Care UK scoops recruitment award from Jobcentre Plus

Company news

Aug 23, 2010

The company’s innovative approach to finding new staff has earned it the "Recruitment Partnership Award" for the employer that has shown the best approach to partnership working with Jobcentre Plus in the East Midlands.
 

The prestigious Jobcentre Plus Awards recognise companies who have shown progressive practices and attitudes to working with their local Jobcentre Plus offices.

Care UK, which employs over 14,000  staff beat off competition from dozens of other companies – including retail giants Tesco – to win the award.

Ben Ashley, Care UK’s regional resourcing lead for the East Midlands, has worked hard to encourage people into the caring industry and as a result has helped many unemployed people to gain a new profession.

He said: “I have set up and implemented pre-employment training courses in conjunction with the Jobcentre Plus and training partners to give candidates an introduction into care, with a focus on working for Care UK.

“This has been a hugely successful initiative and I now run monthly courses in four branches across the East Midlands. It is so rewarding to see people embrace the idea of caring and saying goodbye to unemployment. Care UK has an enviable track record in training and I know that, with the right attitude and commitment, these new recruits can go on to successful and rewarding careers that make a difference.”

During the last year, Care UK employed 131 people through local East Midlands Jobcentres using the pre-employment training course, awareness sessions and open days to flag up opportunities.

Care UK  has also pioneered a proactive approach to help people who have been long-term unemployed to get back into work through organised work trial initiatives, easing them back into the working environment.

Paul Smith, Care UK regional manager, Community Care Services, said: “The award recognises Care UK’s innovative partnerships with Jobcentre Plus to find and recruit unemployed people with the right skills and talents to work in their team.

“The award is a tribute to the many people at Care UK who work tirelessly to find the best recruits to deliver an excellent service to the people we care for. This award is the best possible endorsement of the exceptional work they do to recruit and develop the carers of the future.”

Photo caption: Care UK’s Ben Ashley (left) and Dips Parmar, (centre) Regional Resourcing Lead for South Midlands and West branches, receiving the JobCentre Plus Recruitment Partnership Award.