A common barrier to employer engagement is a lack of employer liability insurance within the business. In a City, which is dominated by SME's this was a major issue. Engage approached George Baker Insurance Brokers in February 2006 with a view to investigate the insurance opportunities that would assist them working in the City to further employment prospects for various groups in the community.

This Guide is designed to be used by any practitioner working to create work placement and employment opportunities for those furthest from the labour market.

It aims to provide key information, useful tips, contacts, good practice and professional templates across a number of key topics that are essential 'tools' for effective employer engagement.

The information in this Guide was gathered from December 2006 until June 2007.

The Aim of the Engage Brighton & Hove Partnership is 'to provide a co-ordinated, professional approach to employer engagement in the City'.

In a City where there is high unemployment, many employers still experience difficulty when trying to recruit suitably skilled people.

Engage Employment Solutions Ltd is a specialist employment broker with extensive experience of working directly with employers to determine their recruitment needs and promote diversity through the employment of disadvantaged people.

The Engage team has a reputable history of designing and delivering innovative and robust workforce solutions for employers, frequently acting as a broker between the public, voluntary and private sectors.