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Shared micromobility operator Tier has announced its partnership with Big Issue Recruit (BIR), the specialist recruitment service from the Big Issue Group (BIG) to employ people facing barriers to work in the operations division of its new shared micromobility scheme, launching across Bath and Bristol.
Earlier this year Tier won the tender, issued by the West of England Combined Authority, to provide shared micromobility services in Bath and Bristol.
This has required Tier to set up a new operations division in the West of England to manage the fleet of e-scooters and e-bikes across the region, which is due to be Tier’s largest fleet in the UK.
Tier’s operations teams ensure its vehicles are charged, maintained and distributed across the towns and cities it serves.
Jessica Murphy, Head of Public Policy, UKI, added: “Big Issue Recruit, and the Big Issue Group, have a long history of making positive change in the West of England and we are extremely pleased to be working with the team as we launch our shared micromobility service in Bristol and Bath.
“It is important to us that our service benefits as many people’s lives as possible, and working with BIR means our operations team will have unparalleled local knowledge from the start.”
BIR is a specialist recruitment service, dedicated to supporting people who face barriers to employment to find sustainable jobs and thrive.
It is a person-centred service and free to candidates, supporting individuals and employers pre, during and post-employment.
BIR’s job coaches work with candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds, who are experiencing poverty and have barriers to employment.
They build the confidence, resilience and essential skills of candidates, enabling them to become work ready and coaching them through the selection process, to secure their desired roles.
Job coaches work simultaneously with employers, offering tailored support to hiring managers and their teams to prepare them to welcome people with barriers to employment and best sustain their placements.
BIR has mobilised an initial team of 10 rangers to support Tier operations in the West of England, sourcing candidates from a range of local referral partners.
Tier launched its e-scooters and e-bikes in Bath in mid-September.
Big Issue Recruit candidates are already supporting the service on the ground.
Tier and BIR are now working together to ensure the team is in place for the full launch of the service in Bristol later in October.
Read more: Forest utilises AI to incentivise responsible parking of its e-bikes
Paul Cheal, group CEO of The Big Issue Group, said: “We are pleased to be working with Tier, the Council and many local community groups in Bristol and Bath in order to give people facing barriers to employment in the West of England the opportunity to access job roles.
“After 30 years of supporting vendors, we are extending opportunities to a growing number of marginalised people in different ways and we are proud that Big Issue Recruit has already mobilised an initial team of rangers working hard to change their lives through enterprise. We intend to grow this team and look forward to doing so over the next three years.”
