BACKGROUND

Our client was a medium-sized manufacturing company with whom we have worked for many years. Employment in the manufacturing sector in the UK has been in decline for many years but recently the access to skilled low-cost labour, particularly in Eastern Europe and China, has accelerated the rate at which manufacturing operations have declined in some areas.

What experience does Obsidian have in this sector?

Obsidian has many clients in the sector and has helped to develop and train many of their staff in areas such as personal effectiveness, team-working and project management.

Nature of client's problem

Our client was closing one of their sites with the gradual release of staff over a 4 month period. They needed outplacement support to assist staff in finding alternative employment and help maintain morale over this difficult closure period.

The client chose Obsidian because its consultants were known and trusted to undertake the assignment in a sensitive and caring fashion. In addition, we were experienced in this work and could offer a complete service.

Obsidian's experience in this problem area?

Obsidian consultants have undertaken assignments involving this kind of work with insurance, publishing, finance and food manufacturing organisations including:

• Rationalisation of a nationwide
• Telesales operation into one central call centre of 200 staff.
• Reorganisation of the UK distribution network of a major UK soft drinks company involving closure of 18 sites and over 1,000 redundancies.
• Closure of a major manufacturing site in Leeds with 180 redundancies

Objectives of Product/service offered by Obsidian

• To support individuals throughout the redundancy procedure.
• To help each individual identify their objectives and develop a strategy for future employment.
• To prepare individuals to market themselves appropriately to possible future employers.
• To operate an effective job search campaign.

How the assignment was carried out

Obsidian provided onsite counselling, training and job search, arranged in stages

Stage 1 - Counselling

In the early stages of the programme redundant staff may be resentful, confused and unsure of what their next steps should be. Counselling sessions with our consultants helped people to appraise their own skills and achievements, think through their individual positions, decide on what they want to do and then formulate a strategy to achieve this.

Stage 2 - Training

This took the form of half-day sessions with our consultants to offer advice and training in: c.v. preparation job search preparing for, and attending interviews Follow up support with individuals was available from consultants who will attended the site on a weekly basis.

Stage 3 – Job search

This included a job advertisement monitoring service, contact with local job centres, use of business contact networks and a direct approach to prospective employers in the area. Suitable vacancies were advised to staff through a job shop service on site Finally, support was offered to staff at times when a consultant was not on site through a helpline facility.. Benefits for the client The benefit for the client was in being seen to continue to care for workers who had offered long service to the company. It also prevented possible disruptive unrest during the closure period and bad publicity for the company in the press.