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£2.8 million pound development will create around 2700 Shropshire Jobs

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The Marches LEP has awarded three contracts worth £2.81m to develop Advanced Manufacturing Hubs in the region which will create nearly 2,700 Shropshire Jobs.

Around 2,700 Shropshire Jobs will be generated as part of the private sector-led LEP’s plans for tackling the skills gap, the project will see regional training centres, in Bridgnorth, Shrewsbury and Hereford, set up to support employers in areas where there is limited access to workforce training.

The Shrewsbury Colleges Group has been awarded £425,166 to develop a ‘hub and spoke’ model of training provision, supporting 183 businesses and more than 450 apprenticeships.

Herefordshire and Ludlow College, with Herefordshire & Worcestershire Training Association has secured £464,763 to develop the third centre, creating 260 apprenticeships and supporting 225 businesses.

As well as apprenticeships, all three hubs will deliver more than 1,960 additional qualifications over the next five years.

Graham Wynn, Chairman of the Marches LEP, said: “We have a need across the Marches to ensure there are enough of the right people with the right skills to meet the demand of our employers. It is vitally important that they remain invested here, and continue to grow their business here.

“But this can only happen with additional capital investment. We developed this project to support the manufacturing sector to develop its skills base, equipping them to maximise future opportunities.”

Chris Greenough, commercial director of Salop Design said: “The key issue facing our sector is there is simply not enough people with the right skills, to do the jobs we need them to do in order to grow manufacturing businesses, the sector and ultimately the UK economy.

“The Marches LEP has developed a project which will see industry take the lead in training its own workforce. Our employer-led consortium is delighted to have secured this contract and look forward to delivering apprenticeship placements, training opportunities and supporting hundreds of businesses. Our aim is clear, 2020 learners by 2020.”

Ian Peake, Principal & Chief Executive of Herefordshire & Ludlow College, said:

“This significant LEP and College co-investment to develop Advanced Manufacturing Hubs in the Marches will have a transformative impact on education and skills development in engineering, strengthening the college’s capacity to meet the requirements of cutting edge industries.”

Lyn Surgeon, Principal of Shrewsbury College, added: “The project has cemented the relationship between Shrewsbury College, Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, Staffordshire University, Caterpillar and Festo, which will be collectively known as the Shropshire Advanced Manufacturing Skills Hub.

“It allows us to significantly extend our investment in state of the art equipment to suitably train the engineers of tomorrow and puts the college in the position of being able to offer a range of full time and part time courses from basic introductory levels through to degrees, apprenticeships from intermediate through to higher levels and bespoke training to meet individual company needs.”

The training centres are due to open in 2017. Funding for the project was awarded to the LEP via its initial Growth Deal for skills capital projects.

Upon completion of an apprenticeship, there are many opportunities around the county which are suited to newly trained professionals looking at taking the next leap in their careers. Check out our latest Shropshire Jobs on our vacancy page by clicking here!

 

– MarchesLEP

 

How to choose the right Recruitment Agency

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Discover in this article how to choose the right Recruitment Agency most suitable to your Business needs.

Whether you are a candidate seeking a new role or a client looking to hire, identifying a good recruitment agency is the first vital step in making this often tedious process a pleasant and fruitful experience.

Applying for a job is hard work, time consuming and extremely competitive. Despite having an outstanding CV, hiring managers may never get to see it even if you have the right qualifications and experience. In order to maximize their chances, candidates are turning to a recruitment agency to help them in their search for their dream job.

So, how should you go about identifying a recruiter who is right for you? A quick Google search will bring up a myriad of results, and a scan of positions available may be one way of choosing who to entrust your CV to, however, this isn’t necessarily the best approach. When you research agencies, many of them will have things in common – but you need to find the one that will best serve you in your search for a new job.

The first thing to consider whether you are a client or candidate is the agency’s approach. Do they really care about you? A good agency will be keen to speak to you, find out about you and your motivations behind looking for a new job as well as quizzing you about your career goals. The same principle goes for clients who are looking to place a role with a recruitment consultant. Recruiters should be inquisitive about your organisation, the sort of culture you have there and the type of person that would fit in, as well as the usual job description.

An ability to sell is essential in a recruiter. They are your representatives in front of your potential new employer and as such, when they find you a great role, you want them to pitch you as the perfect candidate, with the right skills and personality for the role on offer.

Furthermore, you need to conduct your job search with an enthusiastic recruitment agency. Job-hunting is not an easy process, so working with someone who is positive and who motivates you when the going gets tough will make life better all round.

A recruitment agency that has genuine experience in the sector you are interested in is vital. They must understand the jobs they are recruiting for and the needs of the client entrusting them with finding the perfect candidate. There is nothing worse than being put up for a job by a recruiter who doesn’t understand the industry they are recruiting into.

