A new purpose-driven initiative to create positive social, economic and environmental impacts within UK communities has been announced by one of the country’s foremost recruiters, Acorn by Synergie.
‘Acorn Impact’ will see 10,000 hours of company time dedicated to enhancing social mobility in local communities over the next three years, helping the people the recruiter works with focus on achieving their true potential.
The 10,000 hours will include actively engaging with diverse communities via partnerships, networking events and jobs fairs to attract talent from under-represented groups, providing workshops and mentoring to help people progress further in their careers, plus more.
The new strategy also aims to reduce inequalities by providing equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background and reflects Acorn by Synergie’s belief that successful businesses must play an active role in addressing social challenges.
To mark its launch, companies including engineering giant Smiths joined representatives from training and employment specialists Maximus at Acorn by Synergie’s UK headquarters for a special ‘Acorn Impact Workshop’. The event, which was also attended by members of the public, provided job seekers with an inside look at the manufacturing and production sector.
The event facilitated shared experiences between employers and career experts to help give those attending the best chance of gaining employment and excelling within the sector, with the aim of getting them into the workplace.
Owen Pottow, a job seeker from Newport, explained their reasons for attending: “I’m looking for a job and when I heard about the event I thought it could help me. They talked through different types of job roles in manufacturing which was interesting as I didn’t realise there were roles other than picking and packing in the warehouse. I’m leaving today with much more knowledge and feeling motivated to get to work!”
Held in collaboration with Maximus, which has been delivering employability services for more than 70 years to help people to find and stay in work UK-wide, the session was the first of multiple activities Acorn by Synergie will be following over the next three years under its new Acorn Impact strategy.
Stella Jones, Regional Account Manager at Maximus said: “We have worked with Acorn for many years; they cover a variety of sectors which almost gives us a one stop shop for helping our candidates with discovering other areas of work that they may not have considered previously.
She added: “The beauty of this event is that it’s face-to-face rather than online and anonymous – that is so valuable and will mean a lot to the attendees.”
Lawrence Beach, client development director for Acorn by Synergie led the event and said: “Acorn by Synergie has been working ever more closely with local communities to help close the loop between job seekers from all backgrounds and real-life work experience in recent years.
He added: “Introducing Acorn Impact as a formal business strategy that will ensure this approach now becomes integral to the work we do in bringing employers and candidates together nationwide was the logical next step for us, therefore, as a leading recruiter for the UK.”
Centred around five strategic pillars – Social Mobility, Community Engagement, Environmental Sustainability, Ethical Sourcing, and Employee Wellbeing and Development – the initiative will now be rolled out company wide to help create positive social, economic, and environmental change within communities across the UK.
Bernard Ward, Managing Director at Acorn by Synergie, added: “As an organisation we’re really passionate about being socially responsible and working together in a way that helps us all to do right by the people and communities around us.
“With this in mind, over the next three years, Acorn by Synergie is pledging to dedicate a minimum of 10,000 hours of company time towards initiatives and activities which will enhance social mobility. Our aim is to help build a more inclusive and equitable society where people from all backgrounds can thrive, helping to create a brighter future for all.”
