Employers case studies

NEC Group has always been one of the supportive employers in the borough. Our Employer Engagement Officers have always worked with them for their recruitment. In February, we arranged for a day of interviews for their vacancies. It was a great success with 6 job offers. To generate interest in the sector, we identified a cohort of candidates with additional needs who would benefit from an employer site visit to better understand what the working environment may look like. We worked with the NEC Group for a site tour in March.

Angela Walsh, Education and Community Engagement Lead from the NEC Group, welcomed 10 candidates with an engaging presentation and a tour during the quieter period being mindful of the group’s needs.

Angela motivated the cohort by answering their questions and encouraging them to explore future careers in hospitality and catering. The candidates were able to speak to staff directly and gain insights into the application process. They also got tips on interview questions, CVs and the opportunity to be part of the major esports event in March 2025. Candidates left feeling encouraged and some even asked about roles they could apply for.

Angela said: “It was great welcoming a group from Solihull Council to the NEC group. I love our collaboration supporting individuals to have the confidence to take their next steps towards employment.”

Participants shared: “We have really enjoyed the visit today. Now we want to apply for jobs with the NEC group. We’ve actually got appointments booked in to apply for roles that we are interested in, as well as volunteering at the esports events. It was a very insightful day! Thank you.”

Get in touch with our employer engagement officers and find out more about how we can support your business.

By working with our team, businesses can grow their team, expand their reach and raise their profile in the borough. J.Sondh Limited is one of the employers that are benefiting from this collaboration.

Our Employer Engagement Officer Sarah first connected with them in October 2024. As a family-run business, it is great for J.Sondh to just get out there and promote their company to potential candidates and customers. They exhibited at our jobs fair and Solihull Apprenticeship Show in January which was attended by 1,200 residents. They also attended networking events. 

After understanding the breadth of support we offer, they are exploring inclusive employment opportunities such as offering work experience and placement to individuals with additional needs. It will help them future-proof their workforce by embracing inclusion in their team.

They recently emailed our Employer Engagement Officer, Sarah. They said: “I just wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for everything you do. You have gone above and beyond to support us, always encouraging us to grow, network, and connect with the right people.

“Your kindness, friendliness, and incredible knowledge have made such a huge impact, and we truly wouldn’t be where we are without you - that’s 100% genuine. From helping us find new employees to offering guidance at every step, your support has been invaluable. It’s amazing to think that it all started from a simple email and a coffee! We are sure that our relationship will continue to grow, and we’re excited to see how we can work together in the future. Thank you again for everything. You are truly appreciated!”

If you are a local employer, get in touch with our team to find out more about our support for businesses.

Numeracy skills are essential for many roles and sectors. They are equally important in our personal lives for tasks including household budgeting and selecting mortgages. Free numeracy training is offered through Solihull Council under the Multiply programme.

The Multiply programme delivers the government’s pledge to help adults brush up on their numeracy skills. Delivered by the Solihull College & University Centre, the training will be tailored to your business needs with the flexibility of delivering at your premises, community venues or online. Recently, a course has been delivered to the staff of a local employer, 4PS.

Simon Homer, Lecturer and Multiply Co-ordinator of the college, had a meeting with the employer to understand their business needs and conduct an analysis for developing the course content. As a business specialising in software design for construction, civil engineering and installation industry, 4PS staff need to use numeracy skills on a daily basis. Simon proposed a refresher on quick ways of calculating and checking calculations, plus learning techniques for any staff that want to help children with their homework.

Thirteen staff members attended the 2-hour training session in their office with overwhelming positive feedback. Learners found the training useful and enjoyable. This has ignited their interest in numeracy and all of them would be interested in attending similar sessions in the future with focus on more specific topics including accounts and bookkeeping. 

Here are what some of the learners felt about their experiences:

“Great session presented by a brilliant tutor. The session was pitched at the right level for those attending and was a nice refresher/learning experience for everyone. This sort of thing could really benefit employers and employees alike.”

“I really enjoyed the maths session. The focus on basic numeracy skills was really helpful as it's been so long since I learned these. It was an excellent refresher. Simon was really engaging and made it fun and enjoyable.”

“Great initiative from Solihull Council, great to re-discover how to solve calculation in a faster way.”

Reece had been unemployed before Covid. Although he was very motivated to find work, he struggled with interviews. Reece has a learning disability and his confidence had dropped significantly after some negative experiences at interviews.

Our team first met Reece in May 2022. It was evident that he would be fit for a non-clerical role with a supportive and patient employer. We identified that Arden Hotel would be a potential employer as they had already employed other residents with learning disabilities through us. They had been impressed with their performance.

We checked with Arden Hotel for vacancies available and introduced Reece. We accompanied him to a practical work trial after which he was immediately offered full time employment. He has quickly become a valued member of the team.

Our Supported Employment Engagement Officer Sarah Wilson commented: “It is always an absolute pleasure to work with supportive employers like Arden Hotel. It has led to employment for several residents. For some, finding employment has been life changing. They have found not only a supportive employer, but also a positive and nurturing work environment. It has been an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and achieve personal goals. There is no doubt that Arden Hotel has been instrumental in creating opportunities for our residents.”

Reece shared that he was proud to work for Arden Hotel. He felt happier in work than before. This opportunity has positive impacts on his life that enables him to make new friends and be able to help others. He was happy with his new-found financial independence and confidence.

Arden Hotel’s Manager Roy Nash shared: “The reason I fell in love with hospitality is that you have so many individuals with different stories and journeys to tell. You don’t need a degree or qualification to succeed. You just need to be passionate about the work that you do and working as part of a team. It’s great to see Reece achieving both, excelling in his work and being a key part of the team. We pride ourselves in providing opportunities for individuals to shine and show their talents. We ensure our training reflects each individual’s learning style. Sarah and the team at Solihull Council are fantastic support in helping us and our team members in accomplishing just that.”

Reece has worked at Arden Hotel since May 2022. He has been recognised in a Head of Departments’ meeting for his work ethic and willingness to help other departments. We continue to check with him and offer in-work support including free training to help him further develop his skills.