IEP Award in Employer Solutions
Who is this Program for?
- Practitioners in employer-facing roles.
Program Overview
Employer Solutions Consultants play an extremely important role within the employability sector and its service provisions. They are a key function within operational delivery across all contracts that work directly with employers, forging partnerships that provide opportunities to support participants into work.
The IEP Award in Employer Solutions, created in partnership with Ingeus and Deakin University, has been developed to set industry standards, drive a consistent approach and share best practice throughout the sector by drawing upon proven methodologies and sector data to understand what works. It is designed for practitioners in employer-facing roles, to help them to develop a set of tools and competencies that allow them to build and maintain effective relationships across key stakeholders.
By undertaking this learning, frontline employer solutions practitioners can develop a comprehensive set of skills, knowledge, and strategies to effectively engage with employers, build trusted relationships, develop vacancy pipelines, leverage labour market intelligence, and promote suitable participants for job roles, ultimately enhancing their ability to deliver successful employer solutions.
On successful completion of the IEP Award in Employer Solutions learners will be issued with a Certificate of Achievement from the IEP as evidence of the knowledge and skills gained during the learning program as well as a digital badge for use on electronic communications.
Structure and Timings
This is a blended learning program delivered over 3 Units – Identify, Engage and Cultivate. Learners will explore proven approaches, concepts, models, and frameworks that will support them in achieving service excellence with both internal and external stakeholders.
It consists of 18 short eLearning modules, 3 workbooks with learning activities and 6 social and collaborative sessions with a final end point assessment-style presentation which will be assessed by a panel. In order to achieve the Award learners will need to pass the knowledge checks in the eLearning, complete the activities, and attain a ‘pass’ from the presentation panel.
The course has three levels of accreditation – bronze, silver and gold, depending on the amount of extra learning activity completed and combines virtual classroom sessions, learner activities, and portfolio creation. The total learning time is 50 hours, averaging 2 hours of learning per week.
Silver accreditation includes an extra reflective piece at 6 months after completion.
Gold accreditation includes an extra reflective piece at 12 months after completion.
Learning Delivery and Assessment Method
The IEP Award in Employer Solutions adopts a ‘learning in the flow of work’ and blended learning approach consisting of eLearning, work-based activity and social and collaborative peer discussion to help learners develop their knowledge, skills and capabilities and evidence that they have applied it in the workplace.
Skills Rehearsal and Assessment
At the end of the program learners will create and take part in a presentation in front of a panel that will showcase their developmental journey and progress and enable them to evidence their competence against the assessment criteria.
Subjects Covered
- Business development using labour market intelligence.
- Developing an effective business development strategy and pipeline.
- Networking and building professional stakeholder relationships.
- Needs analysis and partnership working.
- Professional employment support and recruitment practice.
- Supporting diverse employer and participant groups.
Benefits of Learning
Understand the employer solutions journey
The learning covers the key stages, objectives, and factors impacting the employer solutions process. This understanding can help consultants navigate the journey effectively and align their strategies with the employer and other key stakeholder needs.
Building professional relationships
The learning equips consultants with tools, methods, and structures for engaging with employers and key stakeholders. This includes understanding recruitment needs, assessing their own capabilities, and developing partnership working practices, which are crucial for establishing trust and credibility.
Effective stakeholder interactions
Consultants learn techniques for successful introductions, overcoming objections, and presenting compelling business proposals. These skills can help practitioners establish initial rapport, address concerns, and clearly articulate the value proposition to employers.
Providing developmental feedback
The learning covers methods for delivering effective feedback and challenging stakeholders’ mindsets when appropriate. This can help practitioners foster open communication, promote growth, and maintain positive relationships with employers.
Networking and contracting
Consultants learn strategies for networking with employers, effective contracting, boundary setting, and managing stakeholder roles and responsibilities. These skills are essential for building and maintaining trusted relationships, setting clear expectations, and ensuring successful collaborations.
Understand recruitment methods
The learning explores various recruitment methods used by employers, their benefits, limitations, and impact on the selection process. This knowledge can help consultants better understand employers’ needs and align their strategies accordingly.
Time management and workload prioritisation
Consultants learn techniques for managing workloads, prioritising tasks, and balancing return on investment with time constraints. These skills are crucial for efficiently managing vacancy pipelines and maintaining productivity.
Effective communication and rapport-building
The learning covers communication methods, self- awareness, and rapport-building techniques. These skills can help consultants communicate effectively, build trust, and create an environment of open and honest communication with employers and key stakeholders.
Understand participant barriers and support services
The learning explores barriers faced by different participant groups, employer concerns, and available support services. This knowledge can help consultants better prepare participants, address employer concerns and support them to attract and employ participants from different groups, while providing appropriate support throughout the recruitment process.
Labour market intelligence (LMI)
Consultants learn to research, analyse, and utilise LMI to inform their employer solutions strategies, understand local employment opportunities, and guide participants in setting realistic job goals. Up-to-date LMI is crucial for aligning vacancy pipelines with market demands and promoting suitable participant applicants.
Watch our learner videos!
Abbie McDonald MAIEP, IWS Team Lead at Fedcap Scotland shares insights post completion of the IEP Award in Employer Solutions.
Answering questions such as:
Which aspects of the ES Award’s curriculum did you find most valuable or impactful?
Could you provide examples of how the skills gained from the ES Award have been beneficial in your interactions with key stakeholders, participants, or others?
Pricing
Award in Employer Solutions – Bronze
Award in Employer Solutions – Silver
Award in Employer Solutions – Gold
Potential discounts for volume, smaller organisations, charities, not-for-profits and self-funders are available. Please contact learning@iemployability.org to discuss.
Unit Rate
£450.00
£474.00
£499.00
Unit Rate (Inc VAT)
£540.00
£568.80
£598.80
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