MyEmploy offers a web-based tool designed to assess jobseeker employability for organisations supporting disadvantaged jobseekers and government bodies commissioning employability programmes. It uses software to generate real-time data and populate user dashboards, providing valuable insights into jobseekers' needs.
As a Chartered Occupational Psychologist with over 15 years of experience in designing, delivering, and evaluating employability services, Joanna Butler understands the crucial role employability programmes play in improving labour market opportunities for long-term unemployed individuals. Employability programmes and services play a vital role in helping jobseekers acquire skills and overcome barriers to employment.
Joanna identified significant limitations with traditional employment assessments, which are often inconsistent and narrowly focused. She noted the overlooked importance of the adviser's role, which, despite its recognised impact, has not been effectively measured or operationalised. MyEmploy addresses these issues with an online tool that provides real-time data, enhancing organisations' ability to improve employment outcomes for jobseekers. Utilising a user-friendly questionnaire and machine learning capabilities, the tool predicts outcomes and provides tailored insights, filling the need for standardised and comprehensive assessment tools.
The company's goal is to streamline employability assessments using intelligent, advanced technology to ensure fair access to meaningful jobs, benefiting jobseekers, enhancing organisational efficiency, and promoting social inclusion.
Joanna is a true Strathclyder - having studied a BA (Hons) in Psychology, followed by an MSc in Occupational Psychology, and eventually a PhD at the University of Strathclyde. She went on to work as an Occupational Psychologist, spending years designing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based education, skills, and employability services. Her focus was on welfare services, assisting organisations across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East in delivering government contracts to support long-term unemployed and disadvantaged jobseekers. She has now returned to Strathclyde as a staff member and is the Programme Director for the MSc Occupational Psychology in the Department of Work, Employment and Organisation (WEO), amongst other responsibilities!
Joanna first became engaged with Strathclyde Inspire after being invited to an online session run by Catherine Breslin, Head of IP and Commercialisation. Catherine has since provided Joanna with many essential introductions and opportunities, including the chance to pitch at the last Inspire100 event. This event saw MyEmploy being awarded the top prize of £10k from the Stephen Young Entrepreneurship Fund! This funding has enabled the business to advance the development of its product and progress towards creating a real-time AI coach for advisers which will help to transform the landscape of employment services.
The exposure gained from participating in the Inspire100 and the subsequent marketing has been invaluable for Joanna, opening doors to new opportunities and avenues for collaboration. Winning the award not only validated her business concept but also garnered attention from potential clients, investors, and partners. This increased visibility has helped her expand her network and forge meaningful connections within the industry, and in turn access resources, mentorship, and strategic partnerships that have further propelled MyEmploy’s growth trajectory.
When Joanna received an invitation to pitch at Inspire100 from the team, she wasn’t sure exactly what she was signing up for. But she followed her usual mantra of ‘always take the meeting’ – finding that chance encounters often lead to unexpected opportunities. To prepare, she focused on refining her pitch and ensuring that it effectively communicated the vision and potential of the business within the allocated 3 minutes, which she found more of a challenge than expected!
The advice she would give to others considering getting involved with Inspire100 is:
Seize the opportunity. Even if you're unsure about what it entails or if it aligns perfectly with your current plans, taking that leap could lead to benefits beyond the financial. Be prepared to answer panel questions; know your business plan inside out. Utilise the event to network with fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, and potential investors, and follow up with them. Most importantly, apart from ‘always take the meeting’, is to be authentic. Overall, there are only benefits to getting involved in Inspire100.
The skills and attributes that are most important to becoming a successful entrepreneur – in Joanna’s opinion – are an underlying desire to solve a problem, perseverance, resilience, adaptability, confidence, comfort with risk, tenacity, and faith in oneself. She believes that passion is what fuels perseverance, even in the face of challenges or disappointments.
The goal for the company in the next five years is to position MyEmploy as a leading innovator in the realm of employment services, revolutionising the way organisations assess jobseekers and value the adviser role. In the short term, Joanna plans to expand the reach and impact of the company by refining the technology, enhancing the user experience, and forging strategic partnerships with key stakeholders in the industry. Looking further ahead, she envisions leveraging emerging technologies and data analytics to further personalise and optimise the job matching process, empowering individuals to find meaningful and sustainable employment. Ultimately, MyEmploy’s goal is to continue driving positive change in the employment landscape, making meaningful contributions to the lives of jobseekers, organisations, and society.
