HBOS – Return to Work programme

The HBOS Return to Work Programme promotes job opportunities within HBOS for individuals from local communities which have high levels of unemployment.

This scheme equips potential candidates with new skills, helping them to get through a robust recruitment process and gain a permanent post.

The company formed partnerships with local community groups to design a pre-induction training programme that suits the pace of learning requirement for potential candidates.

This programme has led to candidates joining HBOS on three month short-term contracts, giving them the chance to work in a team-focused environment and gather useful examples for an interview for a permanent contract at the end of their time.

The Return to Work initiative is also helping the unemployed overcome the barriers and fears of reentering the workplace and providing new found confidence to apply for permanent positions. Overall, HBOS is helping to lower levels of unemployment in their local areas.

Impact

  • This programme has introduced 50 new colleagues to the workforce at the HBOS Belfast contact centre since January 2005
  • The business is attracting committed colleagues– people who are proud to work for the Bank
  • These candidates are eager to provide customers with excellent customer service and really enjoy the benefits of working for a bank
  • They are expected to remain with HBOS for longer than the normal 24 month life span of a regular telephony consultant, and add value to the business in the process
  • HBOS is the only bank which offers potential employees the chance to try the work before they apply for a job. Through this programme HBOS is reaching out to people who would not otherwise apply to them for work and offering them a chance to kick-start a career

Documents

HBOS