HEAR FROM OUR

Jon Sheehy

Operations Manager - Justice

Jon is the operations Manager for our prisons in Hertfordshire, Essex and Suffolk. He says:

I have been working in prison Education for over 12 years, I can honestly say that as an Education sector, this is the one that I find the most rewarding, exciting and unique when compared to my time within other mainstream settings. I began my career in Prison Education as a Tutor and quickly progressed through Management to the role I hold now.

I really enjoy my role as operations Manager, as it allows me to balance my working life between working from home, to days on the road supporting my Prisons and working with HMP senior teams to develop sites, support the teams and general troubleshooting.

I am passionate about helping people make the most of second chances in life, and my role along with the team gives everyone an opportunity to turn their lives around.

A job that is simply like no other and has the ability to improve lives - what more could you ask for!?

Craig Corrigan

Social Value Solutions Manager

As Social Value Solutions Manager my role involves a variety of tasks. One of my primary areas of focus is to ensure the smooth running and coordination of our Social Recruitment Advocacy Group (SRAG). I ensure that all SRAG members are informed of upcoming events, lead chartermark assessments, book in guest speakers, identify suitable partners for Social Value solutions and help onboard new members. I take great pride in the growth of the group and the impact that the group is having on ensuring that businesses look to recruit, retain & develop people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Alongside my SRAG role I also conduct Social Value consultancy work. This can be in the form of bid writing support, identifying specialist partners and establishing long lasting impact. I enjoy the variety of my role and the ‘teamwork’ that is required to complete tasks. I have very supportive close-knit colleagues who are great to work with. I am encouraged to have a strong work/life balance and I would recommend working at PeoplePlus to anyone interested!

Gill Forrester

Accounts Payable Manager

I have worked for PeoplePlus for almost 7 years as the Accounts Payable Manager in the Central Finance division. My role is to ensure that all invoices are processed and paid to suppliers on time, which can be very challenging. The support that I receive from my team and management is amazing and I call them my work family.

Before I started this role, I remember asking the agency to find me a role that has a purpose, so when this opportunity came along to work for PeoplePlus it was exactly what I asked for.

Helping to upskill and develop an individual, so they can find work is a great feeling. I tell my team it’s not just about processing and making payments, its about helping someone to either register and pass an exam, or making sure there are tools so that training can be done in a workshop.

Charlie Barker

Regional Education Manager - Justice

As the Regional Education Manager, I am dedicated to driving performance improvements,  implementing innovative strategies, and mentoring new managers to excel in their roles and achieve their full potential. What I like most about working for PeoplePlus is the commitment to the personal and professional growth of its colleagues which is evident in the extensive support and development opportunities provided. PeoplePlus offers lots of qualifications and encourages a culture of continuous development. This supportive environment helps not just individuals to succeed, but ensures that we consistently deliver results. I am proud to be part of a company that prioritises colleague development and offers a clear path for career progression.

Lorna Carter

Key Worker - Gloucestershire Carers Hub

Lorna works for the Gloucestershire Carers Hub division at PeoplePlus. In her own words:

Look they have a job advertised for a Key Worker... maybe I will apply, So I did and this is why I am here today, but it’s not the job I applied for. In the voice of Max Bygraves … “I wanna to tell you a story”. I had to use one of my crutches to attend the interview. I thought what’s the point they will take one look at my disability and dismiss me.

Time passed and I didn't hear anything. Oh well I thought if they can’t look pass my disability then they are not the company for me. Then I got a call from the Regional Manager. We would like to offer you a job as a Health Liaison.

It is my 5^th year with the company and I am very proud to say I work for PeoplePlus. They have gone way and beyond to support me and have always seen my disability as an asset to the company.

Paul Ohren-Bird

Vocational Assistant Manager - Justice

Paul is the Assistant Manager at HMP Littlehey. he says:

I joined PeoplePlus in May 2022 going into prison education for the first time. Over the years I have worked for many training providers and colleges, however, PeoplePlus is by far the best organisation I have worked for. PeoplePlus is excellent in the way they support colleagues and they have excellent resources, fantastic benefits, reward and recognition schemes while having an excellent and positive working environment. The ethics of PeoplePlus as an organisation is absolutely outstanding while looking after colleague needs and their professional development.

