Services for Heads of L&D / HR

The job market is changing rapidly. The way young people interact with potential employers has changed too. Employers have to evolve to attract, retain and develop the best people.

In our experience, Heads of L&D / HR have had mixed results with previous recruitment campaigns. The pressure is on to attract talent, but the pipeline is far from reliable. Candidates are often not ‘job ready’.

Strive Development brings expertise and experience in overcoming these challenges and can offer a variety of solutions.

Waltham Forest College
Construction Work Experience Week Report

Construction Students from Haringey and Surrounding Boroughs

Waltham Forest College successfully hosted a four-day work experience programme for 14 construction students from Haringey and surrounding boroughs. The programme was designed to introduce students to apprenticeship opportunities, sustainability within construction, employability skills, and real-world industry experiences through employer engagement and project-based learning.

Day 1 began with student introductions and an exploration of apprenticeship and career pathways within the construction industry. Students researched employment and apprenticeship websites to better understand the routes available into the sector. In the afternoon, representatives from CField and their subcontractors visited the college to share their personal pathways into construction, discussing both employed and self-employed experiences within the industry.

On Day 2, McLaren delivered an engaging presentation focused on sustainability and the increasing demand for greener skills in construction. During the afternoon, students worked in teams on the “Green Living Project”, where they took on the role of construction developers. Each student was assigned a specific role within their team and tasked with designing a sustainable residential housing development using green technologies, calculating costs, and preparing a professional pitch for the client, Strive Development.

Day 3 focused on completing the Green Living Project and delivering team presentations. Students demonstrated teamwork, creativity, communication skills, and an understanding of sustainable construction principles through their final project proposals.

The final day centred on employability skills, including discussions around workplace expectations, professional behaviour, and interview etiquette. In the afternoon, CField’s Contract Manager and Assistant Site Manager presented details of the Lordship Lane redevelopment project, involving the conversion of the former Mecca Bingo Hall into residential properties. Students gained valuable insight into industry challenges, employer expectations, and project delivery through an informative presentation and Q&A session.

A significant outcome of the programme is CField’s commitment to supporting students through future site visits and the potential development of on-site work experience opportunities.

Overall, the work experience week provided students with valuable industry exposure, strengthened employability skills, and increased awareness of sustainable construction and future career pathways.

Attracting, Retaining and Developing Talent

Services:

  • Work Experience Programmes
  • Apprenticeships
  • Graduates and Personal Development
  • Emerging Talent Strategy

Work Experience Programmes

Offering work experience raises the profile of your company to local schools and colleges

20% of employers that offer work experience say it helps with recruitment

A work experience placement gives individuals the opportunity to decide if that sector/role is for them

A work experience placement gives your business the opportunity to “try before you buy”

In our experience, a successful work experience placement could lead to recruitment of an apprentice

Young people with 4 or more work experience-type activities under their belt are 5 times less likely to be not in education, employment or training

Legal Obligations

  • Insurance
  • Health and safety

Organising Work Placements

  • Liaise with schools/colleges in relation to dates etc.
  • Advise on young person risk assessments, insurance, health & safety matters

Developing Programme

  • Liaise with departments on work experience programmes
  • Design work experience workbook
  • Design work experience induction
  • Jointly with company develop a project for work experience student
  • Advise on work experience accreditation schemes as appropriate

Reviewing Programme

  • Develop review form to review placement with student
  • Evaluate programme with company afterwards & make any necessary adjustments

Apprenticeships

Recruiting an apprentice can increase your productivity

They can bring fresh, innovative ideas to your business

Existing staff can undertake an apprenticeship in areas such as project management or team leading to enhance their qualifications

An apprentice can help you develop and grow your business

Anyone over 16 can do an apprenticeship & the company be eligible for funding

Apprenticeship standards exist in a wide range of sectors, roles & levels

There are now apprenticeship standards from level 2(equivalent to GCSEs) to level 6 (degrees)

You can progress from one level of apprenticeship to another

Recruitment of apprentices

  • How to attract them, where to advertise, developing person specification
  • Designing and running assessment centres
  • Assisting with interviews

Training Provider

  • Identifying appropriate apprenticeship standard and level
  • Identifying suitable training providers and selection as appropriate

Funding

  • Advising on funding available (apprenticeship/CITB funding)

Training

  • Training line managers on managing an apprentice
  • Training staff to become apprentice mentors
  • Delivering Personal Development Workshops to the apprentices

Graduates

Recruitment of graduates

  • How to attract them, where to advertise, developing person specification
  • Designing and running assessment centres
  • Assisting with interviews

Graduate Scheme

  • Design and developing your graduate scheme to meet your business strategy
  • Guide and assist you in gaining accreditation with relevant professional institutions for your graduate scheme
  • Managing the graduate scheme

Training

  • Training line managers on managing a graduate
  • Training staff to become graduate mentors
  • Delivering Personal Development Workshops to the graduates

Personal Development Workshops

  • Personal Organisation: analysing how use your time & plan for improvements, identify difference between urgent & important, dealing with time bandits
  • Self-Awareness: increasing your self-awareness through MBTI & enhancing your relationships. What is Emotional Intelligence & how can it help me?
  • Presentation Skills: how to structure a presentation, key rules, presenting with confidence
  • Relationship Management: identifying your network & which relationships need developing
  • Influencing Skills: 5 easy steps, influencing styles, influencing different personalities
  • Effective Communication within the Workplace: how communication works, active listening, recognising barriers to communication, adapting communication style to achieve win:win
  • Career Planning: Career visioning, strengths & development areas, the 4Cs, developing a career plan

Emerging Talent Strategy

Do you want to grow your business?

Do you want to develop your own talent?

Have you considered what the cost benefit analysis of recruiting an apprentice or graduate is?

An emerging talent strategy:

  • Aligns with your business strategy
  • Can outline your process of offering work experience, recruiting apprentices and graduates
  • Can identify where you envisage your apprentices/graduates being in 5/10 years time

Free Consultation

Feel free to contact us for a no obligation discussion regarding your people and emerging talent objectives. Requirements can vary, so we are happy to take the time to listen to your challenges and offer advice.

Book a Free Consultation