Category Archives: Jobs

Jobs, Recruitment

Christmas web events to give free support and guidance to jobseekers in North Wales

A RECRUITER will host a series of live web events to help jobseekers find employment during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Supertemps has organised three webinars to take place over the coming weeks, beginning on Tuesday December 1.

Launched 40 years ago, the Colwyn Bay and Bangor-based company plans to cover a range of topics during the free sessions, including seven traits of the successful jobseeker and how to craft the perfect CV.

The virtual programme follows the recording of support and advice videos earlier this year for furloughed and at-risk workers, featuring team members including Managing Director Sarah Ellwood and Sian Shepherd, Business Manager at S2 Recruitment, the IT, executive and engineering arm of Supertemps.

Sarah says they plan to hold online sessions for employers in the new year, but for now the focus is on supporting candidates searching for a new role.

“Despite the pandemic and the challenges of 2020 there are still opportunities out there,” she said.

“We have seen some green shoots and clients are growing in confidence as the landscape starts to shift, especially here in Wales.”

Sarah added: “There has been a positive response to our web sessions and videos from those who are either looking to retrain and try something new, or staff at risk or furloughed.

“The sessions are free, and we have one simple aim – to get our people working and our economy moving again.”

There will be presentations by the firm’s qualified recruitment experts, followed by Q&A sessions. Participants are also able to send questions in advance.

During the summer, Supertemps and S2 Recruitment launched a suite of new services to complement its award-winning temporary and permanent recruitment offering.

These included multi-channel job advertising and their ‘Recruiter Rescue’ service – where a member of the team will act as an extra pair of hands for internal HR departments swamped with applications – plus additional support including online skills testing and psychometric and personality profiling.

Sian believes the way in which myriad sectors have transformed their business models and adapted to the ‘new normal’ by further embracing online technology puts them in a position to rebuild and come back stronger.

“There are still obstacles and challenges for many industries and the Coronavirus has had a negative impact on employment figures, with so many people sadly losing their jobs or at-risk of redundancy,” she said.

“We are here for you, and best-placed to help identify the right position with the right organisation. Hopefully, there will be a good response to these virtual events, and we can move forward together.”

Register for free and find out more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/supertemps-and-s2-recruitment-18797243039

For more on Supertemps, call 01248 671477 or 01492 517602. Alternatively, visit the website: www.supertemps.co.uk.

For more on S2 Recruitment, visit www.s2recruitment.co.uk or call 03333 234 371.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyDDc48hfPJTMq_4pyI3ZAQ

ENDS

Jobs, News

Sussex property specialists offering employment to those affected by COVID-19 redundancies

Following the devastating effects of COVID-19, and subsequent job losses (unemployment is at 4.5% across the UK), Sussex property specialists PS&B is now looking to help a number of people who have recently suffered redundancy, or are struggling to find work in the county, by offering new employment opportunities.

Whether individuals have previously worked within the property market or not, the company’s board of directors has pledged to assess anyone who applies for a job and will provide necessary training if required to help a few Sussex residents get back on their feet.

The number of jobs available at the company, or what department they will be in, is not set in stone yet as directors are waiting to see what the demand is. Applicants can be of any age and the company is even considering launching a new apprenticeship scheme if required.

PS&B has been established in Sussex for nearly 200 years and has offices in Brighton, East Sussex, and Bognor Regis. West Sussex. It offers a range of services covering rented accommodation, commercial property sales and lettings, auctions and professional services such as valuations, lease extensions, collective enfranchisement, and property, block or estate management.

“Unemployment figures keep rising, and Sussex has been hit particularly hard because of the effect on the aviation and entertainment industries,” explained Michael Barber, Director of PS&B. “We pride ourselves on being a local business that supports others wherever possible, and being established in 1825 means this is not the first storm we have had to see through, but we do know that if we help and support one another, our county will thrive. There are so many talented and hard-working people out there that have been made redundant or are out of work because their original industry is suffering right now, and we want to help.

“We are not offering specific jobs roles or salaries at the moment; we want to see who comes forward and is interested in working with us as, if they are good fit within our PS&B family, we would develop their best skills into our industry. Obviously, the employment opportunities with us aren’t endless but we will try to help as many as we can.”

