Search and you will find talent

Last summer’s launch of our Youth Skills and Employment Guarantee (YSEG) was in tandem with the graduation of DFN Project SEARCH’s Class of 2022/23.? DFN Project SEARCH is a one-year transition to work programme for young adults with a learning disability or autism spectrum conditions.

In this blog post, Linda Hawkins, Marriot Hotel’s award-winning Multi-Property Director of Human Resources, reflects on the positives associated with their commitment to supported internships.

I was at last year’s DFN Project SEARCH graduation ceremony and Youth Skills Employment Guarantee launch at Hounslow Council.

We first became involved in July 2015. It has facilitated our partnership with other key stakeholders, including an education provider, a supported employment partner, and the local authority.?

Together, we launched the programme in September 2016 with nine interns, and these effective partnerships are crucial to the success of implementing and delivering Project SEARCH. Similar collaboration is necessary for the success of the Youth Skills and Employment Guarantee and we’re proud to be a part of the alliance.

So, what have been the benefits to the hotels with having DFN Project SEARCH programmes on site? There are multiple and I strongly advise that any organisation consider initiating such a programme or offering supported internships for young adults. It goes beyond fulfilling corporate social responsibility and has significant and wide-reaching advantages.

For a start, each property has undergone a cultural transformation resulting in a rise in constructive attitudes towards individuals with learning disabilities or autism. Departments that have had an intern are highly motivated and enthusiastic. Moreover, overall comprehension and appreciation for people with learning disabilities among associates has advanced, leading to happier and more open discussions about their own or their family's issues.?

The staff also take pride in an intern securing a job either within the property or in the local community as they have helped them improve their employability skills. Consequently, staff share their experiences with guests, customers, friends, and family members, thereby assisting in promoting the positive influence of interns and broadening the views and outlooks of others.

Also, improved efficiencies have been observed in certain departments because of implementing simplified and streamlined processes. This has proved advantageous for staff in the long term. In addition, mentors, typically managers and supervisors, have exhibited greater patience in their guidance and have broken down instructions more comprehensively, resulting in further benefits for new employees.

Through working with various partners, be it the local authority, schools, colleges, supported employment partners or other organisations, the benefits have been immense. It has allowed us to build relationships to better understand needs, preferences, and requirements. It has also helped develop a better sense of community and enabled the sharing of resources and knowledge.

But I believe the most advantageous aspect for an organisation, which I saved for last, is the untapped potential of a talent pool often overlooked.?

Only 4.8% of those with learning disabilities in the country secure employment, but initiatives such as Project SEARCH increase that number to 65%. Our own programmes have produced similar outcomes. London Heathrow Marriott, for example, has seen 61 interns complete the programme over the 8-year period, with a 60% employment rate, seven of whom are in property.?

Meanwhile, Sheraton Skyline has had a 66% employment rate for interns, and Heathrow Windsor has had 60% success. COVID and Brexit have posed a significant challenging employment market for employers, however, we have been fortunate enough to employ some gifted individuals through supported internships.

Hounslow is one of over 100 Project SEARCH sites across the UK. The programme increases a young person’s employability from 4.8% to 60%. Hounslow Council’s programmes have regularly achieved outcomes of 70% plus into full time paid employment.

Find out more on the DFN Project SEARCH website.