Support available to businesses employing people with previous offending behaviour will be the focus of a lunch-and-learn event open to Aberdeen employers next month.
The consequences of having to disclose previous offending behaviour can have a substantial impact on people’s ability to get a job, education or volunteering. Reducing these barriers will enable people to move on from their previous offending behaviour and to contribute to society.
It is the latest in a series of Employer Sessions organised by ABZWorks, Aberdeen City Council’s Employability and Skills service, to make jobs and training opportunities accessible for people who face barriers to work.
There will be presentations highlighting good practice and case studies from HMP Grampian, construction firm Robertson, and pub and brewery business Greene King.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “People with previous offending behaviour face significant challenges in securing employment.
“These Employer Sessions are informative and offer attendees the opportunity to learn from other employers who have first-hand experience in the given topic. By working together, we can create inclusive opportunities to support people into employment, ensuring no-one is left behind.”
Employers will also hear about a partnership between HMP Grampian, Greene King and ABZWorks – a Scottish first – that has seen the first group of individuals in custody graduate from the ‘Greene King Academy’ and be offered jobs before being released from prison.
City employers can sign up to this free event, which is being held from 12noon until 2pm, on Thursday, January 18 in the Northern Lights room, at Aberdeen Beach Ballroom.
ABZWorks offers a broad range of support for businesses including seed funding for business start-up in partnership with Business Gateway, an Employer Recruitment Incentive Scheme and paid work experience schemes.
Anyone living in Aberdeen seeking employability support can contact ABZWorks by calling the helpline on 01224 346100, emailing abzworks@aberdeencity.gov.uk or by completing the self-referral form https://forms.office.com/r/s4eXcZ0Xz8.
Further information about ABZWorks is available at https://abzworks.co.uk/employability-support.