Championing inclusive recruitment at Festival of Work 2024

The CIPD Trust sparked important conversations at this year’s Festival of Work Conference in London. Our aim was to highlight the power held by people professionals to drive change and deliver more inclusive policies and processes that can transform the opportunities available to people with barriers to work.

Our sessions at Festival of Work

Aligned with our mission to empower underrepresented groups into meaningful employment, we hosted two impactful sessions that each consisted of a panel discussion and interactive workshop. On day one we focused on hiring refugees and on day two the focus was on supporting people with experience of the criminal justice system.

Recruiting and retaining refugees

Our first session kicked off with speakers from Amazon and RefuAid discussing the many barriers faced by refugees trying to secure work in the UK and how employers can successfully address these barriers.

Along with CIPD Student member and bursary recipient, Aissa, they considered common obstacles, such as interviews, visas, language, credential recognition, employment gaps, and adapting to new cultures and environments.

The importance of contextual recruitment was highlighted – tailoring the hiring process through to diverse needs and backgrounds – and the value of securing buy-in from all staff.

The need to develop cultural intelligence, promote knowledge sharing initiatives and bridge the gap between charities that support refugees and employers seeking skilled talent was also key to the discussion.

There were four key take-aways from the session:

Hiring refugees brings greater innovation, an enriched company culture and a highly motivated, qualified, and diverse workforce.
An inclusive recruitment policy breaks down barriers and unlocks potential.
Achieving equity requires clear minimum standards to be established across hiring practices.
Organisations can showcase their inclusive culture through case studies and stories that highlight the power of diverse perspectives.

Supporting people with convictions

Our second inspiring session was chaired by Head of CIPD Trust, Sally Eley and focused on how to better support people with convictions into work. With roughly one in four people in the UK having a criminal record, this is a critical issue that needs to be addressed and must become part of the conversation in all UK workplaces.

We heard from Lynn Delaney who is currently mentoring on our pilot Beyond the Gates programme at HMP Styal in Cheshire. Lynn discussed the importance of patience and building trust during the mentoring process and went on to say

It's not only about practical support around CV writing and interview skills but also helping to build confidence and self-esteem as people make the transition out of prison and into life outside the gates.

Guest speakers from Coop and St Giles Trust touched on key challenges faced by people leaving prison to secure work. These included disclosure confusion for both applicants and employers, stigma around certain offences (including sex crimes and arson), reputational risk and fear of reoffending.

The session emphasised the importance of clear and transparent disclosure guidelines for all parties, directing applicants to independent advice services to clarify disclosure needs, and encouraging employer collaboration with rehabilitation charities. The need for crisis management plans and support resources was also highlighted as areas which employers need to consider.

There were again four key take-aways:

Utilising the talent of people with convictions builds a loyal, reliable workforce, lowers recruitment costs and boosts retention.
Employers benefit from knowing more about the person being recruited than anyone coming through another recruitment stream.
Transparency and inclusive language attracts, rather than deters, qualified candidates.
Collaboration with experienced partners on risk assessments and initial steps can help, and organisations are on hand to offer support!

Across both days of Festival of Work, our stand also proudly hosted Offploy, a leading organisation dedicated to empowering individuals with convictions to find meaningful employment. Their mission is to equip these individuals with the tools and support they need to rebuild their lives, contribute positively to society, and ultimately, reduce recidivism rates.

Refugees workshop — Supporting people with convictions
interactive workshop