To apply for a position at PS&B simply send a copy of your CV, along with a covering letter, to hr@psandb.co.uk.

Coronavirus, Jobs, North Wales, Training News

Skills partnership and Welsh colleges unite to promote scheme for at-risk workers

LEADING colleges joined forces to provide furloughed, at risk and low-paid workers with an opportunity for change.

Coleg Cambria and Grwp Llandrillo Menai have united with North Wales Regional Skills Partnership to promote the Personal Learning Account (PLA) scheme.

PLAs give anyone over the age of 19 and living in Wales, in employment earning less than £26,000 or on  a zero hours contract, furloughed or at risk of redundancy, access to part-time courses that will enable them to find employment or switch careers.

Both FE institutions offer a range of qualifications in myriad sectors including engineering, construction, IT, financial services, digital, and tourism and hospitality.

Aimed at individuals wanting to study Level 3 and above, gaining higher skills online and – when it is safe to do so – in the classroom, it has already proven popular via a pilot project launched last year by Grwp Llandrillo Menai and Coleg Gwent.

David Roberts, chair of the North Wales Regional Skills Partnership, said: “It is fantastic to see two of the UK’s leading colleges come together to encourage career progression and support at-risk workers when they need it most.

“This is a time of great uncertainty for so many people across the region; the PLA scheme gives them a platform to learn new skills and access first-class training and support.

“Working together is the only way we are going to overcome the challenges of this year, and this is a free, alternative pathway that will provide an opportunity for change.”

For those not eligible for a PLA, both colleges also support the Skills for Employers and Employees (SEE) project which provides businesses across North Wales with financial backing to raise employee skills and knowledge in a range of arenas from advanced manufacturing to energy and professional services.

Vicky Barwis, Vice Principal for Work-based Learning and Employer Engagement at Coleg Cambria, said:

“Ultimately, this partnership is about identifying opportunities, plugging the skills gap in North Wales and being there to support the many people who are at risk of losing their jobs.

“Whether that be because of the pandemic or other economic and personal factors, there are options available to help and support you in finding and achieving your chosen career.”

James Nelson, Executive Director of Academic Services at Grwp Llandrillo Menai, added: “By coming together we have made PLAs more accessible to people across the whole of North Wales.

“We hope those affected will capitalise on the funding available and it gives them some peace of mind at this challenging time for all industries.”

The partnership is supported by North Wales Economic Ambition Board.

For more information, visit www.gllm.ac.uk/adult-and-community/personal-learning-account (GLLM) or www.cambria.ac.uk/personal-learning-account (Coleg Cambria).

Visit www.northwaleseab.co.uk/jobs-and-skills/regional-skills-partnership for more on North Wales Regional Skills Partnership.

Jobs, Local Councils, North Wales

Virtual conference to seek solutions for Covid-hit North Wales industries

AN ONLINE conference will aim to meet economic challenges facing the public and private sector in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Targeting frontline staff working in the fields of skills and employability – including Careers Wales, Working Wales and further and higher education representatives – the virtual event takes place from 9.30am on Thursday October 22.

The free forum has been organised by North Wales Regional Skills Partnership, supported by North Wales Economic Ambition Board, and will include an address by Ken Skates MS, Minister for the Economy and North Wales.

David Roberts, chair of the Regional Skills Partnership, will open proceedings and believes the continued spirit of collaboration across the region is vital.

“This year has brought unprecedented challenges, the like of which we have never seen before,” said Mr Roberts.

“From an economic perspective we are going to feel this for months or even years, so coming together and shaping a plan of action is pivotal for all sectors.

“At this very challenging time there is a need for total unity and a clear path for anyone who has been made redundant or looking for a change of career because of the current financial climate.”

He added: “While this is a tough time there are opportunities for development and change, and we will explore these during the conference and as we move forward.”

Those joining the Resilient North Wales event can take part in a Q&A session, share best practice with other delegates and will be updated on latest news and information from the Welsh Government.

