Supporting People
Supporting People
Programmes to help individuals thrive
Our purpose:
We introduce purposeful and impactful engagement opportunities for business to take practical action on key social issues through our programmes which help individuals and the wider communities thrive.
Business in the Community (BITC) is committed to connecting individuals with the expertise of our member organisations, utilising their knowledge and skills to deliver the maximum social impact for people all across the UK.
Our programmes support individuals facing employment barriers. This can include those moving on from homelessness, disadvantaged young people, people over 50, refugees or single carers and those responsible for a family.
Our national and regional programmes provide:
Tailored
One-To-One Support
Support for individuals to identify strengths, set goals, develop
CVs and practice
interview techniques
Pre-Employment Training
Training for individuals to better understand the workplace and employer expectations
Work-Ready
Candidates
Preparation for candidates securing work placements and paid employment
Engagement Opportunities
Training of business volunteers to enable appropriate support to individuals with barriers to employment
Quick links to our programmes
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Youth Mental Health First Aid Champion training supported by AXA
This training supported by AXA aims to support youth leaders working with small community-based voluntary sector organisations, with approximately 50 employees or under, to understand common mental health issues better.
Let’s Care Together
The Let’s Care Together programme, a collaboration between Simplyhealth, a leading healthcare provider and Business in the Community encourages businesses to support the wellbeing of unpaid carers through employee volunteering.
How does it work?
This programme aims to support carers by streamlining access to resources and providing practical guidance and signposting across the four key pillars of wellbeing: Physical, Mental, Social and Financial. The programme offers unpaid carers (aged 18+) who may be lonely or isolated, a regular touch point and friendly face to take a step back from their caring duties and focus on their own wellbeing and goals. We believe by helping unpaid carers, we are ultimately supporting household wellbeing as well.
Programme aims:
- To Improve social, physical, financial and mental wellbeing of unpaid carers
- Reduce loneliness and isolation, help them step away from the day-to-day and feel they have someone to listen and help
- Improve carer self-esteem and confidence by raising awareness and knowledge of wellbeing tools, resources and support available to them
- Improve household wellbeing through helping them feel empowered and equipped to take care of their own wellbeing beyond the programme
Interested in being part of a UK-wide mobilisation of businesses supporting unpaid carers/ those who care for others?
- If you are a community based organisation / NHS trust/housing association or public sector service supporting unpaid carers and would like to refer your clients to us for support. Please email care@bitc.org.uk to find out more about becoming a referral or delivery partner.
- If you consider yourself to be an unpaid carer and would like support register with us as a self-referral.
- If you are a business employee interested in providing voluntary befriending services Find out about our ambitious programme and how to play an important role in it, by becoming a member of Business in the Community (BITC).
- If you are already a BITC member business, then please contact care@bitc.orgh.uk to express interest and learn more.
Age at Work
How does the Age at Work programme work?
Age at Work is a collaborative project between Age (Cymru, Northern Ireland and Scotland) and Business in the Community (Cymru, Northern Ireland and Scotland), which has been funded for five years by the National Lottery Community Fund
(2019-2024).
The programme supports individuals aged 50+ to remain in or return to work helping ensure they have enough income, stay connected and enjoy a more positive working life.
Programme aims:
- Raise awareness of the impact of an ageing workforce and the need for an age-inclusive agenda in government, business, and wider society
- Encourage and support businesses to be more age-inclusive in retaining, retraining, and recruiting older individuals
- Support individuals to remain or return to work.
Find out more about Age at Work Scotland
The programme provides employability advice and support for people over the age of 50, offering employability workshops and a weekly Coffee and Job Club.
Individuals participating in Still Ready for Work can also gain access to a laptop from Connecting Scotland, advance their digital skills through our Clicksilver programme or receive one-to-one coaching through BITC’s job coaching initiative.
Impact
- We have delivered 154 workshops over three years. These include Assess Your Skillset, CV Building, Job Searching in the Digital Age, Confidence and Resilience, Interview Skills and our weekly Coffee and Job Club.
- 153 individuals over the age of 50 have attended one or more of our workshops
- 67 of these individuals have either attended our full programme, received a laptop from Connecting Scotland, advanced their digital skills through our Clicksilver programme or have started volunteering or coaching through BITC’s job coaching initiative.
- Of the people who have attended our workshops, approx. 45% are now employed.
