A4e Comment

My A4e - Sue Hobbs

2008-12-21T15:22:00.001Z

Sue’s first visit to the centre was an extremely traumatic experience for her as she had not ventured out of the house for a very long time, mainly due to confidence and low self esteem issues.

However, from the moment the door was answered to a trembling Sue, she was made to feel welcome and at ease which was a major hurdle for Sue, as she did not know what to expect from an organisation that was not familiar to her. As soon as Sue was engaged in conversation it was obvious what a lovely lady she was and that she needed to be guided in the right direction to show her self worth to enable her to progress to her full potential.

At Sue’s initial appointment I fully explained the support and guidance we could offer from Pathways. Working together to compile an action plan to set clear achievable targets, we discussed her confidence and self esteem issues and decided that it would be of great benefit for her to attend our Directions course; she was really excited about the prospect of attending a short supported course which could assist her in her personal development. We also discussed ongoing occupational support available to maintain the consistency of tackling health related and personal obstacles. Again, Sue was keen to undertake this invaluable service.

Sue began to attend the centre every week for regular reviews and support and at each session her confidence slowly improved. Her employment background was exclusively in the Retail Sector. However she really wanted to return to her initial career path, a role within the Administration environment, such as receptionist.

Sue lacked experience in computer skills, this affected her confidence greatly and we sat together and worked out a plan to support her fully. We held short basic computer sessions in the centre and I helped her to set up her own email account which then led to Sue having enough confidence to put together her own CV with support and guidance from myself this in it’s self was a huge achievement for her and I felt like a proud mother!

As Sue’s confidence continued to grow with the support from the Occupational support and the Directions course she attended (and of course myself)! We began to carry out more in-depth job search within the administration sector on a local scale.

Through regular attendance to our Job Club a local administration vacancy was advertised in the Western mail which seemed to match Sue’s skills and personality. We completed the application form together and held interview workshops to help prepare her for a possible interview.

Sue was short listed for the administration position but was unfortunately not successful this time. We discussed her performance at the interview and reflected on areas where she could make some improvements, however as we are all aware nerves sometimes get the better of you.

An Administration/Reception position soon became available within Pathways to Work Barry Office of which we knew Sue had to apply for. We knew she had the necessary skills, empathy and understanding of our customer group and would be able to sympathise with people who have been in the same predicament as her.

We thoroughly prepared Sue for the interview with Pathways. This had to be in-depth due to Sue not undertaking an interview for many years. I prepared by explaining the content of an interview to include proving her competence of delivering excellent customer service, using evidence from past experiences. She had her interview and we met afterwards to discuss how she thought it had gone. She was really nervous, but, she did think she put in a good performance- Boy was she right!

Sue was offered full time Administration reception at Barry Pathways Flagship office- What an asset she is to our team!

We have received continuous feedback from customers on what a friendly, courteous
and welcoming person she is. Never failing to assist customers and other members of staff in any capacity! Her confidence has soared through the roof, she always presents with a huge smile and her happiness is displayed always.

My A4e - Kev - Ex Pathways client!

2008-11-17T19:32:00.001Z

Hi.

I'm Kev,46 yrs young ,and just made one of the best decisions of my life.

Because you are here I believe you have as well.

I have been out of the work place for about 2yrs. Two knee operations, and the complications that go with it ,really gave my self confidence a bashing; but like you must be feeling now I felt ready to take the next step

So with anxiety and FEAR I walked in and was introduced to Cara who then became my Advisor. I was very quickly put at my ease as all the staff are welcoming and supportive ; actually they are FANTASTIC!!! This you will find out for yourself I am sure.

Please don't read these stories and then walk away from here. Ask for advise and help, it was there for me and it is there for you.

The first thing that happens is your Advisor will make you a nice COFFEE (laugh out loud) so enjoy. Then you talk. Talk about your life, the things you have done ,what makes you tick and what excites you work wise. Then you get all the support you need to do your C.V..

Look ,the truth is I could go on forever about Pathways and their staff , but get involved and you will be as surprised and overjoyed as I am. I have been fortunate enough after 6 weeks to have found employment in the environment in which I wanted to work.........6 weeks of HARD WORK ............but just knowing the support of Cara my Advisor was there gave me the confidence and reasurance to keep going.

So if you are still reading this thank you ,but go and get chatting to the staff . Get started on changing your life with their GREAT help.

Good luck.......ENJOY !!
kev.

Email from Kev who attended Rhyl Pathways Office

My A4e - Clare Marie Taylor

2008-10-16T09:52:00.002+01:00

Here is my story:

I have had an interesting career so far, starting life as a jeweller and then a side step into a training company where I worked my way up to Quality Manager, Work Based Learning Manager and Lead Internal Verifier. I had a fantastic External Verifier who recommended that I became an EV to, so I did.
The training company I worked for went bust and I started with a new company but was bored of being stuck in the same office everyday doing the same job as before, so went back to being an NVQ Assessor for a national company to get back out meeting people but hated the unrealistic targets and hours put on me.
At the same time as the assessor role I was a mentor for A4e, which I loved.
My friend called me and asked if had seen the paper, it has an excellent job in there that I had to apply for. Quality Practitioner for a national company.
I went and got the paper and that night sent my CV off to the recruitment company and they called me the next day while I was away on holiday, and said that I had an excellent CV as it was unusual to see work history with quality and training on it.
They wanted me to go for an interview at the end of that week and the company was A4e so I came back off my holiday early as I had been working as a mentor for this company I was really interested.
The interview was held in a lovely hotel in Exeter. I have to say the interview was very thorough and Steve Hart was very clear of what he needed in his area regarding the role.
The interview went really well and he really made me work hard throughout, really challenging me and my abilities and views to make sure I would fit in.
As per any interview it was said we will let you know. I don’t think at that point you ever know what’s going to happen next.
I got offered a second interview and before I knew it I was off to see Karen Roberts in Sheffield. Again I had a successful interview and was told they will let me know.
The offer came through and I accepted the role.
Since then it has gone from strength to strength with the role going from just Devon and Cornwall to National, we have developed a new quality tool which saves the managers time and produces reports, I am on central quality team and doing cross divisional work with A4e Work and Skills.
I can’t say that the challenges are not there now and I am doing things I didn't think I would be and expanding my knowledge of all A4e provisions so I am able to work on central teams. I enjoy the supportive/quality part of my role in helping and guiding managers to achieve their best, and do all I can to help them.

The best part is on my admin day when I can I still do mentoring for the local A4e works office as it seems to make an impact with the customers and they request to see me again as they feel it really helps them.
If I can give someone a chance to chat and give some advice which will motivate them to want to go back to work it is worthwhile as I always look at life that the glass is half full which is difficult for customers if they are feeling depressed or not motivated but gives them a chance to see things from someones else's points of view and take that forward. So far it has worked.
I was very motivated by attending In Conservation with Emma and decided that I wanted a company mentor.
I have managed to get myself one now so I have someone to lean on when there is a challenge or change, to discuss my concerns and issues and get a clear head to move forward but also to expand my knowledge regarding the company.
The company is excellent to work for and the staff I am meeting up and down the country are so friendly, helpful and supportive and really believe in Improving peoples lives, which is fantastic to see that the staff really believe the company ethos.

I am really enjoying my role and working for A4e and have people like Steve Hart to thank for all the support he has given me.

Many thanks for your time in reading my brief story.

