Opening Doors: Creating Pathways to Work for Untapped Talent - Business in the Community

Opening Doors: Creating Pathways to Work for Untapped Talent

Find practical guidance on creating pathways that enable employers to build strong talent pipelines and support development.

Opening Doors: Creating Pathways to Work for Untapped Talent

Practical guidance to help employers create pathways that build skills, experience and confidence, widen access to work and strengthen future talent pipelines.

Many people face barriers to employment long before they apply for a job. Structured pathways can help bridge gaps in skills, experience, confidence and networks, while helping employers develop the talent their businesses need.

This guide from Business in the Community (BITC) helps employers implement a new action in the refreshed Opening Doors Framework: creating pathways that help untapped talent access and progress in employment. It explores accessible programmes, participant support and clear progression outcomes, recognising that meaningful development can have value even when an immediate job is not guaranteed.

About this guide

Designed for HR, recruitment, early careers, skills, social impact, community engagement and EDI teams, the guide includes:

  • Practical steps for creating accessible pathways, including work experience, apprenticeships and returner programmes.
  • Guidance on supporting participants, working with partners and measuring progression.
  • An employer example, common pitfalls and suggested actions for the first 90 days.
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