Member Article

Pioneering job-creation foundation giving back to Leeds communities

It’s corporate social responsibility focus week on Bdaily. Here, the CSR work of The Bayford Foundation is explained.

Leeds-based BE Fuel Cards has recognised the business boosting benefits of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with the launch of its ground breaking The Bayford Foundation.

Believed to be a UK first - the Bayford Foundation’s ‘learn as you earn’ formula is training and developing recruits - investing up to £5,000 to put each trainee through 12-week rolling boot camp training programmes and paying them a salary for their duration. There are 40 jobs up for grabs in the short term with hundreds of long term job opportunities.

The first wave of 13 recruits who started at BE Fuel Cards offices in Hunslet, South Leeds earlier this month are from all walks of life and all were unemployed (three were long term unemployed). At its launch Richard McCann, the son of the Yorkshire Ripper’s first victim, inspired the new recruits to never give up - no matter what life throws at them.

June Forsyth, leader of The Bayford Foundation, explains why the company set up its pioneering training and development programme: “One of our historical challenges at BE Fuel Cards has been recruiting and retaining telesales staff - in spite of the great incentives and potential earning power we offer.

“Although by no means critical, the situation was frustrating, and, had we let it continue for another couple of years, could have impacted on the growth of the business which has posted a 20% year-on-year increase through the recession and beyond.

“The Foundation is our way of giving something back to the local community. Our ethos is to provide quality, recognised skills’ training and create real jobs for local people who might not otherwise have a chance to succeed in business.”

Successful candidates on The Bayford Foundation programme will be awarded a university recognised qualification from the University of Derby and progress to earn a minimum £16k annual salary with BE Fuel Cards – with the potential to ramp up their earnings as they progress with the company.

The training programme, which equips students with product, sales and market sector knowledge, integrates personal development and lifestyle sessions such as exercise and yoga.

BE Fuel Cards is encouraging other Yorkshire businesses to take up the CSR mantle as June Forsyth explains: “The benefits and ‘win-win’ we’ve derived to date have been enormous – and have just scratched the surface of the wealth of opportunities ahead. Seeking out powerful community partnerships has opened doors to great organisations led by caring and driven people who are keen to refer those seeking a job to us. Our business networks have been extended with bosses booked in for guest speaking slots during our boot camp training programme and CEOs and MDS are offering to mentor the students.”

The Foundation sought candidates out through a creative recruitment process with vibrant auditions with a difference at a popular local community centre. Aligned with the Foundation’s ethos of sustainability, the team is planning to host another series of these auditions in readiness for its next boot camp.

June concludes: “With latest statistics highlighting that Britain faces a shortfall of almost 400,000 jobs for young people It is richly rewarding to know that we’ll be making a difference to the lives of dozens of people and helping them to be the best that they can be.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by The Bayford Foundation .