Regards,
Clare-Marie Taylor
National Quality and Training Practitioner
Health and Social Care Division

My A4e - Susan Orr

2008-10-05T19:56:00.002+01:00

My name is Susan Orr and I work for A4e as a Gateway Tutor in the HMP/YOI in Norwich. I have been employed by A4e for over two years and for the past fifteen months I have been working as a Gateway Tutor in the YOI in Norwich Norfolk. After reading Emma's Blog site, she said she was keen to hear from employees with inspirational stories and I felt compelled to put pen to paper so-to-speak.

Since working in the YOI I have met some really interesting young men who have lost their way for many different reasons. I have also learnt a great deal from these young men in terms of how, why and what it was that lead them to getting into trouble with the law. My role as a Gateway Tutor is to deliver a 10 day training programme for young offenders due for release. My workshops include diagnostic evaluations on individuals, communication skills, team building, problem solving, creating outstanding CVs, interview techniques, disclosure letters, money management, motivational sessions and confidence building.

I am I have to say extremely proud of the way the course has developed and also for the fantastic outcomes we have achieved as a result of these young men attending the programme. I felt I had to drop you a line with a few of these stories because I am so proud of their achievements. There is no doubt that these young men’s' lives have been improved. They are now looking forward to promising futures with something they had very little of and that was hope, hope that they can now become independent, successful members of society following a time of sometimes traumatic, difficult times filled with uncertainty whilst being in custody.

I love my job because I love the changes I see in their outlook on their own lives and how these have improved so much for them. I do hope that you read them and it would be fantastic to get some feedback from you when you are able to. In the meantime, thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Susan Orr
A4e Gateway Tutor YOI Norwich

Case studies from YOI Norwich

Young Man A

In April 2008, I spoke to a young D CAT prisoner who had attended an earlier Gateway course. I felt he had no direction or commitment to completing any tasks given to him. Whilst working in the Staff canteen, he was sullen, low in spirit and seemed to lack confidence. He agreed that I would recommend him to Shopie Houghton, my contact at the Princes Trust in Norwich for the 13 week ‘TEAM’ programme and felt that this would encourage him to surface from his shell. There were only limited spaces on the course of a maximum of 15 with it running only once every 3 months. The programme was all about taking part in team-building exercises, community project work, obtaining ICT, literacy and numeracy qualifications with the chance to prove staying power, commitment, confidence-building and communication skills.. He absolutely fulfilled his commitment by not missing any of the programme. According to the Princes Trust, he turned out to be one of the best candidates the Princes Trust had ever come across and worked with. When he did complete the course, myself and a colleague attended the ceremony, he and his colleagues from the ‘TEAM’ programme attended the awards ceremony in July 2008, where he was handed certificates for ICT CLAIT Level 2, Literacy Level 2, Numeracy Level 2 and a Food Hygiene certificate. He also managed to enrol at the Norwich City College onto a music production course which he started in September 2008 and when he gets his diploma, he wants to go onto Nottingham University to continue in Music Production.
This young man achieved so much in such a short time, not only did he work to gain his qualifications, he pushed himself through his comfort zone and forced himself to come out of his shell and communicate with others, he worked successfully as part of a team and managed to complete a community project of transforming some old run down changing rooms at a recreational playing field, enabling young children to start using the changing rooms for hockey, rugby and football practice and tournaments. The Princes Trust was outstanding in their support to this young man and we are all tremendously pleased for his achievements and his goals which are now in place for the future. This young man began a journey which was very daunting for him, but, he soared to fantastic heights and proved to everyone that he could make something of his life, all he needed was for someone to believe in him and to show him the way. I am absolutely thrilled with this young man’s success story and delighted that I was able to help him find his path and to realise his potential. He is just astounded at his own success and what he has achieved I such a short space of time.

Young Man B

In early March 2008 a young offender had attended the Gateway course delivered by myself at the YOI Norwich. His cellmate had recommended the course to him as he thought it would help him with his self-esteem and confidence. His lack of self-belief was evident however, as he participated in each session on interview skills, confidence-building, CV construction and team building exercises his confidence began to emerge. Armed with an outstanding CV, a bucket load of confidence and a positive attitude, he left the prison on Monday morning and set to work on making phone calls the next day to Job Mates contact Chris Metcalfe. Chris had met him prior to the young man leaving the prison and signed him up whilst he was taking part in the Gateway to work course. They rallied around most of the employment agencies in the Ipswich area and by 5.00pm that day, less than 24 hours after leaving prison, he had been offered a full-time temporary job as a Farm Hand. A week later the agency received a phone call from the Farmer who was so delighted with his hard work and strong work ethic that he wanted to employ him permanently.

Young Man C

In June 2008, another young prisoner who was from Russia, completed the Gateway to Work course and he was very impressed with his CV and the Adult Directions advice and guidance received by Jo in Tribal at the end of the course. After leaving prison, he was offered a job within two weeks of leaving as a Production Operative Supervisor, and three months later in September 2008, he managed to get himself a mechanics apprenticeship and is combining work with a college course to become a qualified mechanic over the next two years.

Young Man D

This young man attended the Gateway course and was hoping to find employment as a fork lift operative. We produced an outstanding CV which he was delighted with and he mentioned that he had previously been in the Army, he was already quite motivated. He wanted to explore his career options and discovered after completing the Adult Directions in TRIBAL that he was an ideal candidate for driving a forklift as a career. I spoke to him at the end of August when he telephoned in requesting his floppy disk with his CV on it that he had been offered a job with the hard copy of his CV to start in September. He had also discovered that the Army would take him back in January 2009 once his Tag had expired. He was really delighted with his outcome as we were. He extended his thanks to and was looking forward to his new life.

Young Man E

I spoke to this gentleman only today 23.9.08 that had also benefitted from the Gateway course who had received confirmation that he had got a job working on a trawler as a Deck Hand, to start working in Kings Lynn at the beginning of October 2008. He was astounded that he had managed to get a job all lined up ready for when he was released!

My A4e - Tara Oldfield

2008-10-01T19:37:00.000+01:00

Hi Emma

Just thought I would write and give my appreciation and thanks for yesterday’s visit to your beautiful home. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and learnt a lot. You are very inspiring and the day was very thought provoking. I continually strive to better the service I give to clients and to of course improve their lives. I wear my badge with pride and feel that at the end of the day I have improved someone’s life, and as I tell them regularly the continue to improve my life also. What some clients don’t realise is that they too improve my life. Whether it be saying thank you for something I’ve done or congratulating me on a good session. I gain a lot from the many different clients, mainly confidence in my own ability, which in turn, reflects there ability. As someone wise once told me there is nothing you can’t do if you put your heart and mind into it. I strongly believe this and use this philosophy in a lot of the sessions I teach.
I came to "In conversation with Emma" back in June and felt amazed by you, your beliefs and ambitions and after "Tea with Emma" yesterday I have to say I didn’t think I could be more impressed or inspired but I was wrong. Very wrong. Besides the fact that I believe you are a very genuine, hard working and loyal person to your beliefs, it really felt to me that that is not only the kind of staff you want and need but that kind of people our clients will one day be.
And may I just say that your shoe collection is fabulous!!!!
Anyway back to why I have really written to you. Yesterday you said if you could meet someone dead or alive who would it be? You said "A client".
I appreciate that you are a very busy lady but one day I really do hope that you could find time to meet one client I believe to be very special.
Her name is Elena Molchan and she originates from Russia. She has lived in the UK for six years and has only recently been granted indefinite leave to remain. Elena came to A4e four weeks ago and started on the Elevate course. It was my first week as the Elevate Trainer and I was petrified. I so wanted to get everything right. As with all new groups you have a mixed bunch of characters and personalities, but something and I still don’t know what it was drew me to her. Eventually she began to open up to me. She has not had the best of starts in our country and was desperate to find work to give herself and her two young children a better life. I have to admit I did spend a little more time with her, than maybe I should have done, but I knew there was something special about her and I really did want to see her smile. She is such a lovely lady with a great personality and a great amount of ambition. Elena applied for a job in a Dry Cleaners and I am so pleased to say she got the job and starts next week. She was terrified of the interview process so she stayed behind after sessions and we went through things together. It was as if this job was there waiting for her. She will eventually get to do clothing alterations which is her passion (as when she lived in Russia this was her job). She has won countless competitions and awards for her dressmaking. She is also doing work on my own wedding dress and I truly believe it will be beautiful when she has finished with it. I have really grown fond of her and will miss her so much when she leaves. The best thing about this little story is what she said to me the day she got the job – "Tara you have done so much for me and my two little girl’s and now our life will be better because of you". I did cry after she left because it was the nicest thing anyone has said to me in a very long time.
I did what my badge said and I improved someone’s life, but this was different.
I really love the work you are doing overseas and Elena has said the same thing. You are touching so many people’s lives and I want to say thank you for that. Without this job I know I wouldn’t never be able to do something so rewarding.
So if you could find the time to meet her I would be most grateful. I know as said earlier you are very busy I would be more than happy to bring her to you just for a small chat and maybe a piece of that gorgeous cake!!!

