to write a guest blog this week. I wanted to share the interesting partnership the University has recently embarked on.<\/p>\n
In our current Strategic Plan<\/a> we set out our vision for transformation, particularly for our students. A key part of this transformation extends to the wellbeing and prosperity of our community. One important way to achieve this is building relationships, and one of our four strategic goals is to:<\/p>\n \u201cBuild partnerships which create opportunity, innovation and mutual benefit for the communities we serve<\/em>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n As part of realising this goal we have developed an exciting partnership with National Star College<\/a> to offer unpaid, supported internships across the University, via \u00a0\u201cSteps into Work\u201d<\/a>. This programme helps learners with a disability into paid full-time or part-time employment.<\/p>\n Placements such as these often do far more than benefit the learner. \u2018Steps into Work\u2019 can also provide a fantastic development opportunity for our own staff; staff who may not typically have the chance to assist with operationally managing someone or acting as a buddy\/mentor.<\/p>\n We are currently piloting this programme with two young people: One in our Estates department and another in The Growth Hub.\u00a0 The feedback from the departments, National Star College and the young people themselves, has been hugely positive. You don\u2019t just have to take my word for it though! Over the coming weeks you will be able to read posts from all those taking part. Moreover, colleagues from The Growth Hub will be sharing their experiences at our conference, A Call to Action<\/a>, on 14th<\/sup> June at our Oxstalls campus.<\/p>\n A measure of the pilot\u2019s success is that, from September 2018, we are planning to have four young people on supported internships across the University.\u00a0The HR team is very excited to be hosting an internship, and I am currently in discussions with other departments who have expressed an interest.<\/p>\n