A SUCCESS STORY OF COLLABORATION AND EMPOWERMENT
Murray Birrell Chartered Surveyors have been involved in a very special project in partnership with Hexagon Housing to help make a positive change in the community.
In June 2023, Hexagon held a Partnering event, where Murray Birrell’s Director, Sam Field, was in attendance. Hexagon’s Senior Employment Advisor, Martyne Callender, gave a presentation and invited anyone interested in supporting her program to step forward. Inspired by her dedication, Murray Birrell Director Sam Field immediately signed up to help.
Soon after, Murray Birrell’s Personal Assistant Nicky Adamson joined the project, bringing her knowledge and experience to create a comprehensive plan. Together, Sam, Nicky and Martyne implemented a program aimed at helping Hexagon’s residents re-enter the workforce.
In November 2023, the first mock interviews were held at Murray Birrell’s offices. This event was designed to provide participants with a realistic interview experience, complete with all the emotions and challenges of a real job interview. The goal was to help residents build confidence and improve their interview skills, thereby increasing their chances of securing employment.
Throughout this process, they conducted several interviews and met many incredible individuals with inspiring stories. Despite initial nerves, they were soon able to put them at ease, offer useful techniques for managing interviews, and provide constructive feedback.
Both Sam and Nicky have been seasoned professionals in their respective fields for many years. Their desire to give back to the community led them to share their experiences, skills, and knowledge with the residents. By offering guidance on improving CVs and honing interviewing techniques, they have empowered individuals to view their job search from a new perspective and showed them how to look at themselves in a different way.
The feedback received has been overwhelmingly positive. Many participants reported that their interactions have been instrumental in helping them secure employment. This success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all parties involved.
A resident said: “At the beginning of the interview I was nervous but as it progressed I was more relaxed. They were excellent interviewers, made me feel welcome and gave good feedback. Thank you for this opportunity it really helped my confidence in doing interviews in the future.”
For Murray Birrell, participating in this program has been incredibly rewarding. It has not only allowed them to give back to the community but also enriched their understanding of the challenges faced by job seekers. They are proud of the progress made and remain committed to supporting initiatives that foster community growth and empowerment.
Martyne says: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Murray Birrell and I’ve been blown away by their commitment to developing the confidence and employability skills of our residents.”
The collaboration between Sam, Nicky and Martyne is a shining example of how businesses and community organisations can work together to create positive change. By helping residents regain their confidence and find employment, we are contributing to a stronger, more resilient community overall.