A good agency should be able to help you tailor your CV so that it stands out and meets the employer’s needs, as well as offering you tips for interviews. They should be able to get you in front of great companies, respect the confidentiality of your CV and only send your details to companies with your permission.

So in short, you are looking for a recruitment agency that is enthusiastic and highly motivated to help you develop your career.

They should take the time to understand your experience and requirements, and offer you advice and support throughout the process – helping you secure your next brilliant role.

If you’re a Business Owner or Hiring Manager, ensure you select a recruitment agency that displays genuine interest in your Business and how it operates. A detailed understanding of your Business will enable a recruitment agency to fine tune their image of your desired candidate.

Finding the right talent is extremely important for growing and established Businesses. Recruitment Agencies are a highly effective way for Businesses to obtain high quality talent that is matched to Business needs, values and culture.

Graffiti Recruitment offer IT Recruitment Solutions for Businesses seeking talented candidates in the areas of operations, support and development.

Get in touch with us on 0330 22 33 047 or E-mail us at hello@graffitirecruitment.co.uk to discover how we can help you!

 

– Sarah Bloomfield

Shropshire Chamber Business Expo was a Success

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Shropshire Jobs and Business Opportunities to follow after Chamber Business Expo

The day started with a networking breakfast featuring guest speaker Ashley Shackleton, head of public affairs at British Chambers of Commerce, who spoke about Brexit, discussing the opportunities and challenges inherent in the political and economic transition that lies ahead as well as what it means for Businesses in Shropshire.

Meanwhile, nearly 50 businesses and organisations from across the county set up stands in the Sovereign Suite, including Halls Holdings, Natural Welsh Water, SBC Training, Rybook BMW, Precision Colour Printing, Weston Park and Telford College, all showcasing their varied products and services.

During the morning, seminars were held with talks on digital marketing by Clear Design Consultancy, social media by Teresa Heath-Wareing and business growth by Maisy Owen of MO Management Consultancy Ltd. Julie from Graffiti Recruitment was also attending some of the workshops. Some of the content discussed in the workshops will help Graffiti Recruitment promote and advertise Shropshire Jobs.

Lunchtime provided yet another networking opportunity for both delegates and visitors, with Chamber chief executive Richard Sheehan, saying: “Once again we are absolutely delighted with the turnout for this final exhibition of the year.

The chamber is committed to promoting connectivity and economic growth and these events create a perfect platform for collaboration opportunities. These opportunties will generate more Shropshire Jobs.

First time exhibitor Leah Whitley, of Rent-a-Space, based at Battlefield in Shrewsbury, added: “Our new business only opened in September and the first thing we did was to join the chamber which immediately provided us with inroads into the local networking groups.

“Business exhibition events such as these will provide the ideal introductions to help us build our brand in Shrewsbury and we have been delighted at the sheer number of visitors to our stand and the genuine interest shown in what we have to offer.”

To see more articles on Business Networking, Economic Development, Superfast, Investment and Shropshire Jobs, check out our blog page by clicking here!

– Shropshirelive

Economic Development Strategy launched in Telford

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“We want to make Telford the natural home for investors, innovators and entrepreneurs.”

The words appear in a new economic development strategy launched by Business winning, business supporting Telford & Wrekin Council, with the Telford Business Board.

Called “Enterprise Telford”, it sets out how the Council will encourage enterprise and innovation leading to business and economic growth. It states: “It is only through economic growth that we can create secure employment and lifestyle outcomes that will strengthen families and raise levels of economic independence for the benefit all of our borough’s households and communities.”

Representatives from 140 businesses, intermediaries and education providers were at the recent event held at Telford Innovation Campus in Priorslee to hear about the practical support on offer to bosses on a range of issues; from addressing skills shortages, to obtaining grants to help future growth.

Citing recent successes in attracting major business to Telford, such as the investment by Magna to locate at T54 where it will manufacture parts for Jaguar Land Rover, Telford & Wrekin Council Leader Shaun Davies said: “Our Enterprise Telford ‘Pledge’ builds on the significant experience we have of creating tailor made packages of support for business that goes above and beyond what is offered by national Enterprise Zones –  with the advantage of greater flexibility and availability to businesses wherever they choose to invest in the Borough.”

Addressing the need to match the skills of the workforce to the jobs available, Councillor Gilly Reynolds, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Employment & Regeneration said: “The investment that the Council has made in supporting the development of the skills of our local residents directly impacts on the growth and prosperity of our local businesses, enabling business to grow resulting in more job opportunities and career progression for local people.

“This investment needs to start early to ensure that our young people are leaving education equipped with all the skills they need and that businesses are asking for.”