Hope to hear from you soon.

Best Wishes
Tara Oldfield
Elevate Trainer
A4e Barnsley

My A4e - The sun does shine in Wales…but only when A4e run!!

2008-09-23T11:52:00.003+01:00

With everyone hoping for a good summer, it seemed that we were all trying to outdo each other and pin point the best weeks to take off to enjoy whatever warm and dry weather there was. The truth is, that like Derek Brockway -weatherman of BBC Wales Today- predicting weather is not a science but pure luck. Sadly, most were disappointed with the amount of sun available these past few months (unless you visited the Bahamas). However, there has been some glimmer of hope. A4e Pathways running group has entered two races and each one has been in a blaze of sunshine and the two dates run must have been the hottest days Wales has seen this year.
The Admiral Swansea Bay 10k saw a change in the line up this race. Back for a second round of punishment were Neil Griffiths and Kris Evans. Newcomers to the stage this time, replacing Jane Fox (out due to injury) and Louise Jane Edwards (out due to being a mum) were our very own Training practitioner Sarah Bridgeman and host of the Friday quiz David Jones.
The A4e running team has started to gain a little momentum, and this time we even managed to find some promotional T-shirts that we could shamelessly plug A4e Pathways throughout the event. Whilst opinions on the colour were mixed and rather varied, we all have to agree that we were noticed, and we even got chatting to a 10 foot pirate/admiral.
Warming up inside St Helens rugby ground an announcement that the warm up would in fact be on the main coast road. I have to say that she was not as good as Mr Motivator from the Great Wales run, and she must have been about 5 feet tall, as no-one could see or hear her. Taking the warm up seriously, Kris and Neil managed some very good imitations of the village people YMCA as well as the dance for dads (big fish, little fish, cardboard box) With I-pods at the ready and ensuring that the technical aspect of the race was in place (make sure your laces are tied up), the gun went and 3500 runners were off on the 2008 Swansea Bay 10k.
Anyone who has been to Swansea will not fail to be amazed by the amount of lush fields and playgrounds around the beach front, but we were not here for that! The first 5k took in the glamorous Swansea University and Singleton hospital, before heading towards the Mumbles. It is always amazing to see that main arterial roads are closed, and what should have been a great Sunday get away to the Gower for most Welsh families, probably turned into a wacky races around the side streets.
At the 5k mark a refreshing drinks station was conveniently placed to allow us to get in valuable liquids lost. The second half was a park run, so on your right a wonderful view of the beach and sea, and one your left nice gardens and trees providing much needed shade from the sun. Swansea has definitely gone up in the world since I was a kid. Long gone are the slurry coated beaches and in comes nice clean air and fresh smells of the sea. It is easy to know when you were getting nearer to the finish line, as the crowds started to swell and the encouragement from them was as usual much needed by most. Even those walking dogs and cycling were encouraging the runners to get closer to the end.
The only A4e staff member to finish within the hour was our District Manager Neil Griffiths with a great finishing time of 58 minutes and 55 seconds. Quickly followed by Friday Quiz boy David Jones with 1 hour 2 minutes and 18 seconds. Debutant Sarah Bridgeman came in with an incredibly respectable 1 hour 17 minutes and 50 seconds. Finally, Kris Evans proving that 20 a day does impact on your lungs despite 1 hour 22 minutes and 16 seconds.
Finish line = banana and water. I never thought that that combination would ever sound exciting, but it was a welcome sight. Runner of the event should surely go to Sarah Bridgeman who ran and ran throughout the whole event and never stopped.
Many thanks as well to the A4e groupies who continue to maintain the momentum. Julie Dyer, Paul Ferrier and Sharon Griffiths.
Next race up for consideration is the Margam park 10k which is on 19th October. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/10k/venues/margam08/ <https://webmail.a4e.co.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/10k/venues/margam08/> If anyone in A4e is interested in coming along either as a supporter or even better as a runner then please feel free to contact me on kevans@a4e.co.uk or Louisa Jane Edwards on Ledwards@a4e.co.uk
It is worth remembering that we are considering affiliation to a running area (probably North Wales athletics) which will ensure that we can obtain a reduction in race entry costs.
STOP PRESS STOP PRESS FINAL EDITION!!!!!!!!
Liverpool, December 7th SANTA DASH!!!!!
A 5k (3 miles) run where we all get to disguise ourselves as our favourite Christmas character. No its not Simon Cowell but Father Christmas!!!!
http://www.blogger.com/www.runliverpool.org.uk/Event_List_08/Liverpool_Santa_Dash.htm
ANYONE ELSE IN A4e INTERESTED??? Please let us know and we can always arrange to meet you with our funky T-shirts!!!!
There has been discussion about many Santa Runs/dash’s but a collective decision has been made that Team A4e will be running in Liverpool this Christmas. Please come along as most of us will be staying overnight (Oh please someone help us!)
Kris Evans
Directions Facilitator & OSA Mid Wales
Occupational Support Team

My A4e - Team Directions

2008-07-29T10:45:00.003+01:00

Well... the team limbered up and did a good stretch with the old Mr Motivator (you know him off of the TV) Then 20 minutes later than planned (after Cardiff City Council forgot to close the Cardiff Bay barrage bridge for us to run along) we hit the trainers to the floor and started pounding the streets of Cardiff.

Over 4,000 people ran yesterday and amongst those 4,000 were the A4e Team of Neil Griffiths, Louisa Edwards, Jane Fox and Kris Evans.

With such a hot day, no personal best could be achieved, so it was just relax and enjoy the scenery! First through the gates (This is using the Championship) was Jane Fox with 1Hr 3 min 05 secs, followed closely behind was Louisa Edwards with 1Hr 3 min 09 secs. Neil Griffiths arrived through the Roal Dahl Basin in a respectable 1Hr 8 mins 58 Secs. Finally Me who openly admitted to a 20 a day habit and never managed to get all the training in I wanted came in on 1Hr 18 mins 57 secs.

This e-mail is a thank you so much for helping us to raise £230.00.

