Migrant Workers in South Somerset

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Migrant Workers in South Somerset

• A research project funded by the Local Strategic
  Partnership and carried out jointly by South
  Somerset District Council and Yeovil College
• Tracy Caller
• Research and Information Officer
• South Somerset District Council

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Background to the study

• In recent years South Somerset District Council
  has taken great steps in responding to the influx
  of migrant workers to the District.
• We have concentrations of Polish and Portuguese
  workers in our factories and on our farms as well
  as a diverse spread of workers of other
  nationalities across other sectors such as
  healthcare and hospitality.

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Recent projects include..

• Employing Polish and Portuguese link workers in
  our market towns offering Saturday morning
  drop-in advice sessions
• A multi-cultural community cohesion festival in
  Langport including a World Cup tournament and
  celebration of European food
• Working with local letting agents to dispel myths
  and prejudice

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• Set up of Somerset Polish Association
• Set up of a multi-agency Polish support group
• Talks from CAB and the Police to the Polish and
  Portuguese communities around Benefits and
  driving laws.
• Establishment of a multi-agency forum in Chard
  comprising of agencies, employers and workers
  now a model of good practice
• Formation of Somerset Portuguese Association
• Supporting the opening of a Portuguese food store
  and café in Chard
• Establishment of 24 volunteers to teach English
  conversation classes to Polish communities
  Polish lessons for locals are also being set up

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The project

• In 2005, South Somerset Together (Local Strategic
  Partnership) identified the need for a Welcome
  Pack for migrant workers and set aside some
  funding for this and some research to inform the
  development of the pack.
• SSDC developed the project and the methodology
  with admin support from Yeovil College

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The project

• In order to produce a welcome pack that was
  useful to migrant workers, we needed to find out
• What information workers would find useful
• What languages we need to provide information in
• A bit more about where workers are employed and
  the sort of support they are currently given by
  employers
• Current barriers to accessing local services

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Aim

• To examine the diversity and geographical spread
  of migrant worker populations in South Somerset
  and to find out their language and information
  needs to help them settle here.
• This was not an attempt to get a population count
  of migrant workers

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Intended Outcome

• List of identified languages
• List of information that should go in the Welcome
  Pack
• A better idea of where migrant workers are
  employed and the support that they are given

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Methodology

• Yeovil College staff conducted telephone
  interviews with at least 50 local employers known
  to employ migrant workers
• I spoke to the leader of a non-British community
  group from Yeovil
• Focus group with students learning English as a
  second language at Yeovil College
• Literature search and local knowledge

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Key findings

• Over 30 languages were identified. The most
  common were Portuguese, Polish, Indian languages,
  Filipino, Slovakian and Italian. Many other
  European, African and Asian languages identified.
• Findings tended to reflect the countries recently
  joining the European Union
• The largest concentrations were in Yeovil but
  workers were also identified in the majority of
  market towns. Many were also identified in rural
  areas particularly working in agriculture.

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Findings continued..

• 52 were working in manufacturing, 21 in medical
  care and 9 worked in care homes. However our
  sample did not extend to smaller businesses such
  as hotels, takeaways, taxi firms or shops.
• 935 migrant workers were identified in the 65
  businesses surveyed.

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Findings continued

• Many businesses did not say how they recruited
  their workers. Of those that did, 18 said they
  use an agency (some industry-specific), others
  used to use an agency but now recruit directly.
• Word of mouth was also popular (particularly in
  agriculture)

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Findings continued..

• Many businesses help their workers to find
  housing, open bank accounts, register with
  Doctors and apply for National Insurance numbers.
  Some offer housing themselves.
• Yeovil Hospital has an adaptation programme for
  overseas staff
• Some companies reported frustrations with
  language barriers when trying to train staff
• Others commented that opening hours of
  recruitment agencies are not convenient for them
  or their workers

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Items for Welcome Pack

• An online resource was suggested with hard copy
  access as well.
• Over 50 different types of information requested
  including public transport information, local
  services, help with agency contracts, booking
  flights, British culture, car insurance, tax,
  sending money home, local geography, ethnic
  minority food supplies and local English classes.

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Major issues identified

• Language is a key barrier to accessing services
  and for staff training
• Small companies with only a few migrant workers
  face greater difficulties worker isolation,
  lack of time or money to invest in translation
  facilities or language classes
• Existing language classes are not at convenient
  times or locations

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The positives..

• In general, employers were pleased with their
  migrant workers and felt that they had a positive
  impact on their business
• Several reported that their hard-working attitude
  has rubbed off on other non-migrant staff!
• Companies seem very keen to do all they can to
  support their staff to settle here

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Summary

• The aim of this study was to examine the
  diversity and geographical spread of migrant
  workers and to identify language needs and the
  range of information that migrant workers would
  find useful in their own languages to help them
  to settle in South Somerset.
• The research identified over 30 different
  languages.

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• As you would expect, concentrations of migrant
  workers were found in urban areas, however, the
  research also identified many migrant workers in
  more isolated rural areas within the District.
• Generally, employers are very positive about
  their migrant employees and are keen to support
  them but would like the tools to do this more
  effectively. This research forms the basis for
  the development of a Welcome Pack in a variety
  of languages, funded by the Local Strategic
  Partnership.

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What has happened since

• The research was conducted in 2005. The idea of
  a welcome pack has received full support form the
  Somerset Strategic Partnership who requested that
  the pack was developed into a County-wide
  resource.
• Many agencies are also keen to contribute to the
  pack including the Police, Fire Service and
  Primary Care Trust.

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• We have also received many expressions of
  interest from local employers, voluntary
  organisations and community groups.
• Starting small asking partner agencies for any
  existing translated information.
• Ask for essential information that needs
  translating i.e. how to report a crime.
• Website will be hosted externally partners can
  upload their own information but it is controlled
  centrally
• A six month post has been advertised to oversee
  the project
• Hope to launch website February 2007
• It will grow according to feedback and need

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For a copy of the full report

• www.southsomerset.gov.uk
• Go to A-Z, look for Statistics and Information
  under S. The report is downloadable here.
• Or email tracy.caller_at_southsomerset.gov.uk