Employer Engagement Quick Guide for Employment Specialists This short guide outlines a relationship-focused approach to engaging employers in East London as part of the Connect to Work program. The aim is to build sustainable partnerships through supported employment principles, emphasizing trust, mutual understanding, and tailored recruitment solutions. The traditional “vacancy chasing” method must be replaced with a strategic, consultative approach to foster long-term collaboration, enabling better outcomes for employers and candidates alike, particularly neurodivergent and diverse talent. 1. Approach Overview Research and Preparation • Understand the employer’s business, sector, recent developments, and challenges. • Identify any mutual connections or community links to facilitate warm introductions. • Clarify your objectives: building rapport, understanding needs, and positioning Connect to Work as a strategic partner. Initial Contact • Preferably via a warm phone call introduction, personalized email, or referral. • The focus is on requesting a brief face-to-face meeting to understand their workforce and recruitment challenges, rather than immediately pitching services. First Meeting • Prioritize active listening and open-ended questions to explore the employer’s workforce context, recruitment experience, and pain points. • Present Connect to Work as a collaborative partner offering tailored, supported employment services aligned with their specific needs. • Avoid pressuring for immediate vacancies; instead, propose pilot projects or trial placements to demonstrate value with minimal risk. Ongoing Relationship • Maintain regular contact through updates, invitations to events, and check-ins to reinforce partnership and adapt support as needed.
2. Key Principles of Employer Engagement
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