Along with the Gift aid of £64.87, and our dress down day money, I am sure that this money will be used by the FSI to help assist smaller organisations who really need help in looking for sustainable funding. This is especially important in the current economic climate and when all historic areas of funding (Big Lottery etc) are being cut because of the Olympics.

A HUGE thank you to all of Pathways staff and Directions Wales for your support!

Neil Griffiths
District Manager (Wales)
A4e Pathways

My A4e - Anissa Mills

2008-07-28T19:38:00.002+01:00

I am 39 years old, I have two children, Jade is 19yrs old and my son Declan is 12yrs old.

I have been on incapacity benefit for 22yrs, due to a rare blood condition. I have had many hospital visits through out that time, many life threatening. I’ve been on anti-depressants. For the last 10 years, I was feeling so low about my life and where I would end up at.

My son has A.D.H.D, and suffers with a bad heart, he is a very demanding child and needs a lot of attention, but he’s a lovely boy so loving, gentle and kind.

On January 2nd 2008 I went for an interview at Pathways A4e (Newport). In the morning I got up feeling nervous, scared felt like busting into tears. I thought “here we go I was going to be put on show and made to feel a useless waste of time” and a scrounger.
See I was used to that every 6 months; I would go to the job centre for an appointment to help get me back to work. But every time I came away from there feeling deflated, same questions every 6 months, why haven’t you got a job yet? HA! That’s why I’m here for help because I didn’t know what work I could do, because I’ve no experience with any work. Another question “what about your local shops? Yes not a problem, but is that what the rest of my life is going to be about? People ask my children “what does your mam do for a living?” “Oh, she works in the Spar.” I wanted better for me and my children.

I asked the lady if she would look into a carer position, or anything to do with animals. She looked at me as if I was pulling her leg and said “you’ve no experience in those types of jobs.”
Anyway those were the bleak times, I walked into Pathways and was greeted by a lady called Jan Shepherd, she shook my hand and offered me a cup of coffee, at that moment I felt calmer and not threatened. We sat down with our coffees and just talked in general about Christmas and the weather.

Another bloke came over and he told me his name was John Camilerie. I couldn’t believe how friendly and understanding they both was.

John asked me a question.

“What would you really like to do?” I thought here we go, he’ll look at me as if I’m completely barking. I told him I’ve always wanted to either work with animals or the elderly. He replied “that’s great,” he said we will look through the news papers and go on the net to see what he could come up with. I couldn’t believe they both took me seriously!
They asked me if I had any experience with the two jobs. I said no. Then they made me realise that I have had experience. I care for my son who is disabled, so I had life experience as a carer.
As for animals, I love them. I’ve had all sorts of animals. At the moment I have a snow dog called Keira. So! I have life experience again.
I felt that there was hope for me and my son to have a better future.

Diary notes

9th January 2008
Went to job club today, Jan made me a cup of coffee then we got to work. I found something I was interested in a carer’s position. Jan said “not a problem.” Then she told me to use one of the phones to ring for an application form. I couldn’t do it I felt sick, so she rang for me. Then I started panicking about the interview and thought “I can’t do this.”

January 2008
Went to a meeting at Pathways (directions), sat in a room with 4 other people in the same boat as me (yes now I didn’t feel on my own.) It was a meeting that would change my outlook on my life. A bloke walked in and introduced himself as Phil Hawkins.

He asked us all to tell him about ourselves. Again I felt sick, but when we had come to me I just talked and talked. Phil made every body feel that we were all special and not so worthless. When the meeting was over I felt fantastic, more confident, I really came out of my shell. The other people in the group looked and felt better in them selves too.

Feb 2008
Got my application form for the carers job, I took it straight to Pathways because I never knew what to do. They welcomed me yet again with a coffee and Jan helped me fill out the application form and I sent it off.
Then Jan congratulated me on doing a good job and made me a coffee. I realised Pathways were going to help me all the way, they care about their clients.

Feb 2008
I had a phone call for an interview. Rang Pathways, they told me to go down for a dummy run interview with Lisa Richards, so I would know how to dress, what I was going to say and how to sell myself. I was so grateful to Pathways because when I went to the interview, I thought to myself all the way there, Pathways have faith in me, so I should have faith in myself. I went into the interview feeling nervous, but as soon as the lady asked about experience, I just went in to over drive. I remembered the meeting about life experience and told her that I haven’t got anything on paper but I have a lot of life experience with the elderly. I am a voluntary care worker for a neighbour’s father for the last eleven years. I take him out for lunch every Tuesday, take him to hospital/doctors appointments and I do his shopping. And I told her about caring for my disabled son. By the time the interview had finished I felt great. I got home and rung Pathways and they were so proud of me. I never felt so proud of myself.

March 2008
I got the job I couldn’t believe it. I’d only been with Pathways a few weeks and already I got a job. Also I applied to the R.S.P.C.A, to be a volunteer.
I didn’t hold out much hope. I met Lisa again who worked at Pathways, fantastic lady helped me go though the internet for anything to do with animals. She would never rush me, always had time to help.
Filled out an application form for the R.S.P.C.A.

March 2008
Started my training for the carers job, first aid, health & safety, etc. I was there from 10am till 4.30 pm. I felt a new person, more in control of my future. Lisa at Pathways phoned me to see how I was getting on, I told her all about my day. She was so happy for me.

April 2008
I am now a qualified carer I’m so happy, proud of myself for working so hard. Even my son is proud of me and tells every one I’m a nurse “bless him” it’s the uniform.
He even asked me if we could go on holiday next year because I’ve got a job and we could afford it to.
It felt lovely to say to him “I can’t see why not” instead of “where are we going to get the money.”
Just waiting on C.R.B check then I’m off to work “feels good just to say that”
Since then I have got the job as voluntary worker at the R.S.P.C.A. I went to Pathways to tell them. They were all over the moon.
I told them straight;
If it wasn’t for Pathways I would still be the old Anissa, sad, lost, no future, no outlook on life, feeling sorry for herself.
Now I have all the confidence in the world.

THANKYOU PATHWAYS!

They invited myself and two others to the launch of Pathways at Cardiff. There I talked to the Minister of Employment about my experience with Pathways. Had photos taken with the minister and a guide dog (because I worked at the R.S.P.C.A they thought it would be a good photo.) The thought of talking to anyone before made me ill, now here I was talking to the Minister of Employment. Pathways has changed my life in so many ways.
They are all so friendly, caring and are always there to support you with anything you need.
They taught me to respect myself, give me confidence, brought out the more positive side of me. They really do care about their clients. You’re not just a number at Pathways you’re a friend.

I hope by reading my journey through Pathways, you might feel a little better knowing that you’re not on your own.
I thought that I would never get a job let alone two, working in jobs I love.

Put your confidence in Pathways.
They will give you all the support you need!
They are wonderful.

Keep up the good work
Thank you so much to all the staff
You’re a credit to a fantastic company
Anissa Mills

My A4e - Jane Mallon

2008-07-18T14:52:00.001+01:00

Emma - just having a read of your blog and thought I would tell you my story.

About a year ago I was suffering with severe depression after my dad had several strokes and my daughter caught a viral brain infection, I had to leave my current job as both my dad and daughter were in hospital at the same time, and I knew they would take some looking after when they returned home. Well thank god they both recovered and are doing fine now, however this left me in limbo as I had no job had lost all my confidence and was lacking in self esteem something that was unfamiliar territory for me as anyone who knows me knows I am the life and soul of the party.
However there was light at the end of the tunnel, I was introduced to the life coaches at a4e and had a few sessions with them, which in all honesty I can say probably changed my life completely!
I was so impressed with how they managed to help people regain their confidence and steer people in the right direction to achieve there goals that I started doing some voluntary work with them, which in turn led to me working part time as a project support officer for the life coaching team which I absolutely 100% love.

