Return to Work - ICT: Communications Toolkit for Councils

Return to work ICT council toolkit COVER
A how-to communications toolkit for councils

Introduction

Return to Work – ICT is one of four return to work programmes, developed by the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Government Equalities Office. With the aim of supporting councils with recruitment, the LGA will run a national recruitment drive on their behalf and carefully select a cohort of ICT professionals to receive free training so they are ready to return to work in local authorities.

Candidates accepted onto the programme will be experienced ICT professionals who are currently on a career break and who require additional support to step back into their careers. They will receive free training from the Society for Innovation, Technology and Modernisation (Socitm), who will support them to refresh their skills and get back to work.

Councils who sign up to this free programme will be given the chance to connect with our carefully selected participants to discuss job vacancies.

To encourage experienced ICT professionals living in your area to apply for our programme, we ask you to help us by sharing the opportunity with your networks. In this guide, you will find templates for multiple communication platforms to make sharing the programme as simple as possible. Please feel free to tailor the examples to suit your area and organisation.

For more information about the Return to Work – ICT programme, please visit our website.

Suggested tweets

#ReturnToWork as an ICT professional.

Have you taken a career break to care for someone, looked after someone during the #COVID-19 crisis, or been out of employment for 12 months or more? @LGAcomms want to hear from you!

Find out more ⬇️

local.gov.uk/return-to-work-ict
Calling ICT experts. Would you like support to return to work after a career break?

We’re pleased to introduce @LGAcomms’ free training programme, which can help you step back into your profession.

Find out more on the LGA's website ? local.gov.uk/return-to-work-ict

#ReturnToWork
We are proud to support @LGAcomms’ Return to Work–ICT programme.

It will provide ICT professionals with free training from @Socitm, so they can refresh their skills and get back to work after a career break.

Apply on the LGA's website ⇨ local.gov.uk/return-to-work-ict

#ReturnToWork
People who work in councils benefit from:

⚪ a wide variety of projects

⚪ flexible working

⚪ the chance to shape where they live

Apply for @LGAcomms' #ReturnToWork programme for the chance to connect with councils that have vacancies.

Apply online ? local.gov.uk/return-work-campaign

Suggested Facebook post

Are you an experienced ICT professional who wants to return to work after a career break?

If the answer is yes, you may be interested in @LocalGovAssoc’s Return to Work – ICT programme. This programme will provide you with free training from @socitm so you can refresh your ICT skills and get back to work.

We have signed up to this programme and look forward to welcoming individuals who can bring fresh ideas to our organisation.

Sign up to the programme today for the chance to work with us ⬇

local.gov.uk/return-to-work-ict

#ReturnToWork

Suggested LinkedIn post

We are delighted to announce that we have signed up to @LocalGovernmentAssociation’s Return to Work – ICT programme.

This free programme will support ICT professionals to refresh their skills and get back to work after a career break.

They will complete training with @Socitm, the network for people who are modernising public services<, so they can make tangible change on a local level.

For more information about this unique opportunity, visit the LGA’s website today ⇨ local.gov.uk/return-to-work-ict

#ReturnToWork

Suggested intranet post

People are being encouraged to work in council ICT departments, as part of a new recruitment drive.

The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched the Return to Work – ICT campaign, providing experienced ICT professionals with free training and support to return to work after a career break.

Training will be delivered by Socitm, the network for people who are modernising public services, so participants can refresh their skills and prepare to make tangible change on a local level.

With funding provided by the Government Equalities Office, the campaign aims to support those who have taken an extended career break to care for someone.

The programme will also consider applications from ICT professionals who have caring responsibilities and have become unemployed due to COVID-19, or who have been in long-term unemployment.

Alison, the Assistant Director of ICT, Digital and Customer Services for Liverpool City Council, encourages people with caring responsibilities to return to work:

“Councils are good employers and ICT is a profession where there are lots of opportunities to work flexibly.

You can often test things at unusual hours and work in the evening, as there are lots of tasks that lend themselves to different working patterns.”

