Take Your Shot Zone
a First.
Last week, Slenky unveiled the ‘Take Your Shot Zone’ in collaboration with the ‘Brent Works Wembley Job Fair’ at Wembley Stadium.
Our aim was to modernise the traditional careers event by transitioning it to a more accessible and sustainable digital format, allowing opportunity seekers to use their mobile devices to connect with employers and businesses offering opportunities.
We also unveiled the latest upgrades to the Slenky platform and app.
A shedload of pens
One of my personal frustrations with job fairs, both from my 80’s school days and now, is their similarity in format. Organisations bring box after box of paper materials to the venue, most of which end up scattered inside and outside the event area afterwards - application forms, A5 and A4 flyers, pamphlets, booklets, carrier bags, and thousands of pens.
While these may perhaps serve as a brand awareness exercise, I often question their long-term impact and the environmental toll, considering the sheer volume of materials and the vehicles required to transport them.
Download - Explore
Our collaboration with Brent integrated digital signage to the Slenky platform. In the Take Your Shot Zone, the team assisted a sample of attendees to download the Slenky app to help them explore their passions, engage with brands, and register their interest in opportunities, i.e., Take Your Shot.
Got a Passion?
They could do this in as few as 140 words instantly at the event, or up to 14 days afterwards by favouriting or saving the Shot in the app. They could also act as virtual marketers by sharing brands’ Shots with friends in their network who didn’t make the event.
Working with our most innovative council partner, Brent Council, our solution was to integrate digital signage and the Slenky platform. In the Take Your Shot Zone, the team assisted a sample of attendees in downloading the Slenky app and provided bite-sized on-screen information enabling them to search their passions, engage with brands and register interest in opportunities i.e. Take Your Shot.
This could be done in up to 140 words instantly at the event, or for up to 14 days afterwards, by favouriting or saving the Shot in the app. They could also act as virtual marketers, sharing brands’ Shots with friends in their network who couldn’t make the event.
Partnering - White Light
To realise the vision, we collaborated with White Light our Technical Support Partner. Like many businesses, White Light also has attractive employment and training offers and want to engage diverse talent. However, unlike many others, White Light truly walks the walk.
Slenky’s vision resonated with a business driven by innovation, with commitment to becoming a Shot Provider on Slenky and the first company in the Zone, allowing the team to lean on brilliant (serious) technical expertise and event experience, and to execute a global first.
I can’t adequately express the level of professional support, creative thinking and authentic partnership White Light brought to the Zone.
Useful data
We looked at the current passions data and invited organisations whose operations, opportunities, or values aligned. Some were existing partners, while others had previously expressed a desire to shift towards digital engagement.
We invited SMEs, start-ups and third-sector organisations that are often overlooked, but play a crucial role in enabling many people to gain valuable skills and work experience. In the case of start ups, they’re also predominantly digital.
Brand partners - driving access to opportunity
More details about the brands will be shared in upcoming posts. Participants included the FA, who have supported Slenky throughout our R&D and testing, as well as Willmott Dixon and Wates. The latter two construction companies are also suppliers to Brent Council, and keen to deliver meaningful social value.
They also previously partnered with Arcadis Group for Slenky's West Midlands tests, walking the walk. The construction sector, perhaps more than any other bar the services, has been crying out for innovative engagement to attract diverse talent for decades.
…and whilst we’re on the services, the Met Police was (is) on a screen near you; not promoting officer recruitment, but reflecting London’s largest employer and communicating other non-frontline opportunities, of which an increasing number are digital, and packaged differently potential attractive to new audiences.
It was also nice to welcome Bola Odutayo and Michael Morley (DWP) to the Zone. We stayed tuned… :)
Our wonderful team - plus VIPs Rianna and Nathan
Past users:
Rianna Johnson: Associate Manager Creative Operations & Project Management (Spotify)
Nathan Taylor: National Senior Service Account Manager (Beaucare)
Special thanks go to Team Slenky and also two special individuals, Rianna Johnson and Nathan Taylor, from London and Leeds respectively, who gave a day to help others think about personal passions and explore Shots.
2024 marks a decade since they first encourtered Slenky in their social feeds, signed up and experienced Shots at their passions; and fast-tracked to successful careers.
Change is never easy but is made possible by those who see the need for it.
Thank you so much to everyone involved or who supported the event in any way. You fuel innovation.
“We have partnered with Slenky as they embrace new technology at Job Fairs, and have enjoyed supporting our local community on their Employment and Skills journeys in Wembley and Brent.”
