Merseyside 0151 427 4193 | Kirklees 01484 506 307 info@employabilitysolutions.com

Recent Email System Compromise

On Tuesday 2nd June 2020, Employability Solutions experienced a hack of our email system.

This involved contacts being sent a request for payment or a link to open a shared file.

We can confirm our system is now completely secure and it is safe to resume email communication.

We can confirm the following action was taken following the discovery of the email system being compromised.

We have fulfilled our legal obligation to notify the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) about this breach. The incident was reported to the Cyber Crime Unit who have supported us to secure our system and there is now an official log of this crime with Merseyside Police. We shared information about this immediately and where possible, via all communication channels, including website and social media.

The following measures were put in place immediately to ensure that we are secure:

  •  All email accounts had passwords changed and had two-factor authentication activated
  •  Checks were carried out on all email accounts using Power Shell to identify any rules applied to accounts and these have been actioned.
  •  We are Cyber Essentials accredited and have completed an assessment of our systems and security, including communications, data storage, sharing protocols etc.
  •  We have contacted / attempted to make contact with all partners, contractors, schools and companies who we provide services for to ensure bank account details have not been compromised.
  •  With support from both Word Shed and PPCP IT Support, we have been able to action all recommendations and future proof our IT systems. THANK YOU!

We can confirm that following a forensic investigation into this breach, NO personal or sensitive data pertaining to students, staff or those we work in partnership with was compromised at any point.

We have also taken further steps to improve security moving forward including increasing the use of existing platforms such as Egress or AnyComms.

We want to thank all those involved for bringing it to our attention instantly and therefore helping us to respond immediately. Thank you for your understanding and patience whilst we navigated our way through this new and difficult situation.

If you are still worried that you may have been compromised due to clicking on any links in the email and would like advice or support to secure your email system, please contact us.

If you believe financial transactions may have been compromised, please contact Sarah Riley, Business Manager urgently on 0151 427 4193

Parents Information for Online Safety

Parents Information for Online Safety

Meet Elaine – Ignite Participant and Volunteer

Meet Elaine – Ignite Participant and Volunteer

When Elaine first walked into Employability Solutions she had been unemployed for six years, she felt like she had zero confidence, no skills and was daunted by the idea of finding a job. With some trepidation Elaine participated in Ignite – a 12 week, intensive personal and professional development programme that was funded by WEA / ESF Community Learning Grants programme 2014-15.

Over the twelve weeks Elaine examined her self-limiting beliefs and identified those “perceived barriers” that were getting in the way of her taking action toward actively pursuing a career in administration, something she always dreamed of.

The course created the circumstances in which Elaine could grow her confidence through coaching and opportunities to push herself beyond her comfort zone, Elaine was soon standing up and speaking in front of people – something she thought she’d never be able to do.

The course taught participants how to identify and utilise personal skills, gifts and talents and apply those attributes to a work situation – every participant as part of the course got to do 30 hours work experience in their dream job.

For Elaine this opportunity was offered by Employability Solutions.

“We jumped at the chance to support Elaine, her vibrancy and dedication toward her own transformation really fit our organisations ethos, plus the fact that we were a growing local social enterprise who really needed administrative help” – Sarah Riley – Business Manager – Employability Solutions.

The 30 hours work experience soon turned into regular volunteering and fast forward six months Elaine has gone onto to improve her Maths, English and IT and is about to enrol on an NVQ in Business Administration, but this is nothing compared to how far she feels she has come personally.

“Ignite literally transformed me as a person and gave me the spark I needed to pursue something I am passionate about – I have OCD, and this really stopped me from leaving the house at times, the course pushed me to look at myself, my home life, my family and my future – I realised that my obsession with order and neatness was welcomed and valued in the workplace – I have volunteered with Employability Solutions for the past six months and have gone from doing admin behind the scenes to being the face of the business – I love it, I love the team but above all I LOVE the young people that attend out community education … Following a recent interview I have been offered a full time position.” – Elaine Bowler – IGNITE participant and Administrator at Employability Solutions, head office in Garston, Liverpool.

Volunteer Week

Volunteer Week


Let me introduce you to “our Desy”, our volunteer cook at Employability Solutions. We said thank you, to Desy during #volunteerweek for all
his hard work and dedication!
Don’t let illness get in the way of you being involved in stuff that makes you feel good. Desy has been instrumental in providing hot, healthy, home-made meals to our young people and their families helping us to fulfil our mission to ensure #nochildgoeshungry for that past year. He has made a massive difference to their nutrition and is combating food poverty by cooking with LOVE @ Employability Solutions. If you are interested in sharing your skills, giving back and making a difference then get in touch.
We have volunteering opportunities in Liverpool and Huddersfield NOW!

The Parliamentary Review Highlighting Best Practice

The Parliamentary Review Highlighting Best Practice

“Schools around the UK are, unfortunately, too willing – sometimes too keen – to overlook or exclude these students. Seeing this, I and my company, Employability Solutions, decided to provide a full-time alternative education for this marginalised group of people” – Claire Cook, CEO of Employability Solutions. Click here to read more.