ARCADIS TRANSITIONS TRAINEESHIPTransitions Stakeholder Seminar | 20 October 2016

© Arcadis 2015

Why?

“Improving the Quality of Life”

Arcadis prides itself on “Improving the Quality of Life”, it is our passion and what we do. In response to the European Refugee Crisis, Arcadis Europe wanted to react in a proactive and meaningful way.

In the UK we focused our efforts on creating a Traineeship programme with the aim of offering support, development and on the job training to refugee professionals. We wanted to ensure that they were paid fairly for the work they would do and that the programme would be mutually beneficial.

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D&ISupport Crisis

© Arcadis 2015

How?

“Improving the Quality of Life”

Back in December 2015 we made contact with Transitions, this was our first major breakthrough in making this project come to life. Giving us access to refugee professionals with the right skills and knowledge who were actively seeking opportunities.

At the direction of Transitions we set up a half day workshop in March, the event was a success and was attended by refugee professions, Transitions and many members of our wider HR, Recruitment and L&D teams. The event was eye opening, we learned more from the attendees that they did from us!

Then the hard bit, we as a HR team were convinced that this programme could work, we had senior leadership buy in and support, but we needed to find ‘real’ roles in our business that suited the skill sets and matched the business need.

© Arcadis 2015

What?

“Improving the Quality of Life”

The programme was designed to include a two week Induction into Arcadis.

• To ensure when the team members started work they would be familiar with the Arcadis way of working, the values and culture of the organisation.

• To have a support network built around their roles and

• Clear communication lines

The six month programme is set out to include:

• Clear review dates with line managers to aid development of their role

• An overarching project to work on over the 6 months to give Arcadis an insight in how to improve diversity in the organisation, using their experiences.

• Support in securing permanent roles after six months.

© Arcadis 2015

So far, so good?

“Improving the Quality of Life”

The feedback has been positive:

Comment: Induction programme, design was nicely made up for new starter like me, to put me on the right track, I found all the training useful and positive, helping us to relate to different concepts in Arcadis, and a more clear vision about our time here, everything is necessary for a new starter, heled to adapt to the company culture and improve soft skills.

Comment: highly appreciated to include IT as a feature of induction and the sessions were very useful, I personally learnt a number of new things through this session

© Arcadis 2015

Lessons Learned

“Improving the Quality of Life”

• Launch at a different time of year- holiday season

• Encourage Line Managers and Buddies to attend training events with their team members.

• Clearer role definitions

• We want to do it again!