Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), the world class corporate travel services company, is playing its part in helping homeless individuals to develop the skills they need to get back into work, through the Business Action on Homelessness (BAOH) Ready to Work programme.
The Ready to Work programme is run by Business in the Community (BITC). It supports homeless people into employment by securing work placements with leading employers, like HRG, and training buddies and job coaches to provide support during the person’s time with a company.
HRG became the first global corporate travel services company to become involved in the initiative – which celebrated its tenth anniversary earlier this year – when its Holborn Gate office welcomed Arthurina Johnson for a two week placement in January. Arthurina began her fortnight by shadowing HRG’s permanent receptionist Mark Barnard. Towards the end of the placement, the HRG team was so confident in Arthurina’s abilities that she was running the front desk, greeting clients and carrying out front of house duties.
Shetal Raval who represents HRG on the Business Action on Homelessness steering group and is responsible for finding ways for more HRG employees to get involved, said: “It is wonderful that our first taste of the Ready to Work programme in January was such a success and it has led us to consider how our involvement could potentially impact positively on HRG’s people more widely.
“Ready to Work gives our staff the chance to act as mentors for someone else, so it provides tangible opportunities for those who get involved to develop their coaching and mentoring skills. In that regard, we can see a huge amount of scope for the programme to be an integral part of our staff development programme in the future.”
Darren Coulby, BAOH London Manager added: “From relationship breakdowns, to loss of employment; substance dependencies to physical or mental illness – these are all factors that can result in homelessness. Although many people can, and do, overcome these types of scenarios, there are those who need a bit more help. This is why the Ready to Work programme is so vital and it needs the ongoing support of organisations like HRG to ensure its longevity and continued success.”
HRG’s work with the programme is set to continue and its Holborn Gate staff will welcome another Ready to Work client in May.
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For further information:
Sallyanne Heywood
Hogg Robinson Group
Tel: +44 (0) 1256 312624/ +44 (0) 7825 401215
sallyanne.heywood@hrgworldwide.com
Tanya Brunet
Euro RSCG London PR
Tel: +44 (0) 207 467 9200
Email: blhrg@bisslancaster.com
Notes to Editors:
Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) is an award-winning international corporate travel services company which operates from headquarters in Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK. Established in 1845, HRG’s interests now relate to owned or controlled corporate travel services operations in 25 key driver/growth markets throughout Europe, North America and Asia Pacific supported by contracted partners in Africa, Middle East/West Asia and Latin America. The HRG worldwide network extends to nearly 120 countries.
HRG’s philosophy is to focus on its clients, underpinned by three differentiators – its people, its technology and its breadth of service. The company has experienced management and skilled operators together with a strong reputation for technology which it develops and owns in-house. In addition HRG is the only major travel management company to offer a real breadth and depth of services, all of which combine to serve every client around the globe delivering value, cost savings, efficiency and innovation, without compromise.
HRG’s portfolio of clients spans a broad range of industry sectors including but not limited to Automotive, Banking and Finance, Food Manufacturing, Media and Entertainment, Oil & Gas, Pharmaceutical, Retail and Telecommunications.