Working with the Business Community to Improve Program Performance
The purpose of this workshop is to learn new approaches for improving relationships with the business community. It is important to provide quality business services and improve on the placement and job retention success of our participants. We have been focusing most of our energies on preparing and placing our participants to give them the experience necessary for career advancement. One must look at new ways to adapt to the changing workforce and establish our organization as more than a placement agency to the business community.

The majority of our business customers who hire program participants do not have Human Resource and Training Departments. They often rely (if they can afford it) on outside consultants and trainers to fulfill their needs and solve workforce problems. These issues such as absenteeism, job turnover, employee attitudes, skill development, diversity, and competition for good employees keep businesses searching for solutions. Developing a quality Business Services strategy at our Agency will increase employer relationships, job retention and employment opportunities.

When an employer tells you they have no job openings… do you walk away…or are you prepared to ask other questions to gain a new understanding of what crucial workforce issues they are facing. If you understand these needs are you able to provide ideas on where they can find solutions. Working with the business community to improve program performance will provide our agency with the necessary tools to:
1. Develop new ongoing relationships with employers
2. Increase placement opportunities
3. Gain a better understanding of the businesses that are hiring our participants.
4. Enhance the opportunity for increased wages for employed participants.

Participants who attend this training will learn:

• Basic ingredients of a Business Services strategy
• How to conduct an informal business Needs Assessment survey
• Ideas for problem solving business resources.
• Strategies used by fortune 500 companies to reduce employee turnover
• Job retention strategies employers can immediately implement
• Ways to effectively maintain communication with local employers
• Ideas for Value-Added services and information that can be utilized to recruit and maintain your business customers.
• Web sites that will help your business customers solve workforce problems
• The most frequently asked workforce issue questions that California Businesses ask.
• Strategies to increase placements and career advancement of program participants