Well that’s my story so now you know a little bit about me.

My A4e - Steve Williamson, Plymouth

2008-07-18T14:48:00.000+01:00

Hi Emma,

You may remember me (please see the copy below of the email I sent to you May 6th 2008), Steve Williamson (PPA) from your A4e Pathways Plymouth office. I just wanted to send you another email to say what a fantastic Official Opening Day that I and my colleagues of YOUR FANTASTIC COMPANY had today here in Plymouth.

I was asked to get up on stage and tell my story to our guests today, and although I am no stranger to talking at seminars and public functions, today I was extremely nervous. I prepared a two page speech but when I looked out at the people who stood before me I decided to take off my glasses, put away my paper and speak from the heart. I could never have done this without the support of my colleagues and management, and after I got down from the stage I was even more nervous and somewhat shaken up, but I felt so proud to be a part of A4e Pathways.

As yet, I have not had the pleasure of meeting you, though I hope that will change in time. I feel proud and honoured to be part of such a wonderful caring company, I have at times found the going tough, but that is part of the job and the challenge that we all face from time to time, but with the support received from my colleagues and management, I have managed to get through those challenging times. Everyday at A4e Pathways is a different day, every customer is unique and the feeling that we experience when helping our customers is nothing short of fantastic.

I will endeavour to hone my skills as time moves forward, and with the team we have here in Plymouth I know there is only one way to go, that of forward and upward! It is with PRIDE that I work alongside my colleagues with the aim to “Improve People’s Lives”.

A4e Pathways has changed my life for the better and has given me back my pride and self esteem, something some of us, at times, tend to loose by the wayside. When you have the time (and I appreciate that time is a valuable commodity in your life) to reflect on this monumental success that you have named A4e Pathways, rest assured, that as we work for you each day, we do it with pride and respect, I for one, and I know that I speak for my colleagues also, when I say how much pleasure is felt when telling our customers about the dream that you have turned into a success story, that which is A4e Pathways!
Kindest regards

Steve Williamson
PPA Plymouth

Copy of mail from May 6th

I have been doing a little ‘A4e’ reading during my weekend off and I can honestly say that you are an inspiration to so many people. I remember some months ago, saying to myself how much I would like to be a part of your company. Here then is my brief story………..

I began by visiting A4e Pathways (Plymouth) as a voluntary customer back in January of this year. I was guided (yes guided, and by a genuine caring man) along the road to finding employment within the Plymouth area. I have several disabilities that affect my day to day living (pain mostly due to Arthritis and neck/spinal injury) and were wandering how I was going to find an employer who would understand and take me on, for what I could do, and for what I had to offer. I attended the JCP in Plymouth late 2007 and was told about A4e, I asked to be put forward as a voluntary customer.

My first appointment was in January of this year. I was so impressed by the way both my wife and I were treated, that I wrote a letter to the Plymouth Office in which I thanked them for what turned out to be, a warm and welcoming experience. I also enquired about the possibility of applying for a position at the Plymouth office; I received a reply from Mike Snook thanking me for my letter. Unfortunately there were no vacancies at that time, however undeterred I waited for about a week or so (‘never let the water go cold, unless you want iced tea’ I didn’t, I wanted something hot!). When I attended my appointment on Friday morning, I told my Employment Coach Vic Goldsmith that I was going to send my C.V. into the office again. As I was talking to Vic, his boss Lou Beechgood was walking by, Vic introduced me to her and I seized the opportunity to ask about applying for a job. She asked me to send in my C.V. and she would take a look. I wanted to catch her attention so I used bullet points in the form of the A4e logo (as I had done so previously), I know that was not the reason for being granted an interview, but I like to think it showed some intuition. I was invited for an interview; this was followed by a second interview after which I was offered a position as a PPA at Plymouth. I began with your company on April 3rd 2008 and am extremely proud to be a member of your team here in Plymouth.

I wanted to tell you first hand that I take pleasure in being a member of the A4e Pathways experience. My colleagues are wonderful, friendly and a pleasure to work with, all members of District support have been wonderful in welcoming me into the company, I couldn’t have wished for better colleagues and management. I have never known such wonderful, friendly people. I know it is your policy to create a workplace that reflects a welcoming, helpful and supportive environment. Having been both a customer and now a member of the A4e Pathways team, I know what it feels like to be on both sides of the fence. I use my experience as a customer, to break down any pre-existing barriers that my customers may have, when they meet with me for their first WFI. It really does help knowing that I was once in their position, and as a volunteer customer at that!

Kindest Regards

Steve Williamson
PPA Plymouth

My A4e - Krysia Longmore

2008-07-08T13:59:00.002+01:00

Hi my name is Krysia Longmore and I have worked at A4e for nearly 3 years in the development team.
In a previous life I was a Housing Officer for Sheffield Homes on the arrears team. I have always been keen to link up the work of housing providers and A4e as I think housing is intrinsically linked to the work we do (for example over 1/5 of people accessing homelessness support are ex-offenders and many will struggle to find work if they have no home).
I have now been lucky to start work with a number of different housing organisations including Places for People and the Riverside Group to explore possible ways we can work together and join up the services we provide, for example with the Riverside group we are exploring possible ideas around having an A4e member of staff based in one of their community based centres to provide employment support to tenants and in Hull we are piloting a project with Places for People to use housing staff to engage tenants to our welfare to work programmes.

I'd be really interest to hear people's ideas on possible ways we could link up or if they know (through customers) any innovative projects been run by Housing providers in their areas around employment support etc. I'm keen to find out what works and how we can enhance the service we provide our customers.

You can contact me on klongmore@a4e.co.uk

Thanks

Krysia

My A4e - Mandi Smith

2008-07-01T09:53:00.000+01:00

I just wanted to say a big thank you to A4e.
I recently gained employment at the Newport branch of A4e as an ESOL Trainer. Prior to this I had been signed off work for over five years due to medical problems. Not wanting to sit around between numerous operations, I decided to go back to college, gaining a HND Distinction in Animal Sciences, a 2:1 BSc Degree in Environmental Management and finally a PGCE Cert Ed in ESOL and Basic and Key Skills.
Despite having applied for numerous jobs, my disability seemed to always be a barrier to my returning to work. I then made an appointment to see Chris Young a pathways advisor for A4e in Cardiff. To my surprise, a week before my appointment I was contacted by an employment agency in regard to the vacancy in Newport, my CV was passed onto the branch and I was invited to attend an interview, with Karen and Amanda.
I was (to my amazement) then offered the job, coincidently the day after I had my meeting with the Pathways officer. I cannot thank the company enough for giving me this chance, as I had begun to think I would never be offered employment and certainly not a job I love as much as this one. The offer was made despite my disability and having a honeymoon booked for September and time off for my wedding in July.
As I think may be obvious this position is like having won the lottery, all the staff are so friendly, as are the members of my class and I love the buzz of seeing others actively engage in the programme and ultimately gain employment (many of whom feel as I did before I was offered this position).
We as a company and myself as an individual can make so much difference to peoples lives, it is amazing to be part of such a active champion to the many disadvantaged and often excluded people who pass through our doors.
I look forward to working for the company for a long time to come and had to write and say a big thank you.