Many councils, including ourselves, are particularly keen to work with ICT professionals who have data analysis skills, as they will play a fundamental role in COVID-19 recovery plans.

As Jabed, the Head of Business Support and Digital Transformation for Achieving for Children, notes:

“Ultimately, people who work in IT are fundamental to how organisations operate. They provide the technology that enables work to be done.”

Returning ICT professionals will have the opportunity to shape their local areas, supporting COVID-19 recovery and developing new innovative approaches to current services.

Coming back to work after a period away can be daunting, but the support and training offered by the Return to Work – ICT programme will help returning professionals regain their confidence and skills.

If you know of any ICT professionals who would like to return to work but want support to take that step, encourage them to consider this programme. For more information, visit LGA’s Return to Work – ICT website.

Suggested bulletin article

We are delighted to announce that we have signed up to the Local Government Association (LGA) and Government Equality Office’s Return to Work – ICT programme.

Experienced ICT professionals will be supported to return to work after a career break and be provided with free training from Socitm, the society for innovation, technology and modernisation.

For the opportunity to complete this training and join [ENTER COUNCIL], apply for the programme via the LGA’s website today.

Suggested email

Subject line

Return to Work – ICT programme

Body

Dear colleague,

We are pleased to announce that we have signed up to the Local Government Association’s (LGA) new Return to Work – ICT programme.

Designed to help experienced ICT professionals return to work after a career break, this programme will provide them with free training and support.

Training will be delivered by Socitm, the network for people modernising public services, so participants can refresh their skills and prepare to make tangible change on a local level.

With funding provided by the Government Equalities Office, the campaign aims to support those who have taken an extended career break to care for someone.

The programme will also consider applications from ICT professionals who have caring responsibilities and have become unemployed due to COVID-19, or who have been in long-term unemployment.

If you or someone you know is an ICT professional who wants to return to work after a career break, but who wants support to take that step, please tell them about this programme.

Coming back to work after a period away can be tough. The Return to Work – ICT programme will support individuals to gain the skills, confidence and knowledge they need to restart their careers and shape their local areas.

More information can be found on the LGA’s Return to Work – ICT website.

Suggested press release

[INSERT COUNCIL] ANNOUNCES RETURN TO WORK – ICT PROGRAMME OPPORTUNITIES



We are pleased to announce that [INSERT COUNCIL] has signed up to the Local Government Association’s (LGA) new Return to Work – ICT programme.

Returning ICT professionals will have the opportunity to enable real, tangible change within communities, supporting COVID-19 recovery and developing new innovative approaches to current services.

The LGA, in partnership with the Society for Innovation, Technology and Modernisation (Socitm), will provide a selection of committed professionals with free training so they can refresh their skills and return to work after a career break.

Candidates will also be provided with an opportunity to connect with councils who have opportunities and vacancies.

With funding provided by the Government Equalities Office, the campaign aims to support those who have taken an extended career break to care for someone.

The programme will also consider applications from ICT professionals who have caring responsibilities and have become unemployed due to COVID-19, or who have been in long-term unemployment.

People who work in councils benefit from a wide variety of projects, flexible working, and the chance to shape the place where they live.

Earlier this year, the LGA successfully launched a Return to Social Work programme to enable up to 200 previously qualified social workers to return to the profession with local councils across England.

[INSERT COUNCIL] said it is a great opportunity for people to bring fresh ideas to work on national issues like the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, the housing crisis and climate change.

Whether you are experienced in ICT, this programme can support you to take the next step in your career.

For interested, you can sign up via the LGA’s campaigns page on their website or email [email protected] 

Cllr [INSERT NAME], [INSERT ROLE], [INSERT COUNCIL], said:

“We are delighted to support the LGA’s free Return to Work training programme.

“Returning to work after a period away can be tough. The Return to Work – ICT programme will support people gain the skills, confidence and knowledge they need to work in ICT and to shape the areas where they live.