Other bodies represented and delivering presentations include the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Coleg Cambria, Grwp Llandrillo Menai, Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service), Citizens Advice Denbighshire, and Niall Waller from Flintshire County Council, chair of the Employability Working Group.

Earlier this year – following the COVID-19 outbreak – the Ambition Board, the Welsh Government’s Working Wales Programme, delivered by Careers Wales, the Regional Skills Partnership and the DWP united to provide job seekers with an Opportunity for Change.

With thousands of people across the country facing uncertainty or struggling to find a role in the wake of the global crisis, their aim is to help match them with essential job vacancies in alternative sectors, as well as offering online training.

Minister for the Economy and North Wales Ken Skates said: “These are exceptionally challenging times, and the Welsh Government has taken action on a number of fronts to provide assistance for businesses and individuals.

“This has included a £40m skills and jobs fund which includes the pledge that everyone over 16 will receive the assistance they need to access advice and support to find work, to pursue self-employment or to find a place in education and training.

“I congratulate the Regional Skills Partnership for bringing all the key partners together in North Wales for this event.  There is a strong spirit of collaboration in the region, which I fully endorse as we work together to support those hardest hit by the pandemic.”

To join the conference and for more information, visit: shorturl.at/dgj34

Follow the hashtags #opportunitynorthwales, #changeyourstory #northwalesjobs #walesjobslive and #teamnorthwales on social media.

Jobs, News

Number of new jobs in the UK continues to grow, despite economic uncertainty

Job vacancies increased 17% in the week ending 20th September, with the number of roles advertised up 34% when compared to the last week of August as the UK adapts to the ‘new normal’. That’s according to the latest real-time statistics from the world’s largest network of job boards, Broadbean Technology.

Vacancies in the capital dominate, while northern cities report sharp increase

According to the data, London continues told hold the lion’s share of the UK’s vacancies, with 15% of all jobs advertised hosted in the capital – a 20% increase week-on-week. This upward trend in vacancies was also reported in numerous cities across the UK, with Manchester and Birmingham seeing an uptick in jobs of 32% and 22% respectively week-on-week. This is indicative of a continued attempt by businesses to ‘return to normal’ as more employers adapt to an extended period of remote working.

IT vacancies bolster hiring

Broadbean’s statistics also revealed that across the sectors, IT vacancies remain high, accounting for 9% of all jobs advertised for the week ending 20th September. This represents a 39% increase week-on-week in the lead up to the Prime Minister’s announcement that employees should return to remote working where they can. With predictions that this home working rule will remain in place for a possible six-month period, this demand for tech experts will likely continue on this upward trajectory in the immediate future as businesses seek the tech expertise to manage and update IT infrastructures.

Alex Fourlis, Managing Director at Broadbean Technology commented:

“While there’s a level of uncertainty still, September’s figures suggest that the UK is adapting to this ‘new normal’, with job numbers remaining at promising levels. Although in the lead up to Boris Johnson’s announcement of further remote working requirements, the idea was simply a prediction rather than a certainty, the increase in IT vacancies at this time suggests employers across the UK were keen to get ahead of the game this time around and prepare as far in advance as possible.”

“We are still facing tough economic times and we are by no means out of the woods yet. However, these promising signs indicate that for some employers at least, resilience remains intact. And with the Chancellor announcing further measures to not only secure jobs, but also extend loan schemes for businesses, we hope that this positive trend in recruitment continues in the immediate future.”

Jobs, Recruitment

New partnerships and innovative services from recruiter marking 40th and ‘most challenging’ year

A RECRUITMENT company marking its 40th anniversary forged key partnerships and unveiled new services during lockdown.

Based in Colwyn Bay and Bangor, Supertemps has launched a suite of platforms to complement its award-winning temporary and permanent full recruitment offering.

These include multi-channel job advertising and their ‘Recruiter Rescue’ service – where a qualified member of the team will act as an extra pair of hands for internal HR teams swamped with applications – plus additional support including online skills testing and psychometric and personality profiling.

Managing Director Sarah Ellwood said these models maximise exposure of the employer brand in the job marketplace and have been well-received by customers and partners across the region.

