A pioneering partnership between charity Who Cares? Scotland and the John Lewis Partnership has helped one of the best-known retailers unlock a motivated, loyal talent pool, supporting people who’ve experienced the care system into work.Creating a workplace which supports people who have experience of the care system presents a real opportunity for the retail sector, according to charity Who Cares? Scotland.
Studies indicate care experienced people are much less likely to be in employment1, but the charity says that a project with the John Lewis Partnership shows how empowering care experienced people in the workplace can drive commercial success.
As part of the company’s Building Happier Futures programme, the John Lewis Partnership’s learning and development team worked with Who Cares? Scotland to create and refine a Care Aware training programme which over 800 people who work for the organisation have completed.
Like many sectors, retail is grappling with significant recruitment and retention challenges including high turnover, complex hiring processes and competition from other industries. Looking to measures that support people who are care experienced can create better and more inclusive workplaces, improve job satisfaction and reduce turnover, as well as unlocking talent.
Since launching Building Happier Futures in the John Lewis Partnership:
- Over 250 care experienced people have been employed through the programme
- Over 600 work experience opportunities have been taken up
- Over 800 people who work in the John Lewis Partnership have completed care experience learning with Who Cares? Scotland between 2023 and 2025
Ceira Thom, Head of Learning, Inclusion and Belonging at the John Lewis Partnership, said: “At the John Lewis Partnership, we have seen first-hand the resilience and talent of our care experienced Partners in the workplace.
“The Care Aware training is designed to help employers understand the unique challenges faced by those with care experience – lack of networks, mental health issues, and unconscious bias.
“We encourage other businesses to explore Care Aware training as a powerful first step to building an inclusive, high-performing workforce.”
Laurie Goldie, Who Cares? Scotland, project manager: Creating Communities that Care, said: “People who have experienced the care system can face additional challenges in the workplace including poor mental health, unconscious bias or lack of a supportive network. Integrating and supporting care experienced people into the workforce is one of the most effective ways a business can improve inclusion and performance. Businesses that act now can position themselves as leaders in inclusion – and gain access to a vibrant, motivated and loyal talent pool.”
A John Lewis Partner said: “The Care Experience awareness course run by Who Cares? Scotland I attended yesterday was absolutely spot on. It’s a raw and honest insight into what Care Experience really is, and I’ll be encouraging my peers across our region to attend. I had a great experience and felt invested in as a people manager having attended.”
Commenting on the Care Aware training, a team mManager at Waitrose said: “Whilst studies have shown that people who experience the care system are over ten times more likely not to be in education, employment or training, the Care Aware training aims to reverse that. It contributes to a more inclusive workforce which in turn supports the aim to support more care experienced people into work.”
Designed to equip teams across all levels with the knowledge to better understand, support and empower care experienced people in the workplace, the training helps employers to create a dynamic environment where everyone can thrive.
To learn more or to bring Care Aware training to your organisation, visit www.whocaresscotland.org/
