• Date:

  28 Apr 2022

• Time:

  10:00 - 11:00 am

• Location:

  Online

• Price:

  No Cost

The Ban the Box campaign launched in Northern Ireland in September 2021. With many employers now involved and taking positive action in the area of providing opportunities for those with convictions, this event will enable attendees to:

• hear about the successes to date
• get an understanding of the relevant legislation and guidance
• discover the benefits to employers in increasing the talent pool for recruitment
• let employers who are considering how they can recruit and support people with convictions and hear first-hand
• from two young people with lived experiences of having convictions and the challenges they’ve faced in moving into employment
• understand the support available for businesses as they look at their recruitment processes and demystify some of
• the misconceptions about people with convictions
• get an insight from a provider supporting those in Hydebank Wood and from an employer who employs people with convictions

We will also explore how we can help businesses navigate their way through the issues, reduce the chances of overlooking talent, and find ways to actively support those with convictions to have a fairer chance at securing employment and reducing their risk of unfair discrimination.

Julie Steele, Operations Director from Advantage NI will talk about ‘Mugshots’, an organisation that supports young men with work experience in a social enterprise (within Hydebank Wood) as well as enabling them to gain an employability qualification. In addition, Jonny Pardoe, Senior Disclosure Practitioner at NIACRO will explain the guidance and legislation around convictions and rehabilitation periods and share some tools currently available to support employers and those with convictions. We will also chat with Leslie Otterson from Foyle Food Group and hear about the company’s experiences of recruiting people with convictions; and finally, we’ll hear from Sara Neilson, BITC NI who will provide the step-by-step guide that demonstrates practically how businesses can get involved in Ban the Box.

Speakers:

• Leslie Otterson, Group HR and HS Manager, Foyle Food Group
• Leighton and Jamie – lived experience
• Julie Steele, Operations Director, Advantage NI
• Jonny Pardoe, Senior Disclosure Practitioner, NIACRO
• Sara Neilson, Employability Manager, Business in the Community and BITC member company