WBS programme matches vacancies with unemployed managers

Global financial turbulence has resulted in an increase in the number of unemployed managers and executives. Yet statistics from Jobcentre Plus show that approximately 20% of unfilled vacancies in the West Midlands are in managerial occupations.

Although a number of support measures for unemployed managers and executives have been introduced, many are still in danger of becoming long-term unemployed.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Economic Regeneration Partnership has asked Warwick Business School and the University of Warwick Science Park to address this anomaly by replicating the successful HOST programme that last ran at WBS in the 1980s.

The programme historically offered support and mentoring for unemployed managers and executives by placing them in a 'host' local SME for project work which updated work experience and skills, and gave participants exposure to working in an SME environment.

The new programme works in much the same way - an initial six weeks of training and updating in the key areas of business activity in SMEs for the participant is provided by WBS. During this time participants will be carefully matched with a project in a host SME which will last between 7 and 18 weeks.

An Open Studies Certificate from the University of Warwick will be awarded for successful completion. Participants have to meet selection criteria before being invited by Jobcentre Plus to attend.

Reaction from the first round of participants, who started their initial training in mid-October, has been very positive.

Professor Roger Mumby-Croft, head of the Enterprise Hub at WBS, is leading the initial 6-week training sessions. He comments, "Both the participant and the host SME should benefit from this scheme. Participants can utilise the work experience to update their skills and either secure employment within the HOST organisation itself or use the recent experience to apply for jobs with other employers. The SME benefits from the specialist experience of a qualified and experienced professional working in their business to develop new ideas and processes which support business growth."

Roger Dowthwaite from the Coventry and Warwickshire Economic Regeneration Partnership commented that he welcomed this initiative that will address a serious anomaly in the job market. "Leadership and management skills are in short supply generally, managerial job vacancies exist and yet there is a pool of qualified and able managers who are currently unemployed. The programme will proactively enable the skills of managers to be matched to the developing needs of SMEs."