Business-Led Social Innovation
Key to our innovation and growth as a services and solutions provider has been by aligning our business strategy and social strategy. Our core social values are focused to impact locally and reduce societal costs. This has been achieved through our business led social innovation projects which cover Time, Work Experience, Money, Jobs & Space.
Alternative Recruitment in collaboration with Antz Junction
An alternative recruitment process to tap into the talent from forgotten communities, supporting local talent from Salford, Tameside & Droylsden into the business. Office Tech Holdings are offering on the job work experience– bringing balance to the skills gaps across Greater Manchester across the digital technology sector.
We have over the past 3 years ran alternative recruitment projects ssupporting 22 members, ranging from 19-61 years of age from our local communities, they have helped people with social difficulties, which include ex-offenders, significant problems with confidence or self-esteem, significant problems with motivation or attendance, poor or erratic attendance during the last year of education, exclusion from school or no record of school. Office tech holdings through Docutech have supported them through training both personal and professional, giving them over 1,200 + hours of training.
To date of the people helped via Alternative Recruitment:
accredited learning gained Pearson Edexcel L1 Award in Work skills, Pearson Edexcel Level 1 Award in Customer Service and City and Guilds Award in Work skills and customer services.
71% gained employment
Cost savings to Society £94,000, C.I.K – Contribution in Kind £14,175
“Taking people on in this way requires a level of commitment, as people with multiple barriers need extra support, it’s not a simple route, however the results I’ve seen with the people I have offered work experience to and employed has been fantastic.”
Jason Dixon – Director Office-Tech Holdings Group
Working It Out – Prison Print Shop
Office Tech Holdings is committed to supporting prisoners, through an accredited learning programme which will upskill and address re-offending behaviour. The ‘Through the Gate’ programme aims to break the cycle, by offering life skills, further training and employment opportunities to prisoners. Office Tech Holdings believe that everybody deserves a second chance. They aim to contribute business engagement, funding and work readiness expertise to the programme.
Engaging with Forest Bank HMP, contractual ran by Sodexo UK and Ireland. Office Tech Holdings will run a print shop from within the prison, in an effort to reduce reoffending by breaking the cycle of reoffending, Office Tech Holdings will offer prisoners the chance to work while carrying out their sentence. A Sodexo employee will be trained and run the operation from within the prison, with prisoners. The offenders will be trained in a variety of print, copy and life skills.
Office Tech Holdings will source work externally for the print shop, linking into ethical procurement and businesses social strategies. When the workshop is established, Office Tech Holdings, in partnership with Antz Junction charity will deliver a ‘Through the Gate’ work ready programme for prisoners who are working in the workshop.
59% of prisoners, re-offend in the first year of their release. Punishment is pointless if prisoners go on to offend again when they are released. Equipping offenders for life after prison is one of the main challenges. Preparing them to find employment is a known way to reduce the likelihood of reoffending, as in addressing any social problems they may have including alcoholism, drug abuse or homelessness.
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/poverty/downloads/keyofficialdocuments/Reducing%20Reoffending.pdf
Working with 20 men across a 12-month period (TBC), working within a person centred approach, each man will have up to 6 months’ support, outcomes into employment – 50%, re-offending rate down to 10% (national average 59%)
Cost savings to Society £30K
Stepping Up – For a better future Diane Modahl
Office-Tech Holdings are expanding their reach to work with local charities and social enterprise and are currently in the planning stage of phase one working with The Diane Modahl Sports Foundation (DMSF), a charity working with young people from disadvantaged areas across the North West. Identifying young people aged 14-16, to participate in work ready learning, in order for them to make an effective transition from school into employment. Creating opportunities so that young people are able to make this transition, and compete at a world class level.
Office -Tech Holdings will support young people through work ready learning in 6 week blocks, with three levels of learning – first steps, next steps and progression, the 6 weeks of progression learning will include work experience and professional mentor opportunities. The experiences they provide foster aspiration and give young people a purpose and a drive to succeed that opens up opportunities for them and enables them to make choices about their future.
The benefits of the programme spread across the school and into the wider local community, as friends and family start to share in the enthusiasm and see how much kids can achieve through focus and determination.
It’s a unique approach to meeting the needs of our young people – and it works.
Cost savings to Society £14K
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Understanding challenges in the workplace – Office Tech Holdings are partnering North West Charity Stubby Lee http://stubbyleecg.org/ to promote Health and Wellbeing in the workplace. Enabling a route for charities to support business with services like mental health support.
Purchasing Socially & Locally
Buying locally and socially has always been a key factor within Office Tech Holdings procurement, supporting sustainable growth locally. Office Tech Holdings has incorporated this into its DNA, purchasing locally, supporting enterprise is how we are doing business, and our offender project reflects the benefits locally and socially. Firmly on our agenda we endeavour to reach more local business, charities and social enterprise to buy more products and services. Currently 5% of our procurement is local and social procurement with organizations like: –
http://parties.bigtop.catering/
Space
Office Tech Holdings are currently searching for a charity to occupy space within their premises in Tameside.