Compass Social Partner Hub on track to support 1000 people one year on from launch

One year on from launching the Social Partner Hub, Compass Group UK & Ireland’s the UK’s largest food and services provider has supported over 100 people into employment. A further 800 people have been supported with job interview training and guidance. The Social Partner Hub was set up to specifically support candidates, from a range of backgrounds, who are facing barriers to entry into the job market including ex-offenders, care leavers, long term unemployed and people with disabilities.

The hub was launched as part of Compass’ Mission to a Million commitment, which will provide support to one million people by 2030 through jobs, training, community engagement and development. The Social Partner Hub has become an important pillar of Compass’s wider work in social mobility and delivery of “Our Social Promise”.

To date over 100 people have been employed through the Social Referral Hub, and the team are on track to secure roles for 200 people by the end of 2024.

Graslin Fuela Pathmathasan who has found employment through the hub, commented:  “I am very happy with the support I received from Compass Group Social Partner Hub and Restart Scheme. It has given me the opportunity to work again after having 5 years employment gap and I am now working as a kitchen assistant.  The recruitment experience I had was very motivating as the person who interviewed me was very accommodating and the person who oversaw my trial shift was also very helpful.   Thank you for changing my life for the better.”

Working with over 50 partner organisations, the platform matches candidates with roles listed in a pipeline of hundreds of job opportunities and internships available at Compass. The hub ensures that the hiring process is inclusive and caters to the needs of each individual applicant. By working with partner organisations the Social Partner Hub enables each candidate access to the right support needed and ongoing support once recruited.

Training is given to Compass hiring managers to help them better understand some of the challenges faced by different candidates, to help identify roles that may be suitable and what support the individual will require through the whole recruitment process to ensure the placement is fulfilling and successful. 

Kirsty Adams, Talent, Learning and Diversity & Inclusion Director at Compass Group UK & Ireland said: “We’re delighted that the Social Partner Hub has been successful in providing opportunities to disadvantaged people struggling to access employment; it is something we are incredibly proud of. Working with our partners we have become a real driver of social mobility in the UK and further development of the hub will only enhance our Mission to a Million commitment further.”