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Promoting Employment Through Effective Partnerships with Businesses

Promoting Employment Through Effective Partnerships with Businesses Susan O’Mara Dana Rosanelli VCU VA BLN. Presenting Issue.

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Promoting Employment Through Effective Partnerships with Businesses

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  1. Promoting Employment Through Effective Partnerships with Businesses Susan O’Mara Dana Rosanelli VCU VA BLN

  2. Presenting Issue • U.S. Chamber, SHRM & Manpower predict workforce shortages and suggest that business generate more effective connections with diverse workforce. • People with disabilities = diverse workforce

  3. Three Goals of Community Employment Programs • To improve the quality of life of the individuals we serve through increased vocational and employment opportunities; • To serve the general community by enhancing and expanding opportunities for all job seekers to be productive, valued members of the workforce; and • To offer services and resources which contribute to the growth and prosperity of the business community. (Denise Bissonette)

  4. Current System Challenges • Limited awareness of businesses and their unique needs • Lack of clear message on business services we provide and their benefits • Isolated or disconnected business development activities

  5. Current System Challenges • Immediate needs contacts vs. long-term relationships • Insufficient coordination of business development effort • Many “wrong doors”

  6. Comprehensive Business Development Strategy • Defining the business services offered • Developing a system that provides several points of access for businesses • Establishing a professional presence in the business community

  7. Step 1: Strategic Planning • Which entities in the state have a responsibility for workforce development? Services and Resources? • What does our current labor market look like? Who are the businesses and what are their specific needs? • Specific plan for business services and delivery system

  8. Business Development Leadership Team • Facilitate strategic planning process • Provide oversight for systems development and implementation • Ensure quality and impact of effort • Promote policies to sustain effort

  9. MIG State VR Workforce Investment Board One-Stops DOL grantees Community employment providers Education agencies Business Leadership Network Chamber of Commerce Businesses State and Local Economic Development Business Development Leadership Team

  10. Business Market Assessment • Industries and businesses in our state? • Specific business needs? • Hiring practices of the businesses? • Business’ perceptions of people with disabilities? • Experiences with job applicants and employees with disabilities? • Business involvement in promoting employment of people with disabilities

  11. Service and Resource Assessment • Current business initiatives? • Specific business services and resources across agencies? • How are services currently marketed and delivered to businesses at the state/local level? • Community Workforce Networks in place? • Current staff development resources/needs? • Evaluation of effort?

  12. Public – Private Partnerships Engaging Business

  13. Business Leadership Networks What is a BLN? • An employer led organization which is focused on providing opportunities and resources for businesses to increase workforce and marketplace diversity to include individuals with disabilities. • Member of a national network, the USBLN, consisting of 51 chapters in 37 states.

  14. How the BLN can assist the Public Sector to Engage Employers • Employer Outreach • Employer Awareness of the Business Case • Employer Education and Training • Employer to Employer – Sharing Experience • Employer Resources

  15. “Business wants to see examples – and business to business communication on how it has worked in other companies.” Marriott International Public/Private Partnerships

  16. Engaging Employers…. • Understand employers needs and concerns • Emphasize the benefits to employers • Recruit business partners • Maintain the partnership

  17. Understand Employer Needs and Concerns • Does the employer need any type of training to ensure the success of the partnership? • Does the employer need any type of technical assistance? • Is employer participation convenient through easy contact and follow-up procedures?

  18. Emphasize the benefits to employers • Identify “return on investment” for employers • Identify business needs and market services that meet those those needs • Identify workplace supports that contribute to improvement of a company’s overall operational and organizational processes

  19. Recruiting Business Partners • Speak the “business language” • Keep the process with employers simple • Clearly define roles and responsibilities • Focus on customer service and satisfaction • Emphasize supports

  20. Maintain the Partnership • Publicize and promote employer contributions • Provide continual follow-up and communication

  21. Building a Business Network • Local chapter - Business Leadership Network • Local chapter - Society of Human Resource Management http://www.shrm.org • Industry Liaison Groups http://www.nilg.org/index.htm • Chamber of Commerce • Staffing Companies • Workforce Investment Board/One-Stop Centers

  22. Knowledge of resources available to employers through the partnership Ease of access to workforce development professionals Opportunity to hire a diverse workforce which includes people with disabilities What do businesses value in private-public partnerships?

  23. Lockheed Martin corporate recruiter “A single point of contact makes it so easy to develop and partnership with VR and so easy to communicate what we need. Too many people and agencies asking me for job information creates confusion and misinformation.”

  24. Step Two: • Develop a state / community system that enables you to actually deliver the information and services you’ve marketed to businesses.

  25. System Considerations: • Community based? • Depth to the network that makes it possible to be responsive?

  26. System Considerations: • Responsible lead agency / position for marketing & coordinating business services? • Community Business Development Plan • Coordinate business service delivery • Public information / educational programs • Facilitate Workforce Networks • Staff Development • Evaluation

  27. System Considerations: • Multiple avenues to access business services? - informal level… agency contacts - formal business services coordination - Workforce Networks

  28. Workforce Networks • Provide an avenue for dialogue with businesses regarding employment information • Workforce Development networking / leads • Disseminate labor market information • Workforce staff development

  29. Workforce Networks • Ownership & Location • Purpose, Agenda, Ground Rules • Coordination of Business Involvement • Facilitation

  30. Step Three: Focus efforts on establishing a professional presence in the business community. • Chambers of Commerce • Society of Human Resource Managers • Business Leadership Network • Small Business Development Centers • State Economic Development

  31. Susan O’Mara Virginia Commonwealth University (757) 412-2342 Soevans@vcu.edu Dana Rosanelli Virginia Business Leadership Network 804-782-7181 Dana.rosanelli@suntrust.com http://www.vabln.org

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