ReWork Initiaitve

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The leading independent waste management company in the South West has announced the launch of its SWM RE.WORK INITIATIVE aimed at helping people into the workplace and employment.

SWM Operations Director Martin Mogford, who is heading the initiative, said “We recognise how difficult it can be for some people to access opportunities for employment. We see a growing number of young people struggling to get on the job ladder; and increasing numbers of people who do not have relevant skills or suitable experience to enable them to gain interviews, let alone secure employment. That is why we are keen to launch our own scheme, the SWM RE.WORK INITIATIVE which we believe will allow us to give something back to the community and do our bit to help.”

SWM provide sustainable waste management and recycling solutions, which are designed to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the future. They’re focussed on where the world is heading, rather than looking back. They’re looking to the future with an eye for sustainability at a global and personal level. Martin added “SWM is really all about the need to recycle, re-use and repair wherever possible and we are keen to extend this philosophy to help others who have had limited opportunities by assisting them to re-engage, re-train and be re-introduced into the work place. The SWM RE.WORK INITIATIVE is designed like the other parts of our business to be sustainable. We recognise that a large labour resource have in the past not been developed, stimulated or encouraged and we want to offer them a helping hand, so they can reach the opportunities afforded to other members of society”.

The SWM RE.WORK INITIATIVE has developed a strong partnership with PLUSS, the Social Enterprise organisation that supports thousands of disabled people each year to achieve work and a career. Petroc are also actively engaged with the scheme and are looking at ways of working together to support students, young and old.

SWM will work in partnership with a range of organisations to deliver a programme encompassing:

o Employer values

o Presenting yourself and your skills in the best light

o CV and application skills

o Work experience

o Apprenticeships

o Job specific and transferable skills

Martin added “Work experience and apprenticeships have come under the spotlight recently and received an amount of negative press, but for our part we believe that for some members of society a properly resourced work experience may be the only legitimate way for them to get into employment.

Experience in the workplace provides individuals with the chance to prove their commitment and heighten their awareness of the realities of successful employment. It teaches them why it’s important to turn up on time each day, allows them to develop valuable transferable skills such as team work, clear communication and a strong work ethic. It also helps nurture confidence, assertiveness and independence. For some, work experience can be the taster they need to help decide whether a particular career path is for them. For those who are disadvantaged or who have experienced difficulty finding employment it can be a stepping stone that brings them gently into the workplace. A good CV is one thing, but practical experience can be invaluable.”

There’s a cost to SWM in terms of freeing up their people to help train and mentor individuals; in making reasonable adjustments to existing work practices and procedures; in enhanced risk assessments to take into account their relative lack of knowledge and experience of the working environment. This is a cost SWM are happy to bear and a commitment that they take very seriously. To find out more about the SWM RE.WORK