However, with staff working a mixture of home and office based due to the Covid-19 pandemic, she admits this has been the most challenging period in Supertemps’ history.

“Like all companies, we have worked hard to navigate our way through the last few months and are trying to be as flexible and adaptable as possible,” she said.

“We have continued to operate and are beginning to see some green shoots, so hopefully that will continue.

“There are, of course, still going to be difficult times ahead but we have shown we can continue to deliver services online and communicate with clients and candidates via video conferencing until we are able to meet face to face.”

She added: “Our staff have been brilliant; I’m heartened by the way they have embraced online systems and met these challenges head-on.

“We have partially re-opened our offices but continue to work as normal whether that be from the offices or not.

“It’s still very difficult out there for all businesses and jobseekers and we’re here to lend a helping hand as much as we can.”

As well as leading Supertemps into its fifth decade, Sarah has joined the board of directors at Menai Science Park (M-SParc) on Anglesey.

And the group’s executive, IT and engineering arm S2 Recruitment has been working with North Wales Economic Ambition Board to fill vital roles in the Programme Office delivering the £1bn North Wales Growth Deal.

“To be working alongside two such fantastic institutions which have such a major impact on the region and its economy is fantastic for Supertemps and S2 Recruitment,” said Sarah.

“As we begin to see momentum build following a challenging period it is more important than ever that we come together in the spirit of support and collaboration.”

She added: “On a personal note, I have always been an admirer of M-SParc and the incredible work they do for the environment, energy, and in the world of science and technology.

“To have this inspirational space and community propagating ideas, developing solutions and bringing people together to deliver the STEM solutions of tomorrow is exciting – I’m thrilled to be involved.”

During lockdown, the team has been hosting free advice and guidance sessions online, including what to do if you’re furloughed and facing redundancy. Watch on their YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyDDc48hfPJTMq_4pyI3ZAQ

For more on Supertemps, call 01248 671477 or 01492 517602. Alternatively, visit the website: www.supertemps.co.uk.

For more on S2 Recruitment, visit www.s2recruitment.co.uk or call 03333 234 371.

Jobs, News

ScS creates hundreds of jobs nationwide as orders rocket by 92%

ScS has created hundreds of new jobs around the UK to cope with a huge increase in orders since the easing of lockdown.

The sofa and carpet specialist hired 150 new employees in August and currently has 150 live vacancies for roles in various areas of the business.

The recruitment drive is in response to a recent surge in sales, with the company reporting a 92% increase in order intake for the period from May to July 2020. This trend has continued in August and September, with sales up by 51% over the last six weeks.

ScS is looking to fill a range of both permanent and fixed-term positions, with vacancies in its retail stores, distribution and contact centres.

Jobs available include:

● Sales professionals

● Delivery drivers

● Meet and greet roles

● Contact centre advisors

● Online sales team members

In August, ScS withdrew from the government’s furlough scheme and successfully returned all of its staff to work, having topped up their wages to 100% throughout the period. Those who continued to work over lockdown have been rewarded with an extra seven days of holiday entitlement.

Further showcasing its growth, the interiors firm recently relocated its distribution team from Warrington to a new warehouse in Knowsley, near Liverpool, which is 40% larger than the previous location.

David Knight, CEO at ScS, said: “Due to a sharp rise in orders, we are in the fortunate position of being able to add to our existing workforce. In the six weeks leading up to September, our like-for-like order intake grew by 51%, equivalent to £19m of additional revenue.

“We’re delighted to be able to invest some of this into new staff members, as we continue to navigate our way through these unprecedented times.”

For more information about the roles available and to apply, visit: https://www.scsjobs.co.uk/

 

Jobs, Logistics, News

ARROWXL launches National Recruitment Drive

Leading two-person home delivery company ArrowXL is expanding its workforce due to an increase in demand in 2020. Around 100 jobs will be created in the two-phase recruitment operation, which will take place in various cities and towns across the UK.

ArrowXL has seen hundreds of applications submitted after announcing the new roles focussing on warehouse operations and delivery. The recruitment drive comes after a 10% increase on budgeted volumes, and will create jobs in warehouses based in Airdrie, Wigan, Enfield and Worcester as well as a national delivery network.

