In today’s competitive marketplace, businesses are seeking innovative ways to meet their business needs, enhance productivity, streamline operations, and foster inclusive work environments.
Customised Employment (CE) offers a solution by bridging the gap and focuses on aligning the strengths, interests, and preferences of job candidates – particularly those with disabilities or employment barriers – with the specific needs of businesses.
Since founding Towards Better in 2020, Ricky Esterquest and his team have worked with thousands of people to create positive change within the community through the inclusion of people with disabilities in valued social roles.
“As the workplace evolves, so too must hiring strategies,” says Ricky.
“Traditional hiring processes can overlook talented individuals whose skills may not fit neatly into standard roles or be able to compete amongst a stack of resumes.
“Customised employment challenges this by abandoning rigid job descriptions and instead crafting roles that highlight individual contributions.
It fosters an inclusive culture that resonates with socially conscious consumers and builds employee loyalty.
“CE works because it’s personal – one person at a time, one business at a time. It’s not just about filling vacancies or ‘placing and praying’; it’s about developing opportunities that drive mutual long-term success.”
Playing a key role in facilitating CE, Towards Better helps by connecting employers with job candidates.
They conduct the ‘Discovery’ phase of the CE process to identify candidates’ strengths and ideal work conditions, design roles to meet business needs, and provide on-site guidance for smooth workplace integration.
While employers manage funding of the role, training, and daily oversight, Towards Better offers ongoing support to adapt training, build confidence, and promote independence, ensuring long-term success.
To meet the growing demand for education around CE, Towards Better is hosting a workshop for HR professionals, business owners, and managers.
Exploring how to identify unmet business needs, tailor roles to employee strengths, and implement CE strategies for long-term success, this session will help you uncover untapped potential within your team, all while fostering a culture of growth, diversity, and inclusion.
The Tangible Benefits of Customised Employment (CE)
Enhanced Productivity – by aligning the skills and talents of the potential employee with the unmet business needs of the employer, every team member is positioned to contribute at their highest potential.
Streamlined Operations – the ability to reassign essential yet routine tasks enable senior staff to focus on higher-value, strategic responsibilities, and enhances a business’s overall efficiency.
Improved Retention and Engagement – employees working in roles that align with their skills and passions are more likely to stay long-term, reducing turnover and long-term recruitment costs.
Positive Social and Brand Impact – implementing CE demonstrates a commitment to diversity and inclusion, strengthening the company’s brand reputation, attracting top talent and retaining customers.
Real-Life Impact: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship
Through the implementation of Customised Employment processes, job candidates like Caleb and Lochlan have found roles that align with their skills, while businesses like Explore Property Munro & Co and King Konz have reaped the rewards of improved efficiency and a motivated workforce.
Explore Property Munro & Co and Caleb
Caleb joined Explore Property Munro & Co over 12 months ago, assisting the team by preparing marketing materials and performing administrative tasks that free up valuable time for sales agents and enables them to focus on core business activities. Over this period his confidence has grown, and he has formed meaningful relationships with colleagues.
“I wanted to extend an opportunity to someone who may face employment challenges, and we have a number of tasks in our business that can be done either from home, office, or out in the community and they didn’t need a degree to do it they just needed to be a good human,” says Jools Munro, Director of Explore Property Munro & Co.
“Towards Better found us Caleb, and he is the icing on our cupcake.”
King Konz School of Music and Lochlan
Costa and Julie Hagiaglou, co-owners of King Konz, contacted Towards Better to help fill the gap and address administrative challenges their team were experiencing. They were matched with Lochlan who joined the team over a year ago as an Office Assistant. Lochlan’s ability to manage the tasks that were previously overwhelming the team has allowed them to focus on their core mission: connecting the community through the joy of playing music.
Lochlan’s enthusiasm for his role is palpable, saying, “I finally have a paid job, and I really enjoy where I’m working.”
According to the team at King Konz, the initial trial with Lochlan quickly proved his value, and the partnership with Towards Better made the process seamless.
“It’s part of our mission to have fun, and Lochlan embodies that while delivering exceptional support. We didn’t look back after the trial – it’s been the perfect fit,” says Julie.
Julie Hagiaglou and Lochlan
Want to learn more? Learn how to transform your workforce with customised employment at the Customised Employment workshop on March 26! Click here for more information