My Role

At Littlehey, I manage a team of thirteen staff across ten vocational industries and my role includes: supporting my team using knowledge of what great looks like and ensuring the daily operation of the vocational training meets the requirements of PeoplePlus, HMP Littlehey and various Awarding Organisations. I actively support best practice to raise standards, working closely with my team to drive quality and compliance, while I manage staff performance and monitor KPIs.

Mark Laing

Head of Engagement - Scotland

I have been with PeoplePlus for over three and a half years, and I am responsible for all partner delivery in Scotland and the work we do with the many employers we support.

My role includes working daily with all our excellent delivery partners in Scotland these include social enterprises, private organisations and one of the largest local authorities in Scotland and I really enjoy working with such diverse organisations over a large geographical coverage of Scotland. The last few years have flown by from joining PeoplePlus at a pivotal time for the Fair Start contract to now one of the most successful employability contracts delivered ever in Scotland. PeoplePlus has allowed me to develop my career and I enjoy the support, many benefits and flexibility of working for a great organisation whose work really matters and makes a difference to the thousands of people we support every year.

Laura Evans

Employer Relationship Manager - Restart

I started working for PeoplePlus over a year ago. I am an Employer Relationship Manager on the Restart contract and have loved every minute of my journey so far! I support a diverse range of fantastic local and national employers by showcasing and matching our excellent talent pool, with the opportunities they expose to us.

PeoplePlus is an amazing employer who appreciates their colleagues and understand the challenges that not only their customer base face, but the needs of their colleagues also. My Manager gives me flexibility and authentic empathy which has allowed me to work to my true potential whilst also supporting my young son who has additional needs - common struggle faced by many working parents but not always understood by employers! PeoplePlus has enabled me to have a fantastic work life balance and for that I am very grateful! If you are looking for a job with a market leading employer, who care about the colleagues they recruit, who pay a competitive salary and who actively promote a healthy work life balance enabling you to be the best version of you, then reach out and apply!

Katie Woosey

ILS Service Support Team Leader

I have worked for PeoplePlus for 10 years in total, working up from an Administrator to a Team Leader. My current role is to lead the customer service team in our Independent Living Services department, this includes dealing with queries and managing complaints ensuring that we deliver the best service possible. I am proud to lead a team that puts the customer at the heart of everything we do.

I enjoy working at PeoplePlus because it is obvious to see the difference that our support makes to our customers, and it gives me a sense of purpose working for a business that is centred around the people that we support and that we make a direct difference to their lives.

Rachel Richards

Operations Manager - Partner Services

I started at PeoplePlus just over 11 years ago as an apprentice/learner and quickly became inspired by the work of my assessor tutor. This inspiration led me to be curious about what the role was, and ultimately apply and join PeoplePlus as an unqualified assessor at the time. After qualifying as an assessor, I took several roles, including IQA, Operations Manager, and Head of Operations for England, and into a Head of Performance and Culture role in the apprenticeships division.

During covid, our apprenticeship division was TUPE’d into another provider, and within 18 months, I found myself drawn back to PeoplePlus, returning in early 2023. The passion and commitment of the team here are a big part of why I chose to come back, it’s a culture that hasn’t been matched in my experience. The benefits are fantastic compared to similar companies, and the values are truly embedded. In Partner Services I currently work as an Operations Manager leading on Social Value Services and the satisfaction of our key clients. There are no funding rules or regulations which makes it a really unique department to drive creative innovation and work with some amazing brands to support them to impact society. In this team, there is no hierarchy, each and every one of us rolls up their sleeves to deliver. There's something about “The Smell of The Place” that makes me do more, grow more and ultimately be more.

Smell of the place - Prof Sumantra Ghoshal (youtube.com)