Horizon European Recruitment

           Research for the Leading Learning and Skills found three main types of employer attitude in relation to employing migrants. These were negative ‘reluctants’, dispassionate pragmatists focused on the potential contribution from migrants and issues of cost, and finally ‘advocates who were extremely positive. (Source: Directions Research & Marketing 2006) Horizon European is an eager advocate of employing multicultural workforces.

Research studies suggest that language proficiency is one of the major determinants of labour market success both in terms of participation rates and also wage gaps. (Source: Migrant Workers and the Labour Market, Leading Learning and Skills, January 2007) Horizon European Recruitment is making every effort to break the language barriers, open up filters in terms of recruitment and provide better opportunities for further development.

            An integral part of Horizon European services is provision of specialist language solutions. Some examples of these include online English Assessments, adaptation and tailoring of Health and Safety training courses to the needs and capabilities of multicultural workforces, provision of miscellaneous learning resources and materials, issuing newsletters and information brochures for workers and candidates.

            Horizon European online English tests focus on recognition of social signs and Health & Safety rules in a particular work context – the two tests which have been devised to date are contextualised around Food Hygiene and Construction. The tests evaluate candidates’ English comprehension. Thanks to an immediate availability of results, which are mapped against the ESOL framework, the candidate is made aware what skills they need to improve, the employer, in turn, is able to match the candidate’s abilities to a job requirements. Additionally, the candidate receives a comprehensive list of online English learning materials which they can use for self-study in their free time.      

Recently Horizon European has conducted skills surveys among the temporary workers in order to establish what qualifications and experience the workers have from their countries and assist them in finding more suitable and better paid jobs. The survey proved HE workers have fantastic skills and experience whereas in some instances their English speaking skills are not to the required standards of their profession. Dental technicians, beauticians, teachers, psychologists, engineers are currently working as Production and Warehouse Operatives. This was the motivation for designing various language learning materials including ‘HE Language Menu’ cards.

On the whole, the steps which Horizon European has already taken to promote achievement among diverse workforces represent the company’s approach and are just a start of an ongoing project. The year 2007 is a ‘European year of equal opportunities for all’ whose core themes are:

Rights – raising awareness of the right to equality and non-discrimination;

Representation – stimulating a debate on ways to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in society;

Recognition – celebrating and accommodating diversity;

Respect and Tolerance – promoting a more cohesive society.

Horizon European is working in line with these principles.

training@horizoneuropean.co.uk

Please download the leaflet: Multicultural info leaflet.pdf

http://www.horizoneuropean.co.uk/

Working Towards Investors in Diversity in 2007