Support for employers and businesses

Grow People

Southampton City Council’s Employment Support Team offer a range of advice and support for employers and businesses in the city.

Who are we?

The Employment Support Team work with people of all ages across Southampton who are looking for work. We’ve been active in Southampton for over 30 years and in that time have supported people to overcome their barriers to employment. We’re not a recruitment agency – we work closely with jobseekers and employers, empowering people to develop their skills and build their confidence so they are ready to enter the world of work.

How can we help?

We offer a range of support for employers in Southampton, no matter how big or small they might be. Contact us today to find out how we can help.

Positive recruitment SHOW


Advertise your vacancies for free SHOW


Exhibit at our jobs fairs SHOW


Focused recruitment events SHOW


Autism and Neurodiversity in the workplace training for your business SHOW


Perinatal Mental Health training for your organisation SHOW


How to make your recruitment more accessible

Advertising your role

  • Consider your audience by ensuring you present your job advert on many different platforms
  • Provide contract options that meet various needs including looking at varied hours and duties
  • Share case studies on your media platforms to promote inclusivity within your service
  • If not already, consider joining schemes such as Disability Confident and Mindful Employer

Recruitment process

  • Have a look at your recruitment process from advert to interview – is it accessible to a diverse group of people?
  • Audit your application process to see if your organisation is attracting diverse groups and then consider what could change to support this
  • Utilise local recruitment events to ensure your recruitment involves meeting a wide range of people

Application

  • Have a look at your application form – does it give people the opportunity to state if they would like additional support around the interview process or their role?
  • Consider whether the application can be adapted to meet more people’s needs such as large print or braille options available

Support for employee and employers in the role/ retaining employees

  • WRAP plans are great ways to support yourself and your employees to explore any reasonable adjustments that can be at work. These ones specialise in mental health, although can be adapted:
  • Stress risk assessments – it may be worth creating a simple stress risk assessment. Just identifying an area in work and what the concerns for that employee may be around that area, such as work pattern or environment and then looking at ways to reduce this
  • ACAS – If you require some advice on how to support someone further, please consider contacting ACAS via their website

Access to Work SHOW


Support with Employee Health and Disability service SHOW


Employers’ Initiative on Domestic Abuse SHOW


Become a Fostering Friendly Employer SHOW


Homelessness Covenant for employers SHOW


Skills Support for the Workforce in Solent SHOW


Our Grow sections

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Grow Business logo
Grow People logo