- New national campaign aims to boost take up of the offer of
no-fee recruitment support to fill vacancies.
- Only one in five businesses engaged with DWP in the last year,
despite over half of employers being unable to find the right
candidate.
- Employers urge others to recruit through Jobcentres as they
are ‘a go-to resource for filling vacancies quickly and
effectively'.
UK businesses are being
offered no-fee specialist recruitment support to fill vacancies
as the full rollout of a national campaign launches (Monday 3
November) today targeted at key sectors.
All businesses – whether they have one or one hundred roles on
offer – can use Jobcentre Plus' no-fee professional recruitment
service to find the right candidate.
Currently, just one in five businesses have engaged with
Jobcentre Plus support in the last year and more than half of
employers (53%) in a recent survey reported that they had been
unable to find the right candidate. With the current cost of
filling a vacancy around £6,125, according to the CIPD,
businesses are missing out on support that could save them
thousands of pounds.
The latest campaign will target high vacancy sectors, including
manufacturing, logistics, retail, hospitality, health and social
care, and construction, which are crucial to delivering the
Government's Plan for Change. By supporting more employers to
fill vacancies with the talent they need through Jobcentre Plus,
the campaign aims to slash businesses hiring costs and tear down
recruitment barriers that are holding businesses back and
stunting economic growth.
Support to supply businesses with work-ready candidates in their
area includes:
- Bespoke training through the development of Sector-Based Work
Academy Programmes, which give those on unemployment
benefits the skills for a vacancy alongside a work placement
and a guaranteed interview to kickstart a new career.
- Shortlisting of CVs
and hosting interviews at the jobcentre.
- Free advertising of vacancies to ensure the right candidates
see the role.
- Expert advice on recruitment from a dedicated account
manager.
- Assistance on setting up work experience, trial shifts and
apprenticeships.
- Guidance on employing people with disabilities and health
conditions.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:
We're encouraging businesses of all sizes to get in touch with
their local Jobcentres to make the most of their expertise in
getting Britain working.
These partnerships are crucial to our Plan for Change, helping us
break down barriers to growth and creating more opportunities to
help people into good, secure jobs.
Employers are already benefiting from thriving partnerships with
employment advisers, including Dalmeny Resort Hotel in Lytham,
which has recruited local candidates to a wide variety of
roles.
Chris, owner of the Dalmeny Resort, said:
The benefits that we have experienced are the ability to identify
key personnel accurately. There is a personal vetting process,
and candidates are matched to positions far more efficiently than
on any other platform I have ever used.
The obvious benefits of working with the Jobcentre are the
ability to react quickly to recruitment requirements.
My advice to any local business would be to use it! It's a free
service. The personal touch is 100%. And for me it is more
about human relationships than looking at CVs. It's a lot more human.
I was a little bit sceptical at the beginning, but the candidates
sent changed my perception of Jobcentre Plus as a whole.
Kiera Hope, Talent Acquisition Specialist at Starbucks, said:
Over the last six to eight months, our partnership with the
DWP and
local Jobcentres across the UK has been incredibly beneficial to
Starbucks.
As we've opened new stores in various locations across the
country, their support has helped us build full teams from the
ground up, including incredible Store Managers who are already
making their mark.
The collaboration has sparked a wave of positive engagement, with
both our District Managers and Store Managers now actively
leaning onto Job Centres as a go-to resource for filling
vacancies quickly and effectively.
Thanks to this, we've welcomed some truly inspiring Green Apron
partners into our stores. It's been a powerful example of
community connection, and we're excited to keep building on this
momentum as we grow!
JCP recruitment services form
part of the wider advice and support available to businesses,
which will spur economic growth as part of our Plan for
Change.
Additional Information
- The DWP
Employer Survey found that over half of employers (53%) who
recruited in the past year had instances where they were unable
to find a suitable candidate, highlighting the need for improved
recruitment support.
- Employers interested in learning more about Jobcentre Plus
recruitment services can find out more about the range of
services on offer at www.business.gov.uk/recruit.
- They can fill out the online
enquiry form to receive a call back from a local
Employer Adviser who can provide tailored support, or post jobs
for free on the ‘Advertise a
job' service.
