Primeast

Client

Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency for Yorkshire & Humber

Project

Support to staff facing redundancy from Regional Development Agency

Results

Staff facing redundancy were able to make significant progress in their career planning

Business, Background & Objectives

Yorkshire Forward logo

Primeast has a track record of supporting a number of regional development agencies (RDA) in the release of potential internally and within the regions they serve. So, when the government announced that RDAs were due to fold there was some sadness at Primeast. At Yorkshire Forward, chief executive Thea Stein, recognised a potential twist to the service Primeast had previously provided. Concerned about the futures for her staff at Yorkshire Forward, she enquired whether the Primeast expertise in releasing the potential of individuals in the workplace could be used to support those being made redundant.

Our role

Primeast designed a workshop for groups of about forty staff with the opportunity to reflect on their talents and other strengths in the context of the changing marketplace. By working out how these attributes could add value in the new workplace and problem solving with the support of skilled facilitators, most participants were able to make significant progress in their career planning. Several even made public commitments to their next steps, often linked to possibilities they had not previously considered.

Primeast facilitator Dave Levine has been involved in all the workshops for Yorkshire Forward had this to say:

“The level of engagement in these workshops has been amazing. Considering those involved are about to lose their jobs, their positivity is remarkable. In our short time together, I know lives have been changed for the better.”

Results

For Thea Stein, having the opportunity to provide this service for her people is part of being a responsible employer:

“Who knows what they want to be when they grow up? Very few of us. This workshop has allowed those who had very little idea of what they wanted to do next, to understand the choices ahead and take significant steps towards shaping their future. It also gave time for people to reflect on their true worth in the market place and to shape plans taking them forward positively into a plan of action.”

Ruth Redfern, Yorkshire Forward’s assistant chief executive, reflected on how Primeast helped her people look to the future:

“This Primeast facilitated workshop has quite simply helped a number of our people identify what they want to do with the rest of their lives. It sounds like a platitude to say that what our people are faced with is an opportunity to really do something different – something that they wouldn’t have been able to do had fate not intervened at this time in their lives. But most of them would not have been able to grasp that opportunity had we not, with Primeast’s help, provided them with the time and expert help to turn the opportunity into something more tangible – a plan for life if you like. We would most definitely recommend that you consider giving your people this same opportunity.”

Other testimonial quotes

Stuart M. McFarlane, Sector Manager, Yorkshire Forward:

“I thought the talent liberation workshop was fantastic and extremely helpful in making me focus on my key skills and talents, which allowed me to identify what to do next“

Katie Fabri, Culture Advisor, Yorkshire Forward

“The 2 day workshop had a very strong impact on me - for understanding more about my future career aspirations and for my general wellbeing. Feelings of anxiety and uncertainty changed to self belief and positivity leaving me well equipped to embrace the challenges ahead. I have no doubt that my overall wellbeing and productivity at work improved in the days after the workshop.”

To discuss your talent liberation and change issues and how we may be able to help, call Primeast’s Head of Talent Liberation Clive Wilson or Head of Change Martin Carver at our UK offices (+44 (0) 1423 531 083), or email them directly.