My A4e - Ann Hinchliffe

2008-06-13T11:47:00.000+01:00

Lots of good A4e stories are about recognisable success, like the chap writing his name. I'd like to suggest that a lot of our successes may be real but unrecognisable, either because success isn't always instant or because it's gift-wrapped in an unexpected colour. The coffee question's like that.

I've found this attitude reassuring in years of teaching children and adults: they may or may not get the certificate you're aiming at but often the seeds you've sown will be reaped in odd ways, or years later. Fingers crossed that that's so in my current classes of offenders, sometimes moved to another prison at short notice by the Home Office.

Thirty years ago I was a VSO English teacher in Papua New Guinea. (Please don't think "cannibal" stereotype -- just ordinary kind people). A year after I got back, one of my Sixth Form students wrote me a chatty 2-page letter. Bottom of page one: "We were pleased that you were our teacher, because you . . ." I turned the page with eager anticipation: was it lucid grammar teaching or attempts to inspire them with poetry that they valued? Page two: ". . . danced in our village." Pardon? The memory came back of a thatched village one evening where I'd accepted the invitation to join a traditional circle dance. Afterwards, several villagers said no European had ever been willing to have a go before then. Still don't know whether my English teaching was any good but I'm really proud that this young woman was pleased with my dancing.

Ann Hinchliffe, OLASS, HMP Erlestoke and Dorchester

My A4e - Mark Feegan

2008-06-11T20:41:00.001+01:00

My blog is about one of our clients here in Warrington, called Tanya White who was on the Programme Centre Course.
Tanya started with us on the 10/03/08 and from the first day of her arrival she knew she wanted to work in the catering industry.
At the time there were no catering jobs available so Tanya agreed, and was very keen to gain experience dealing with customers and so she therefore took a placement at Scope in Warrington. During the time that Tanya was attending her placement I approached the Manager at TJ Hughes cafe in Warrington and told him about Tanya and we both agreed to give her a trail period with them.
Whilst Tanya was working with TJ Hughes she received some very distressing news regarding a family member and therefore had to take time off her placement due to this. Even though Tanya had personal issue to deal with she still found time to call in to keep us informed of her situation, which we then passed this on to her placement on a daily basis.
When Tanya was able to return to the placement we helped and supported her and it wasn’t long before Tanya informed us that she had gained full time employment!
I cant begin to tell you how this made me, as a Recruiter feel proud of what we do! We had just helped a client who had gone through such a traumatic time, gaining employment in a field that she wanted to be in and we really did improve her life!
I went to meet with the Manager at TJ Hughes to finalise things and the comments about the service we provide was fantastic " I think what A4e do is so supportive and rewarding’ and “ I have never worked with a company that shows so much help, and put the customer at the heart of everything they do and it's great to see!"
Knowing that what we really does make such a difference is so rewarding!

My A4e - Deborah Waite

2008-06-06T13:05:00.002+01:00

Hi,

my name’s Deborah Waite and I’m Mark Lovell’s Assistant – I have been for the past 9 years.

Throughout the nineties I worked in share registration for a high street bank. When it came to a time for change, I really wanted to do something different – and A4e looked very different.

I attended an interview with Mark, during which he spoke at me for the majority of the time – I couldn’t get a word in edgeways (no change there!).
I thought the company sounded great & he was an interesting fella, but as I hadn’t had chance to say much, I didn’t think much would come of my brief time there. However, a second interview followed, with a chance to meet a few more great staff and I was in – Head Office Administration Manager at Bessemer Road.

The first day was a bit of a blur, loads or new names and faces and a lot of information to take on board – as with any new job.
The second day (don’t worry I’m not going to go through the whole nine years day by day) involved a trip to an office – Doncaster, my home town!
On arrival I was greeted by some great, friendly welcoming people and invited to sit in on a training session. Being the new girl, I was listening intently to what the tutor was saying, but kept getting distracted by a middle aged man who was becoming increasingly agitated at the back of the classroom. Having been brought up in a small village, I’d led quite a protected life. From my protected little bubble, this behaviour just seemed rude to me – to be honest, this man was getting on my nerves. The tutor had to stop what he was doing because the man at the back was getting so excited. On being asked what the matter was, the man proudly announced that he had written his name – for the first time!!! He was in his 50s – I was amazed & quickly succumbed to tears.
There’d been a high level of education expected of me throughout my upbringing – in fact it was taken for granted – in my naivety I couldn’t believe someone could reach adulthood not being able to read.
At that moment I ‘got’ A4e – wow!
This man considered himself to be on the scrapheap when he’d been made redundant from his job sweeping floors – he hadn’t been able to help himself, as he couldn’t read or write. He’d been made to feel welcome and worthwhile by A4e and he’d learned how to write his name – the thought of his giddiness can still bring tears to my eyes.

This is what we do day after day – step by step overcoming the barriers people face to social inclusion. Mark and the rest of the senior team are a demanding bunch to work with, always striving for new & better ways to improve people’s lives around the world – and thanks to that man in Doncaster, I totally understand why!

Deborah Waite

In Work, Better Off: Next Steps to Full Employment

2008-01-10T13:41:00.000Z

A4e has produced a report outlining its views in response to the “In Work, Better Off” (IWBO) consultation. A summary of the response can be found below and we invite you to download a pdf of the full response and would welcome any enquiries for further clarification on any aspects of it.

Introduction
A4e has been at the forefront of welfare to work delivery in the past twenty years, delivering work-focused services to over one million individuals. We are the largest supplier of DWP contracted services to the workless in the UK. This has provided us with direct experience of a number of welfare models and approaches to tackling poverty and exclusion. As well as working with central government departments and agencies, A4e works with Regional Development Agencies and local authorities. In addition to welfare and employment provision, our services include learning and skills support, services tackling financial exclusion, Third Sector capacity building and grant distribution, education services targeting marginalised individuals, supply chain management for public sector organisations, business support and regeneration services.

A4e also delivers welfare to work services to overseas governments. We deliver services in France, Germany, Poland, and Israel. Our involvement in the development of welfare reform in different international markets provides us with key insights into best practice and also what doesn’t work. We then apply what we learn in delivery of our UK welfare to work services.

We broadly welcome the Green Paper titled “In Work, Better Off”. The paper proposes innovative reform for the welfare system which should enable the Government to move towards some of its ambitious targets such as raising the employment rate to 80 per cent and reducing the number of children in poverty by half (between 1998/99 and 2010/11).

Our response to this consultation consists of a summary of the recommendations of our response, a general review of what A4e considers to be the key issues raised in IWBO and is then followed by our reactions to the Consultation Questions.

Summary of A4e’s Recommendations
A4e wants to play a central role in the reforms outlined in IWBO. In order to achieve our shared goal of 80% employment we need to improve and extend workforce skills development activities, create new healthy enterprises and introduce new ways of delivering Welfare support programmes that incentivise and motivate. We strongly believe that personalisation of support is important. We also strongly support the clear conditionality framework outlining the rights and responsibilities pact between Government and the customer. Strong and clear messages at commencement ensures that sanctions, or indeed the threat of sanctions, should not be needed in the majority of cases.

As a private sector provider that works with both public and Third Sector partners we recommend that Specialist Suppliers are given the opportunity to lead the personalisation of services. Current Prime Contracting does not give providers and sub contractors the flexibility to provide what works for customers. We need to move from prescribed activities and supply side management towards allowing providers to make decisions that bring results.

