When the pandemic struck, our longstanding recruitment and skills partnership at Fort Kinnaird launched a new programme to connect people to job and training opportunities and support retailers in a changing landscape. The results exceeded expectations, helping our customers and the local community prepare for rapid recovery.
Fort Kinnaird is Edinburgh’s leading shopping destination. Liam Smith of Fort Kinnaird and Rona Hunter of Capital City Partnership explore the power of cross sector private / public collaborations to create positive impacts.
Surpassing targets
Rona: Our partnership with Fort Kinnaird has grown over many years, supporting thousands of people into jobs and helping retailers with recruitment. Then, in early 2020, Covid-19 took everyone by surprise. We quickly gathered ourselves and looked at what we could do, knowing there would be displacement of jobs, people going into furlough and employers unsure about grants.
Because our partnership with British Land is well established and they genuinely listen to what people need, we were able to get a new programme, Retail Rapid Response, off the ground almost immediately. As a result, even in a pandemic, we managed to get people into jobs and help businesses retain jobs, surpassing targets.
Liam: With different local grants and programmes, along with national schemes and new regulations, it was difficult for businesses and people whose income had been affected to know what was available for them and what they needed to do. The recruitment and skills partnership did a great job of making life simpler for retailers and local jobseekers, so they could easily access opportunities. The results show the strength of British Land’s place based approach to skills and employment, Bright Lights.
Boosting businesses and changing lives
Rona: With British Land’s funding and support, we assisted over 80 businesses with recruitment and workforce needs, including advice on funding and furlough, outperforming our target of 50. We hosted interviews for job opportunities virtually and on site, setting everything up for Covid-safe and helping retailers fill vacancies. We also delivered inductions for new team members on site and helped the park adapt to new requirements.
Over 380 people registered on our Retail Rapid Response programme, way above our target of 80. This meant they could access employability and benefits advice and find out about new job openings and training opportunities for the best chance of returning to work. We delivered training courses and information sessions to more than 60 people and supported 30 jobseekers into employment.
Wherever it added value, we also brought in other partners and funding. This included securing City Region Deal funding for a retailer to invest in equipment for staff to work remotely and linking jobseekers onto the Covid-19 jobs portal we created through the City Region Deal.
Liam: It’s the impact on people’s lives that stands out for me. Capital City Partnership cares about where they direct people. They listen to what experience people have and what support they need. So, when they place people it’s a compatible match. That means sustainable employment, which can change lives.
Every retailer I speak with is positive about the service. There’s a lot of trust built over the years. Retailers are often cautious about committing to new initiatives. But they’re confident that the partnership will deliver because they’ve benefited from consistent quality over many years. Store managers tell us about the positive feedback they receive from customers on people placed in roles through the programme. So, it’s good for the visitor experience too.
Above and beyond
Rona: What British Land and local partners have created at Fort Kinnaird is unique, though I wish it wasn’t. There’s a family culture, with the public and private sectors coming together to make a difference. People go above and beyond because they really want to see it work.
Other areas and organisations are learning from this model, so hopefully we’ll see the same successes elsewhere over time. If every business was like British Land, my role driving inclusive growth would be so much easier.
Liam: Over the years, what keeps coming through all the time is the real desire to help. The partnership team are interested and focused on getting the best outcomes for local people and our retailers.
It’s really encouraging to know, from a jobs’ perspective, that as soon as we get the signal to move, Fort Kinnaird is positioned to make the best of that opportunity. This partnership is so important for us and our local community.
British Land is pleased to support the Fort Kinnaird recruitment and skills partnership as part of Bright Lights, our skills and employment programme. For more on Bright Lights, visit: www.britishland.com/brightlights