- 78% of participants feel more confident in making decisions
- 68% have an increased sense of control.
Find out more about Age at Work Wales
- Engaged over 40 employers to take action on age inclusion in their workplace.
- Delivered Mid-Career Review webinars to nearly 400 over the 50s to consider their future and take action.
- Enhanced the confidence of those over 50s to focus and make plans for their future 56% of employers who have used the toolkits provided have changed their HR policies and practices as a result
- 80% of Mid-Career Review survey respondents felt more aware of issues relevant to ageing, especially retirement options and financial information
Contact us
Contact Jill Salter for more information about Age at Work Wales
Barclays LifeSkills
About Barclays LifeSkills
Barclays LifeSkills has helped millions of people to build the confidence, knowledge and core transferable skills employers are looking for, as well as improve money skills. Whether that is a young person preparing for their first job, someone wanting to progress in their career, make changes to their working life or even start their own business, LifeSkills is helping them to develop the skills and connections that provide a way in, or back into the workforce.
BITC and Barclays LifeSkills
Business in the Community (BITC) is a delivery partner of Barclays LifeSkills, ensuring that the programme reaches the young people who need the most support. By providing bespoke, pre-employment training, we work together to help these groups to develop skills, make connections and access opportunities that can help them define their own career path.
By working closely with teachers, students, and Barclays volunteers, we are able to deliver face-to-face and virtual workshops that equip young people with core transferable skills such as – CV writing, interview skills, networking, problem-solving, creativity, resilience, communication and online reputation management.
Impact
- 86% felt more positive about the future.
- 89% were more motivated to succeed, including doing well in their academic and vocational studies.
- 82% have more understanding of the skills needed for the workplace.
“It helped me realise what it is I really want to do in life and it made me realise I should pick something that will make me happy” – School Pupil
How you can work with us
Email Barclays LifeSkillsto find more about the support available through LifeSkills
Job Coaching
How does the Job Coaching programme work?
Businesses provide support for unemployed jobseekers across England, Wales and Scotland through a series of one-to-one coaching sessions.
Individuals benefit from working with trained volunteer coaches from BITC member organisations, trained to support those looking for work as part of their business’s commitment to responsible business practices.
Participants choose their coach from a selection of three. Individuals and coaches meet virtually for six, 60-90 minute sessions over the course of four to six months.
Programme aims
- To provide job seekers with essential skills and digital knowledge and insights on job searching.
- To boost confidence and wellbeing and improve the resilience of job seekers during their job search and beyond.
- To ensure a faster progression into paid work, voluntary opportunities and/or moving into education.
How you can work with us
We want to develop partnerships with organisations that work with job seekers and would like to offer BITC Job Coaching as an additional means of support to complement the standard employment advice and guidance given.
How we will support you as a job coaching partner:
- We will brief and support staff on referral processes, eligibility criteria and programme expectations.
- We will work with you to connect clients with trained volunteer corporate coaches.
- We will collate and share impact and evaluation data on successes and outcomes.
- We will work with you to ensure the safeguarding and wellbeing best interests of the client are a priority.
Full partner terms and conditions for this programme are available on request.
If you are a business looking to support or partner with BITC as part of our job coaching programme, email us to find out more about the support provided by BITC Job Coaching.
Specialist Training and Employment Programme (STEP) for Refugee and Asylum Seekers
How does STEP work?
Working in partnership with World Jewish Relief BITC deliver a range of business-led activities to support people entering the UK. We connect refugees with UK businesses, providing access to ongoing employment support and employment opportunities for clients with the right to work.
We currently offer the following services for those looking for support:
- Behind the Scenes visits – Businesses can showcase their organisation and sector to inspire individuals as they explore employment options.
- Career Conversations – Programme participants are introduced to UK employment culture through facilitated discussions with key stakeholders.
- Ready for Work – We prepare participants for employment opportunities, work together to understand and break through barriers and promote diversity with businesses and employers
- Application Support – We offer 1:1 employability support to participants so they can tackle applications and prepare for potential opportunities with confidence.
Our aims
- To identify future talent pools
- To address the current skills gap.
- To promote diversity and inclusion.
- To break down barriers.
How you can work with us
- Email our Refugee Support team to find more about the support available through Refugee and Asylum Seekers, Employment and Skills.