Peter Louden, ArrowXL COO, said: “An increase in demand shows that our customer experience and operations are succeeding. We want to meet the demand ambitiously and create much-needed jobs across the UK, and we’re excited to increase our capability. We received more than 200 applications in 24 hours for warehouse and delivery positions and interviews are currently underway.”

The new warehouse operators will be responsible for unloading goods, storage, picking, and loading vans to support the extensive two-person delivery operation that delivers over 2 million customer orders every year. Over fifty new delivery drivers will also be appointed with crews making 35-40 deliveries per day to any room of choice The roles will be based in Worcester, Norwich, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Wigan, Newton Aycliffe, Doncaster, Enfield and Airdrie.

Reports have shown that Lockdown led to a boom in e-commerce, with nearly 30% of retail trade being conducted online during this period, with seemingly no indication that this trend will be reversed. ArrowXL have also won significant corporate contracts throughout the lockdown period, including Argos, WaterRower and fireplace specialist Fired Up.

Lockdown has also seen an increase in clients and customers utilising the recently launched award-winning askAXL tracking app, allowing customers to track orders in real time as a 2-hour slot dynamically reduces to just 30 minutes.

For more information on ArrowXL please visit http://www.arrowxl.co.uk

Jobs, News

Trade body to support Government Kickstart Scheme

The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) is pledging its support to the Government’s Kickstart Scheme designed to create hundreds of thousands of new, fully subsidised jobs for young people across the country. However, in order to apply, an organisation needs to have 30 roles and so APSCo intends to support the scheme by applying on behalf of its membership.

“We want all our members, irrespective of size to be able to get involved with the scheme”, said Samantha Hurley, Operations Director at APSCo, “and so we felt it important to offer to facilitate members who want to get involved but who just didn’t have the vacancy numbers to be able to participate.”

Training Support

In order to further support members, APSCo will also offer training for each young person on placement at a hugely subsidised rate. The training will cover an introduction to the recruitment sector and resourcing techniques.

COVID-19, Healthcare, Jobs, News, News from Wales

BBI Creates New Jobs to Support Next Phase in COVID-19 Home Test Development ( Now Hiring in Crumlin, South Wales)

BBI Solutions is recruiting for roles to support its work as part of a UK Government consortium, tasked with developing and manufacturing a Covid-19 Point of Care antibody test to support the government strategy on COVID-19 testing.

Four months ago, UK Government established the UK-Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC), in which BBI Solutions is a partner, to develop a COVID-19 lateral flow antibody test that can be used by people in their homes to determine if they have an antibody response to COVID-19, which would confirm previous infection.

This test together with the Government’s overall strategy on testing and vaccination mark a move towards detecting and eradicating the virus.

The successful completion of the development of the assay means BBI and its UK-Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC) partners require more staff to meet production demands in advance of final approval of the test by regulatory authorities.

BBI is investing in multiple roles at its manufacturing headquarters in Crumlin, South Wales, and these roles will be based in Manufacturing, Quality Control, Compliance, Technical Operations and Supply Chain.

Given the scale of the potential demand for the test within the UK, the Consortium will introduce a phased ramping up in capacity, but is making these key appointments in preparation for ensuring a smooth transition to high volume production at the manufacturing facilities by the end of the year.

This is a unique opportunity to join a progressive and growing organisation, which is contributing to South Wales and the UK’s resistance to the pandemic.

BBI Group Chief Executive Dr Mario Gualano said: “Given the difficult times we find ourselves in, we are delighted to announce vacancies. We have always valued our employees and they have been key to the speed at which our work with UK-RTC has progressed. We are pleased to be able to build on our team – these are exciting times for BBI and we envisage these key appointments playing their part in further developments with the Consortium.

“This is a very complex project that is being completed at extraordinary speed, compared to a normal test development programme.

“But we remain on track to deliver a test to the UK that will make a significant difference to the approach needed to manage COVID-19 infections.

“We are proud to be an integral part of this project and are thrilled with the progress to date.”

For further details on vacancies, please see www.the-bbigroup.com/careers/our-vacancies/