In order to enable this current commissioning there needs to be a focus on scale and duration of contract. This will bring about benefits for the customer. Increased scale will:

+ enable providers to invest in both structure and people to provide excellent customer service
+ deliver a flexible personalised service
+ result in world class supply chain management systems
+ result in healthy financial organisations able to deliver the performance and results that meet key PSA objectives

To download a copy of the full A4e response please click here

The report was produced by the A4e Policy and Research team.

A4e response to Department for Work and Pension's commissioning strategy

2007-11-28T09:36:00.000Z

A4e, Europe’s largest provider of welfare to work programmes, and a provider of a variety of front line public services, responds to the Department for Work and Pensions's (DWP’s) commissioning strategy:

We welcome the DWP’s interim report on its’ commissioning strategy. The emphasis on a prime contractor model and extended contracts will help tailor and personalise services to each customer’s needs and enable delivery at a time, place and pace suitable to them.

Our research and experience clearly indicates that collaboration is essential to reducing worklessness in this country and supporting the hardest to reach clients. There is no single organisation that can deliver all the services required and as such developing sophisticated, well resourced supply chains is a key role with larger contracts. There is a greater role for smaller, specialist providers in this model and prime providers must evidence their capability to manage this process.

There needs to be continued discussion around the ‘boundaries’ of contract structure – for example in city regions. Cross cutting programmes at regional or national level for specific customer groups may provide better service and value to customers. There needs to links to the Jobcentre Plus districts but innovative models that personalise high quality services at different geographical levels should not be discounted at this stage. We encourage continued debate in Government around such boundaries.

It is important to clarify the Government’s position about Jobcentre Plus’s 'ownership' of the client's end-to-end journey and how this works for long-term claimants. The private and voluntary sector can add significant value and innovation in working with the hardest to reach. A4e’s position is that suppliers should be asked to tackle the hardest issues, at sufficient scale, to allow innovation and investment.

This approach enables the public sector to maximise its effectiveness, efficiency and capability with shorter term claimants and develop effective integration with public, private and voluntary suppliers. A model of using either the public or private/voluntary sectors for the same service dilutes effective performance and reinforces an artificial divide amongst different organisations. The interim strategy provides the potential for a seamless integration amongst public, private and voluntary suppliers to deliver a modern, world-leading welfare state.

Notes to editors:
A4e is a business with a social mission. Running front line public services in a number of countries, A4e is focused on joining up skills, employment, welfare and a range of other services to drive economic and social development. A4e input into David Freud’s ‘In Work Better Off’ consultation making the following recommendations in the context of commissioning modern welfare services:

1.1. Minimum of 5 year contracts (with the possibility of a two year roll-on should delivery meet agreed high performance targets)
1.2. A prime supplier model for delivery where the financial risk is taken by the over-arching contractor and a vibrant supply chain developed as part of the ‘prime contract’.
1.3. Contract sizes should be allocated on the basis of what works – rather than prescribe fixed geographical look at models developed on customer need and dovetailing with other funding initiatives to develop services for the hardest to reach
1.4. Greater onus placed on prime contractors to provide clarity, costings, values and rationale in the development of Third Sector and smaller suppliers (30% of all delivery within a supply chain)
1.5. Greater investment in services with the third sector and small suppliers extending their range and scope replacing ‘top slicing’ or passing on risk’ models to specialist suppliers
1.6. Non-funded pilots – joining up cross departmental funding streams - should be used as a tool to encourage further reform and to better explore ‘what works’ and drive better value for money.

For further information: Golley Slater Public Relations - 0207 255 6400

Rebecca Johnston, 07967 600 436 / rjohnston@golleyslater.co.uk
Lorraine Calvey, 07903 250 393 / lcalvey@golleslater.co.uk

A4e and Sheffield FC

2007-11-09T13:50:00.000Z

Working for A4e has given me exposure to lots of different and interesting projects that A4e support. Last night took this took on a different dimension. I had won a competition run by marketing to be part of Sheffield FC’s squad in a match against Inter Milan. The match was to commemorate Sheffield’s 150^th anniversary. As part of the evening I also had the chance to meet Pele.

I had a great night myself (a big thank-you to Emma for donating this prize). It was particularly good to see so many people supporting Sheffield FC; there were 18,500 people at Bramall Lane for the match. Sheffield FC, who are a real force for grass roots football, are doing great work with their Boots For Africa campaign. Their campaign is attempting to collect and deliver 2007 cleaned up and tied up pairs of used football boots to the children of South Africa.

It’s great that we sponsor an organisation doing so much work to Improve People’s Lives. You can find out more about the work that Sheffield FC do at http://www.sheffieldfc.com/

A4e, Europe’s largest provider of welfare to work programmes, responds to the Education and Skills Bill

2007-11-06T08:57:00.001Z

“We welcome the proposed expansion in the number of apprenticeships by 90,000 although it will be a challenge to get more employers to offer them. There are two key issues that needed addressed.

The first relates to employer engagement and how employers are incentivised to take on apprentices that have partially completed their apprenticeships elsewhere. Portability of apprenticeships is a problem that does not appear to be addressed by the proposed Bill, but we believe it will be key to improving employer support and youth participation rates.

Secondly, whilst we are encouraged by the extension of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) to all young people taking Entry to Employment courses, we hope the Government has reviewed the tax implications for those on apprenticeships. Currently, if you go into an apprenticeship programme you pay the standard tax rates and it can have an adverse impact on the family benefits and tax credits. We strongly support the EMA but let’s not penalise those young people who are looking to enter employment via an apprenticeship.

In terms of NEETs, again the government has announced significant improvements. However, we strongly encourage them to become more sophisticated in their classification of NEETS and identify those young people who are the hardest to reach within the estimated 10 per cent who currently fall within this group.

“If the Government does this we will be better placed to provide the intensive support needed to motivate the most marginalised and most at risk of dropping out of education and training. The short-term cost will be high, but the long-term social cost of doing nothing is even greater. For instance, A4e runs Life Academies for children aged between 14 and 16 years who are struggling at school and at risk of exclusion and provides them with highly personalised education. This costs around £9,000 per learner but it could cost the government £60,000 to process a court appearance should the young person drop out of the system and turn to crime; and re-offending costs this country over £11 billion per year.

"Lastly, given the increased role of Local Authorities (LAs) in the provision of advice and guidance to young people, let’s make sure they are fully equipped to provide a consistently high level of support for the hardest to reach. As well as LAs providing advice on educational choices, there needs to be a holistic approach to the type of support provided for NEETS. The childcare scheme for young mothers should be extended to include male parents, plus there needs to be a focus on financial guidance and offender education.”

entrepreneurial growth and size are not mutually exclusive.

2007-10-25T16:02:00.000+01:00

The received wisdom of entrepreneurial growth is clear. A new company is entrepreneurial, it is quick to adapt and respond to new opportunities and it has the ability to find niches and compete with larger players. As the organisation grows it must also “grow up”. It loses its entrepreneurial spirit, it puts plans in place, becomes more structured; it puts in place a strategic planning process that predetermines future growth and resource investment and as a result is slower to respond to new opportunities.

But received wisdom has always had short thrift at A4e. I would argue that we have maintained at the heart of the organisation an entrepreneurial spirit which is reflected in a dynamic growth strategy. This dynamism is as much a part of the business now we are a £120m organisation as when we were a £1m, £5m and £50m company.

So what does this strategy look like? How can entrepreneurial dynamism coexist with the operational demands of an international company employing 2,500 people working in 160 locations? It is perhaps often easier to demonstrate how we have challenged the received wisdom in front line service delivery. A4e was one of the first organisation to provide open plan, customer focused offices for welfare to work services, working ‘with’ rather than ‘to’ clients. We have demonstrated that a private sector organisation can fairly, equitably and successfully distribute funds to voluntary and community sector organisations. We have shown that ‘managing agents’ not only deliver higher performance through supply chains but can also capacity build and create market opportunities for supply chain partners.

So challenging the status quo and the way things are done is an embedded part of A4e. it is hard wired into the way we work and the style of service operation. And our growth strategy reflects this. We are striving for an equilibrium between dynamic growth and entrepreneurialism and operational efficiency. it is an imperfect, ever changing line, one that creates management stretch and difficult decision making with the ability to both grow and drive shareholder value.

At A4e I believe we have created an environment in which,

1. We are competitively responsive and can quickly identify and respond to new market opportunities. The ‘ipod effect’ of balancing the right skills and resource with market opportunities. Our Offender Learning and Skills Service delivery is a great example, from no previous delivery to the largest independent sector provider in two years.

2. The balance between maintenance activity (of existing markets) and big wins is amorphous but successful. A4e has a proven ability to both grow in its core markets – welfare reform and learning and skills – in addition to strong organic growth in new markets such as local authority and financial inclusion services.

3. We are very good at formulating a position – balancing intuitive forward thinking with flexible resource deployment. The development of the legal services market through our provision of both telephone and face to face advice is a great example of identifying a market opportunity; developing alliances; defining our position and then deploying both strategic thinking and operational resource to quickly capitalise on the opportunity.

4. Static strategy concepts such as market share, core competencies and corporate culture are all interesting facets of our growth – but they neither define nor dictate our approach. Instead our approach is both ‘deliberate and emergent’. It is deliberate in its broad lines and direction, but emergent in its details so that they can change – or be thrown out – on route.

What we have achieved I think is an entrepreneurial approach which is dynamic; which balances the need for operational stability with the desire to capitalise on new market opportunities; which has the dual benefit of both delivering consistent growth whilst delivering measurable improvements in shareholder return. Whilst much of this may sound intangible, I believe there are a two primary identifiable and potentially replicable characteristics.

Firstly, we operate with clear purpose and direction. We deliver front line public services – not infrastructure, back office or IT. We are about improving people’s lives. We deliver profitable growth but not at the expense of the client. This creates a clear framework for decision making and strategic focus. In a rapidly changing public service environment, this is our first port of call.

Secondly, its incremental and iterative. Strategies that are successful remain, those that aren’t are questioned, debated, re-designed. Our strategy evolves as internal decisions and external events flow together to create a shared consensus. This enables us to balance forward thinking with fact based analysis.

The net result of this approach demonstrates that entrepreneurial dynamism and size do not have to be mutually exclusive. We have created the right environment for dynamic growth. We have put the right people in place to take this entrepreneurial approach towards our growth ambitions.

The importance of independent financial information and guidance

2007-10-23T15:53:00.000+01:00

Currently, hardly a day goes by without further reports of the spiralling personal debt problem in the UK, with credit card debt and the "sub prime" mortgage crisis jostling for position. While the figures are certainly alarming it is the personal stories behind them that offers most cause for concern. Personal debt and/or exclusion from independent financial information and guidance can lead to social exclusion, housing problems and legal proceedings.

A4e is involved in a number of financial inclusion programmes, ranging from schemes delivered in communities that demystify financial jargon and help people improve their ‘financial capability ’ through to legal advice and guidance delivered to people who may be at risk of eviction from their homes.

A4e has made a clear commitment to tackling exclusion at source, as well as ensuring that those that are experiencing difficulties can access, ‘free to the user’ impartial information, advice and guidance that will enable them to take steps to address their problems.

A4e welcomed the announcement of the UK’s Generic Financial Advice Strategy, led by Otto Thoresen (Chief Exec of AEGON) and his Review Team at HM Treasury in January 2007. A4e believes that a free, national service has a key role to play in providing guidance and information to improve the ability of consumers in engaging with the financial services sector and to make more informed decisions on what financial products are best for them.

A4e is delighted to be working on behalf of Mr Thorsen and the Review Team to deliver the pilot of this scheme; ensuring that whether someone is changing job, moving house, starting a family or looking for information and guidance on tax and benefits, saving and planning for retirement, as well as budgeting and jargon-busting , they can access a neutral, independent service when and how it suits them.

Running until 17th December in South Yorkshire, Staffordshire and London, MoneyFitness combines phone, web and face-to-face access points to over 5,000 consumers, helping the Review Team determine the most appropriate and cost effective delivery model for providing Generic Financial Advice across the country. The Review will publish its interim report in the Autumn, followed by the full report in 2008.

International Development

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A4e is developing a global footprint in the delivery of front line public services.

Over the last 3 years A4e has developed its capacity and market offer for international governments. Our first international contract, secured in Israel in 2005, has paved the way for substantial growth and expansion in our chosen international markets. We are working with governments to tackle poverty and exclusion; enable more people to access better jobs; reduce re-offending rates; and drive economic competitiveness.

We are now delivering from over 160 locations in the UK, France, Germany, Israel, and Poland. Pipeline opportunities, in new and existing markets, are strong. Over the next year we are well positioned to capitalise on the investment in international development we have made in 2006 and the first half of 2007, with substantive opportunities in South Africa, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Australia.

But our international work is perhaps best characterised by the impact we are making with individual customers and communities. Clients, many of whom were distanced from the labour market, have received intensive support to help them find work and ensure they stay there. They have benefited from personalised education, health, employment, skills development, coaching and mentoring services. We are making a real difference to people’s lives in an international market.

Our strategy

A4e is exporting UK best practice in the delivery of front line public services. We are focusing on three core areas of public policy; welfare and employment; offender learning and skills; and economic regeneration. This is a powerful service offer to international governments for three reasons:

1. Firstly, the UK is recognised by the OECD as one of the global leaders in addressing these areas of public policy. The ‘UK PLC’ brand in public service delivery is strong;
2. Secondly, A4e is recognised as a leading provider of these front line public services. As an example, A4e is the largest provider of New Deal welfare services on behalf of Jobcentre Plus and it is the largest independent provider of Offender Learning and Skills Services; and
3. Thirdly, whilst the international market for Public Private Partnerships in the delivery of “infrastructure, back office or IT projects” is well developed, the delivery of front line services, particularly in the delivery of social welfare policy and economic regeneration, is less well developed.

In taking forward our service offer, we are targeting three distinct international government markets. We:

Work with governments to design new public policy and implement new – untested – front line public services.

Work with governments to radically improve the delivery of existing public services.

Work with governments that are experiencing market failure in mature public service markets.

The next year

The next year offers a wealth of exciting opportunities for A4e, both in existing and new international markets. For example:

In Poland, we are developing substantive links and partnership agreements in preparation for country wide opportunities in Autumn 2007 in our core welfare to work and economic regeneration markets

In Germany, we are working closely with the government to help re-shape and reform the delivery of welfare to work programmes for the over 50s, a priority target group for Western Europe over the next 15 years

In South Africa, we are working to develop pilot proposals to address poverty and worklessness in townships in Johannesburg

In Australia, we are laying the foundations for growth in 2008 and 2009, in preparation for the commissioning of new welfare to work suppliers to help target people with disabilities and lone parents

In Sweden, we are working with policy makers to help inform the development of a mixed economy of providers in the delivery of public services

We have the opportunity to make a difference to thousands of lives as a leader on global public service reform.