Business Action on homelessness - Work placement 2

Business: Carillion Facilities Management in partnership with their client’s HSBC Contract

Date: Spring 2007

Business benefits included providing valuable experience and the opportunity to up skill our staff, increased staff morale, commitment and feeling “proud” of Carillion, widening the recruitment pool of potential employees, strengthening the diversity of the workforce, enhancing the Carillion brand and unlocking untapped talent.

Community benefits included supporting people affected by homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless back into the world of work, supporting people through the vulnerable period following the training with Carillion Job Coaches, and opening doors of Carillion to the local employment market rather than through centralised recruitment routes.

The Carillion Facilities Management (CFM) secured a placement for a homeless client, Mohammed (Mo) Jama, in partnership with their HSBC Contract. Mo was allocated a Buddy, Tony Murphy, Senior Project Manager, who built up a relationship with Mo. Transport to and from work was also arranged for Mo, by Tony. Support was also provided by other members of staff to ensure the placement provided both challenges and variety, giving Mo an insight into the facilities management industry.

The placement was a great success, with CFM staff reporting that they thoroughly enjoyed working with Mo, describing him as “An inspirational individual, who was prepared to reach out of his current situation to change his life”. The experience also provided people with a new perspective on homelessness to staff on the HSBC contract.

The aim of BAOH is to break the vicious cycle of ‘no job, no home’ by helping homeless people to find employment and live independently. This fundamentally underpinned the placement and it is felt that the placement provided the catalyst for Mo to change his life, whilst growing his confidence, experience and self-esteem. Mo continued to receive support from Job Coach.

As a result of the BAOH placement, Mo has gone on to full employment with Carillion Roads as a quantity surveyor. He started work in October 2007, on the M25 Junction 28 contract. Mo attends university one day per week and attends work on the other four.

This case study demonstrates the unique role business can have in helping the homeless to improve their lives, through the provision of opportunity and support.