Employment pilot expands to connect more employers with job seekers
An innovative project is being led by Wirral Council to help people overcome barriers and find new jobs.
The Early Opportunities Pipeline, (EOP), was set up to open up employment opportunities to the most disadvantaged communities, adapting the application process to make it easier to access suitable roles.
Wirral Council is now urging other major employers in the borough to join the scheme and give Wirral residents a greater chance to access employment.
The EOP project supports residents who may not have considered applying for entry-level roles at organisations like Wirral Council and other major employers, by guiding them through a simplified application process.
For employers, the EOP process streamlines recruitment. All applications are pre-screened by ReachOut, the council’s commissioned Employment Support Service, which means hiring managers receive fewer, more relevant applications from people who are already engaged and have the skills or experience to succeed in the role.
The biggest employers in the borough, including Wirral Council, but also other public sector and major private sector organisations, all offer a huge range of roles and opportunities and are in a strong position to use their place as an employer to help local people access jobs.
This project aims to help those people who, for various reasons, may have not been able to work or those who possibly don’t realise they have skills which are transferable, and with some help and advice would be able to consider very different types of jobs and employers. This is an incredible project which has already helped a number of people secure new jobs and is ideally positioned to help even more navigate what can seem at first to be a daunting process. I’d encourage local organisations to get on board, as the pilot has shown what a positive impact this approach has for both job seekers and employers.
The council has identified several barriers that some people face when seeking employment, such as being a care leaver, young people not in education or employment (NEET), users of the Employment Support Service (ReachOut), those who have been out of the labour market for a long time, and vulnerable groups such as people with mental health challenges.
An example of how this has worked has seen Wirral Council’s recruitment team review all vacancies coming forward and identify roles – usually entry level - that could be suitable for the EOP project. The team then look to rationalise the essential criteria so that job adverts are less intimidating.
Potential candidates are shortlisted and assessed by the ReachOut service and then given help and support in the application and interview process. This has resulted in a number of successful appointments.
Helen, who now works for the council as a Recruitment Assistant, had been within the construction sector for 35 years before taking voluntary redundancy. After spending a few months at home, Helen decided to take the plunge and attended one of the council’s regular jobs fairs.
She said: “I have had such a fantastic experience since the day I walked into the job fair in Birkenhead in November last year.” Helen said she had met a member of the council’s recruitment team who explained the EOP application process and told her about a current EOP vacancy in the HR departments she could apply for by submitting a focused CV. She said: “I came away from the fair extremely positive about my future.”
Helen was given help throughout the application process “including some fantastic interview tips” and after a successful interview was offered a job. She said: “I can honestly say, it’s the best decision I have ever made and look forward to a long-lasting career within the council.”
Another council employee to benefit from the project is Cheryl. After being made redundant prior to Christmas 2023 Cheryl used a number of services in her search to secure permanent employment, before being referred to ReachOut by the Job Centre Plus. Cheryl was directed to the EOP project and secured the role of Family and Learning Engagement Officer for Wirral Lifelong Learning.
I would most definitely recommend and champion it as a positive recruitment process to other employers. I believe the employment pipeline can attract diverse candidates who are a good fit for prospective roles, some of whom may have been filtered out or not applied using traditional recruitment scoring methods. I am thankful to all involved who helped me secure my new role in such a timely and accessible manner.
Now, 18 months in, I feel stepping into this role has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. I’ve grown both professionally and personally, and I’m proud to be part of a team that values people and purpose. Every day brings new opportunities to make a difference, whether that’s supporting residents to take their first steps back into learning, engaging with learners, or contributing to the wider community. I feel truly fortunate to be doing work that matters, and to be surrounded by colleagues who inspire and support me.
I’ve also completed a relevant qualification during this time, which has really helped deepen my understanding and enhance my practice. It’s given me greater confidence in my role and added value to the support I provide.
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) have also successfully recruited through the programme.
Our ongoing collaboration with the Early Opportunities Pipeline team has been excellent - they’ve been responsive, supportive, and instrumental in ensuring candidates are well-prepared and engaged throughout the process. Through this partnership, CWP has successfully interviewed a number of candidates and has been able to offer roles to several of them.
This has not only helped address workforce needs but has also contributed to our wider commitment to inclusive recruitment and reducing health inequalities by offering meaningful employment opportunities across Cheshire and Wirral.
If you’re an employer looking to take advantage of the benefits that the EOP offers, contact EOP@wirral.gov.uk to discuss whether it could be a good fit for your organisation.
