developing a strategy for effective employer engagement · developing a strategy for effective...
TRANSCRIPT
Developing a Strategy for
Effective Employer
Engagement
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August 20th, 2015
Moderator:
Panelists:
Josie Alleman
Strategic Initiatives Consultant
Social Solutions
2
Lucy Houchin
Director of Client Services
Thomas P. Miller and Associates
Scott Ellsworth
Director
Business Leaders United
“What does it take to engage
employers?”
PerformWell
August 20, 2015
Just an old manufacturing guy
About BLU
Business Leaders United for Workforce Partnerships (BLU) is the national voice of small and medium sized employers who are concerned about filling skilled positions at their companies, and who are developing public-private partnerships in their communities to better meet those skilled workforce needs.
Is the Skills Gap just a great employer
conspiracy?
Forum organized to discuss skills gap
Employers Aren’t Just Whining – the “Skills Gap” Is Real
Employers generally have a narrow view of the
workforce system
• Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Program for Adults, Dislocated Workers, and Youth
• Employment Service
• Adult Basic Education
• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Employment and Training
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training
• Community and Technical College Workforce Education and Training (Postsecondary Career and Technical Education)
• Apprenticeships
• Corrections Employment and Training
• Customized Training for Employers
• Sector Partnerships
• One-stops or American Job Centers
Typical State Workforce System
Dammit Jim, I’m a Doctor not a workforce
expert!
What are employers expecting - partner
• Employers recognize they need to be a part of the solution
• Help to understand that you’re in this with them
It’s not enough to talk – DO SOMETHING
• Don’t have employers attend “thinking” sessions often
• Take potential from meetings and turn it into kinetic actions
• Employers are looking for results, and quickly
• It is better to try something and fail than do nothing.
R&D – Ripoff and Duplicate
• Why reinvent the wheel?– 5% Promise – Rochester, NY
– Individual apprenticeships – Maysville, KY
– Healthcare apprenticeships – Cincinnati, OH
– Employer/lawmaker partnership – Minneapolis, MN
– Skilled worker supply chain – Grand Rapids, MI
– Worlds of Opportunity – Mobile, AL
Contact
Scott Ellsworth, Director, Business Leaders United for Workforce Partnerships (BLU)
Addressing the needs of business
• Founded in 1989
• Based in Indianapolis, IN
• Full-service economic and workforce development consulting firm with extensive research and strategy planning experience
• Vision of incorporating workforce development into the mainstream of economicdevelopment strategy
ABOUT
THOMAS P. MILLER AND ASSOCIATES, LLC
In a demand-driven system, how do we ensure we address the needs of business?
17
Source: US DOL, The New Vision of Rapid Response, November 2010
THE BUSINESS LIFE CYCLE: Address business needs throughout their life cycle
Source: US DOL, The New Vision of Rapid Response, November 2010
THE SYSTEM
Business
Workforce
Development
Economic
Development
Education
Collaboration
&
Information
Sharing
Needs
Solutions
How do we adopt a collaborative business services approach to address businesses’ needs?
Collaboration with partners positions the workforce systemto deliver comprehensive services to businesses
WIOA
VR
VETSABE
WP
TAA
5. Work Together
to Provide Seamless Solutions
1.Proactively
Target Businesses for
Outreach
2. Interview for
Standard Information
3. Share
Information with All Partners
4. Identify
Comprehensive Solutions for
Employer NeedsEDUCATION:
• Community Colleges• Career and Technical
Education (CTE) • 4-year Colleges &
Universities
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:• Regional & Local
Economic Development Organizations
• Industry Associations• Chambers of
Commerce
5 STEPS FOR COLLABORATIVE BUSINESS SERVICES
1. Proactively target businesses for outreach
2. Interview for standard information
3. Share information among all partners
4. Identify comprehensive solutions for employer needs
5. Work together to provide seamless solutions to businesses
STEP 1: PROACTIVELY TARGET BUSINESSES FOR OUTREACH
• Work together to determine what filtering criteria will be used to identify companies to proactively contact
• Develop a list of target companies and determining who from the partnership should contact the individual companies
STEP 2: INTERVIEW FOR STANDARD INFORMATION
• GOAL: Gather info to understand the challenges and opportunities they are facing in their business
• Develop a standard interview tool that all partners utilize when outreaching to business
• Most important part of interviewing is LISTENING!
STEP 3: SHARE INFORMATION AMONG ALL PARTNERS
• Distill main challenges and opportunities from the interview
• Determine ways to share information among all partners:
• Informal communication methods (e.g. email)
• Regular meetings among the team
• Opportunities to leverage technology (e.g. CRM)
STEP 4: IDENTIFY COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS FOR EMPLOYERS NEEDS
• Work with partners to identify resources available to address the main challenges and opportunities
•Get creative in finding solutions
•Develop a comprehensive, but tailored portfolio of services to address the company’s needs
STEP 5: WORK TOGETHER TO PROVIDE SEAMLESS SOLUTIONS TO BUSINESS
• Work with the business to prioritize services for implementation
• Help navigate the process of accessing prioritized services and resources
• Introduce partners and new services in a seamless way
Develop a familiarity with partners services and programs
Organize regular meetings and/or other means of sharing information
Communicate, communicate, communicate!
MAINTAINING PARTNERSHIPS
Communication + Transparency = Trust
Expand reach/market penetration
Maximize resources in times of dwindling funding
Increase business satisfaction
Increase positive outcomes for job seekers
BENEFITS OF COLLABORATION
DEVELOP A CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS
LEARNING IN YOUR ORGANIZATION
Coming Soon
October 20th, 2015
Register at www.performwell.org
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Q&A
Scott Ellsworth
Director
Business Leaders United
Lucy Houchin
Director of Client Services
Thomas P. Miller and Associates