Employer Engagement Workshops

A practical Employer Engagement Workshop for IPS Specialists using the Intro–Curious–Engage method

This one-day workshop, available either online (delivered as two half-day sessions) or face-to-face, has been developed from my 10 years experience of engaging with several hundred employers across the country. It's designed to equip your team with the skills, techniques, and behaviours needed for successful employer engagement. This workshop focuses on creating meaningful job opportunities for your service’s clients, aligned with the IPS model, using the proven ICE method.

The ICE method emphasises relationship-building with employers while prioritising client preferences. In this highly interactive session, your team will learn how to:

• Understand the importance of employer engagement in supported employment.

• Research and identify suitable employers and key contacts effectively.

• Influence, engage, and build strong rapport with employers/providers using the ICE method.

• Communicate effectively with employers – what to say (and what to avoid).

• Ask impactful questions to gain valuable insights from employers/providers.

• Keep the door open for follow-up opportunities.

• Handle concerns or negative responses with confidence.

This IPS training often serves as a foundation for my in-field experiential session, helping attendees feel fully prepared to apply their learning in real-world situations.

Empower your team to forge stronger employer connections and create impactful opportunities for your clients. Melting the ice one conversation at a time.

This hands-on Employer Engagement workshop takes place on your local high street, working with real employers to uncover genuine job opportunities for your team’s clients. It serves as a practical follow-up to the ICE Method virtual workshop, allowing participants to apply their newly learned techniques. Alternatively, it can be delivered as a stand-alone session, offering your team the chance to explore effective methods for engaging with employers. So far, I have successfully delivered this experiential workshop to over 100 services nationwide.

During the session, I provide mentoring and coaching to your team members in real time. I begin by demonstrating how to approach and engage with employers, before guiding and encouraging your team to practise these techniques themselves. I offer constructive feedback throughout the session to help refine their approach. 

This practical, interactive method has proven highly effective in transforming mindsets and boosting confidence in employer engagement, with participants reporting a 50% increase in confidence following the training. It’s a valuable experience for both new and experienced team members alike.

This interactive virtual session introduces my signature “ICE Method” (Intro, Curious, Engage), helping Team Leaders understand how to help their team members build rapport, influence employers, and secure opportunities for clients.

Key areas covered:

• Why employer engagement is critical for IPS fidelity and outcomes, and how team leaders drive this vision 
• How to use the ICE method (Intro, Curious, Engage) to engage with employers
• Field mentoring skills: modelling employer engagement, observing staff, and debriefing with GROW coaching techniques and BOOST feedback model
• How to use caseload reviews to build individual employer engagement strategies for each client
• Tools and tips for managing mindset and confidence

Delivery options:

• Two 3-hour virtual sessions (ideal for reflection and spaced learning and working around busy client/team support) or
• One full-day virtual session

The skills development programme is focused purely on Team Leaders and includes the above virtual workshop (Leading Employer Engagement) as the first part of the programme followed up by: 

Part 2: In-Field Mentoring: Real-Time Coaching and Practice with Employers

The experiential component takes learning out of the classroom and into the real world. I coach staff in live employer engagement situations, rotating between observing, demonstrating, and supporting them as they apply the ICE method, coaching and feedback learned in the virtual workshop.

Session format: 

• Two x 2.5-hour field sessions per day (typically morning and afternoon)

• Up to 4 participants per session (max 8 per day)

• Locations within approx. 30 minutes of each other

• Targeted outreach to employers relevant to real client needs

What participants gain:

• Direct feedback, real-time coaching, and tailored guidance

• Increased confidence in approaching and speaking with employers

• A chance to see and practice techniques in live conversations

• Real time practice of effective coaching and feedback skills

Part 3: Group Coaching Call: Embedding Learning & Reflecting on Practice

Roughly 4–6 weeks after the workshops, I facilitate a 2-hour group coaching session where participants can reflect on their real-world experiences, share what’s worked, and explore solutions to any challenges they’ve encountered.

This session helps embed skills into long-term practice, reinforce confidence, and provide peer support.

This session helps team leaders:

• Reinforce employer engagement as a team priority

• Support staff to apply learning consistently over time

• Identify and address any barriers to embedding practice

• Reflect on their own leadership style in encouraging engagement

• Develop simple routines and supervision tools to keep momentum going

Team leaders play a crucial role in creating a culture where employer engagement thrives. This coaching ensures they feel confident, supported, and equipped to maintain progress once the workshops are complete.

Additional coaching sessions for groups or individual Team Leaders/Service Leads can be booked as part of the package or on a cost per session basis depending on service need.