Gain a competitive business edge with the Building Bridges programme for employers
Is your workplace finding it hard to recruit and retain staff?
As an employer, are you interested in Corporate Social Responsibility?
Would you like to offer potentially life changing opportunities to willing individuals we are helping to overcome challenges and barriers to work?



The Building Bridges programme is here to support you:
The Building Bridges programme is jointly funded by the The National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund. The programme aims to help people facing challenges and barriers to move into work by injecting £6.4m into supporting individuals in Swindon and Wiltshire. As part of this we are seeking to support employers in Swindon and Wiltshire by matching them with individuals who can add value to their workforce and providing support to both the employer and employee.
According to the 2015 UKCES Employer Skills Survey:
- 1,651 establishments in Wiltshire and Swindon reported having at least one hard to fill vacancy (8% of establishments).
- Yet the area has an estimated 14,200 unemployed individuals
Swindon and Wiltshire has a wealth of people with valuable skills, abilities and potential who are being overlooked because employers are focusing on the barriers they face rather than the skills and attributes they could bring to the workplace.
Number of vacancies that were hard to fill in Wiltshire & Swindon
Approx. Number of unemployed people in the area
Are you ready to think differently?
We can help you to get started by offering work experience for as little as one hour per week, with the potential to offer further progression opportunities through employment or voluntary work.
With free support and careful matching from our team every step of the way, we can help to source an appropriate candidate for your workplace, potentially adding value to your organisation and opening a whole new world of opportunity for the participant.
FREE support we can offer employers in Swindon and Wiltshire
An explorative employment/work experience discussion
A face to face meeting to better understand your business requirements
An introduction to a potential candidate to work trial
Practical support with any agreed reasonable adjustments
Provision of workshops, HR advice and access to specialist support agencies
The opportunity to showcase your commitment pledging on the Swindon & Wiltshire Employability Charter
Single point of contact to jointly discuss the work experience placement or performance during the probation period, guiding you through the next steps
Support and guidance in becoming certified in employer recognition schemes
How you could benefit from taking part in the programme
Access to a large, skilled, loyal and hardworking talent pool
Potential for greater performance, innovation and growth as a result of increased workforce diversity
Added value for corporate social responsibility objectives and recognition as an employer of choice with an enhanced empployer brand
Increased staff morale, motivation and productivity whilst reducing absenteeism and staff turnover
Positive PR; featuring on Building Bridges programme website and marketing material
The opportunity to become a Disability Confident Employer and/or an Age Positive Initiative Champion
Find Out More
Wiltshire Employers Contact: Annette Holdsworth
annette.holdsworth@wiltshire.gov.uk
Phone
07917 220197
Alternative Phone
Employment and Skills Service:
01225 716890
Swindon Employers Contact: Claire Allaway
callaway@swindon.gov.uk
Mobile Phone
07769 281 645
Supporting employers in partnership with: