The Importance of Sustainable Employment: Learn about how Pentagon Play are Supporting People to Stay in Work and Advance

Although the United Kingdom is experiencing high employment levels, many people still have difficulty staying in work. Government figures report of the 2.4 million Jobseeker's Allowance claims made each year over two-thirds are repeat claims. Around 40% of people moving from Jobseeker's Allowance into work will make another claim for Jobseeker's Allowance within 6 months.

What is Sustainable Employment?

Sustainable employment achieves living and working conditions that support people in engaging and remaining in employment throughout an extended working life. If this is to happen, factors which eliminate, discourage or hinder workers from staying or entering employment need to be transformed.

In order to achieve sustainable employment workers need to be in good health, qualified and employable. If employees are to be motivated to stay in work for longer there needs to be a positive work environment where team members can achieve a good work-life balance.

Key Factors which Help People to Stay in Work

• Performance is Appreciated- In order to be sustainably employed, workers need to be making a valuable contribution. Workers need to feel that they are producing high-quality work which leaders find important. Employees who are productive will feel fulfilled and happy in the long term. By having clearly defined programmes for new staff members, including career development plans and life-long learning programmes a healthy and rewarding work environment is created.
• Maintain Employee Health - Employees need to be able to maintain physical and mental health with minimal stress. Employees should be able to take time needed to care for themselves and physical health and wellbeing should not be negatively impacted by work.
• Consider Well-Being at Work - Employees who have positive attitudes about work are satisfied in their jobs and committed to their organisations.

In a labour market as large as that of the UK there will always be a degree of movement in and out of jobs. There are many reasons why people may return to benefits. Some people may only be able to find temporary work or barriers to finding suitable employment such as family responsibilities, low skills or disabilities can make it difficult to sustain employment once it has been found.

How Pentagon Play are Addressing Sustainable Employment

People are at the heart of all we do here at Pentagon Play. We want our team to be invested in the ethos of our company and to be the best they can be.

Team Pentagon need to be passionate about helping to change the lives of young people and to love giving back to local communities. We want our employees to be their real, authentic selves and to enjoy coming to work.

Here at Pentagon Play we want to tackle sustainable employment by encouraging our employees to develop, grow and feel good. We aim to create a diverse workforce that is committed, engaged, performing well, always learning and aligned with our core company values: 'Positivity, Empathy, Honesty and Innovation."

Driving Change in the Construction and Manufacturing Industries

Pentagon Play are always looking to drive change in our industry. We want to tackle some of the key barriers to employment and have therefore partnered with a selection of specially chosen charities in order to create a diverse workforce.

We've made a pledge to partner with charities which support alternative employment - working to create a company that does not discriminate against anyone.

Learn More About Our Specially Chosen Charity Partners

Over the 25 years of operating, Pentagon Play have worked closely with a few different charities to explore how we can make our employment process more accessible to those who usually face discrimination. These partners have played a huge role in educating our company and have helped massively in creating an accepting culture.

Recycling Lives

More than 80,000 people are in prison across the UK, costing the taxpayer an average of £100,000 per person every year. The vast majority of people will be released but up to two thirds will then fall back into the system and return to prison. Recycling Lives helps people to find a good job and a stable home which are the most important factors in reducing the risk of reoffending.

The charity supports people facing multiple disadvantage to move closer to employment by overcoming barriers and developing skills. Recycling Lives really does change lives! The charity works with prisons across the UK to reduce reoffending rates. Offenders are engaged in meaningful work to develop skills, confidence and resilience ready to secure a good job upon release.

Recycling Lives reduces reoffending rates to less than 5% and improves employment rates to more than 80%. They are able to do this by:

• Prioritising Skills - Offenders are placed in jobs that pay a decent wage and offer opportunities for progression and certification. Offenders are engaged in meaningful work, gaining transferable skills such as time-keeping and teamwork.
• Support- The charity offers support in many different ways including managing mental health problems. Mental Health First Aiders work with each person to identify any personal problems or offending behaviours, working together to overcome them.
• Structure - The charity have both personal and professional experience of the issues facing ex-offenders. The team act as role models and connect with training providers, employees and housing providers to offer wrap-around, structured support.

Pentagon Play support the work undertaken by Recycling Lives and demonstrate our commitment to corporate social responsibility by developing a diverse workforce.

Project RECCE

Military Veterans and Service Leaders can find themselves lost and disillusioned with the transition from military service to employment. Yet Veterans possess valuable knowledge, skills and experience as well as values and standards that set them apart from civilian counterparts.

The work of Project RECCE aims to create a 'Pathway' for all Veterans and Service Leaders into the construction industry and wider science, technology, engineering and manufacturing sectors.

Project RECCE offers two core services to military veterans:

• The Pathways into Construction Education Programme is a fully funded, blended educational course aimed at those considering the construction industry as a career choice. After successful completion of the programme, learners will gain invaluable experience, knowledge and skills. They will develop a better understanding of themselves and the industry as well as gaining an Institute of Leadership award in Transitional leadership.
• Use of The Employment Rendezvous (ERV) - The ERV is a professional app-based community for the military talent pool to meet forces-friendly companies.

Pentagon Play support the Pathways into Construction programme and understand that skills gained during military service can be transferable and useful in our industry. We offer our support to the military community and aim to foster positive collaboration into the private sector.

Scope

The aim of the charity Scope is to achieve a society where all disabled people enjoy equality and fairness. There are 16 million disabled people in the UK who deserve their potential to be recognised.

Scope supports greater opportunities for disabled people. The charity wants all disabled people who want to work, to move into, stay in and progress in work. Scope estimates that there are a million disabled people out of work who want to work.

Too many disabled people are denied work opportunities, millions of disabled people experience a financial penalty simply because of who they are and many experience negative attitudes because of their disability.

Scope report that in the workplace disabled people commonly experience being talked over, being turned down for a promotion, being spoken about but never to and being told to 'get on with it.' Adjustments, flexibility, support and understanding are often missing. It is no surprise that disabled people are twice as likely to leave their jobs as non-disabled people.

By 2033 Scope wants to see every disabled person who wants a job to have got one and the employment gap to have closed. The charity directly supports disabled jobseekers into work through their voluntary and tailored employment support.

Pentagon Play want to shift attitudes in the workplace and to help disabled people to not only find work but to stay and reach their full potential.

Embracing Diversity at Pentagon Play

We believe that having a diverse workforce at Pentagon Play encourages creativity and innovation. Our team members bring their own unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to a variety of situations.

Our diverse teams are able to consider multiple perspectives and approaches when solving problems. Different backgrounds and experiences bring fresh insights and alternative viewpoints, enabling teams to think outside the box and make well-informed decisions.

We want our team members to feel valued and included. It is important that our Pentagon family feel a sense of belonging and job satisfaction.

Creating an Equal Future at Pentagon Play

Pentagon Play fully support sustainable employment and aim to achieve an equal future through working with our partner organisations. We foster successful relationships with different charities and will continue to use our role to influence a change in attitudes.

Our team members are carefully selected and we are extremely proud of the hard-working, intelligent individuals who join us. Our employees have backgrounds in a variety of fields yet when working together they know exactly what a school or commercial setting needs and how we can best support them.

We are a progressive, forward thinking company who understands the value of accessibility and opportunity and will strive to support people in finding the right job with us.