Paul Hinkins, Chairman of the Telford Business Board said: “The Telford Business Board strongly believe in a collaborative approach and if we continue to work together to make the most of this borough’s strengths in terms of its business, people and its significant physical and environmental assets, from its transport connectivity to the Ironbridge Gorge, Telford can grow and prosper and we can ensure that all communities across our Borough contribute to and benefit from that growth.”

The launch was welcomed by Karen Turner, Training Director of Imagine Training based in the Innovation Centre at the University of Wolverhampton’s campus at Priorslee.

She said: “It’s been inspirational, really interesting with lots of good factual information about grants and opportunities and, as a training provider in this area, I am really keen to know what’s up and coming.

“Anything that salutes our town and brings it to the forefront is wonderful.”

– telford.gov

Shropshire Careers & Enterprise Advisor Network complete success!

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More than 40 business leaders celebrated the launch of an initiative in Shropshire

Representatives from companies across Shropshire attended the launch of the Careers & Enterprise Company’s “Enterprise Adviser Network”. The initiative is aimed at building stronger guidance-based relationships between businesses, schools and colleges so that young people are equipped with the knowledge to effectively develop their workplace skills.

Held at Enginuity in Coalbrookdale, the event focused on the important role that businesses have in ensuring that young people have access to the right careers advice at the right time, and the impact that access to business leaders who take on Enterprise Adviser roles can have on young people.

Speaking at the event, Dr Floyd Millen, Head of Operation Delivery at the Careers & Enterprise Company, commented on the importance of integrating business and skills in Shropshire.

“It’s great that this is happening here and now. As someone who grew up a few miles away and now lives in the south east, I’m pleased that the Marches LEP and Telford & Wrekin Council have demonstrated their commitment to bringing businesses and schools together in a way that will provide young people with transformative, life changing experiences. It is, therefore, a pleasure to be here at the official launch of the Enterprise Adviser Network.”

Drawn from across the public, private and third sectors, senior business people who become Enterprise Advisers will provide advice to school and college heads on how to effectively engage local businesses in the development of careers and enterprise plans.

Paul Hinkins, Deputy Chair of the Marches LEP, was also at the launch and highlighted why closer ties between business and education are so important – especially in an area like the Marches:

“The Marches covers a diverse geography of rural, semi-rural and urban but shares many of the same barriers as the other 38 LEP regions: namely those of a skills void and an ageing workforce.

“Here in the Marches, there are too many people in the 16-54 age bracket that leave to pursue careers elsewhere – we need to prevent that from continuing by encouraging young people to realise their potential with businesses already based here and those which will invest in the region in the coming years.

“We know that 44% of employers in the Marches see a lack of skills as a barrier to growth and that 45% of employers found it a challenge to recruit in the last year. With those facts in mind, the introduction of the CEC Enterprise Advisers should be warmly welcomed.

“This initiative encourages businesses to go into schools and tell young people the options open to them – an approach which helps us retain our home grown talent. It also helps us to identify how to help schools and colleges navigate a fast-changing careers landscape and to give students the best chance of reaching their full potential by providing friendly, strategic advice and guidance. I’d strongly encourage all businesses in the region to consider how they could contribute to this this.”

The launch event also included input from John Gallagher, Vice President at Cap Gemini and Katherine Kynaston, Assistant Director of Business, Development & Employment at Telford & Wrekin Council.

 

– MarchesLEP

Shropshire Jobs continue to increase despite Unemployment Rise

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New Shropshire jobs are still being created despite an unemployment rise in the County.

Job Centre bosses insist that new Shropshire jobs are still being created, despite a third successive rise in unemployment in the county.

The number of people claiming various forms of unemployment benefit in Shropshire Council’s area now totals 1,970, while in Telford & Wrekin the figure is 1,730.

Last month the figures stood at 1,915 and 1,705 respectively, and the latest increase marks the third consecutive increase on the back of a long period of falling numbers.

In Powys, 780 people signed on in September, a fall from 800 the previous month.
But Gareth Niblett, from Bridgnorth’s Job Centre, said: “There’s no real main reason for the increases.

“We are not seeing lots of redundancies coming through. At the moment the only explanation is that the labour market is buoyant and people are coming on and off the register – what we are seeing is the general turnover.
“It’s disappointing that the numbers are going up but from our point of view there are lots of Shropshire jobs out there, and we are working with lots of employers.”

The numbers are now starting to be affected by Christmas employment, and a number of retailers around the county are now taking on additional staff.
Marks & Spencer is advertising 31 positions in Telford and nine in Bridgnorth, Southwater Event Group has 15 roles to fill in Telford, and a new Co-op store in Dawley has just seen 12 vacancies filled.

Shrewsbury too is seeing new positions coming onto the market, with around 80 vacancies being created across the retail market, including with Home Bargains, H Samuel, Thorntons, HMV and New Look.

Shropshire’s numbers reflect a changing national picture, and the unemployment total rose by 10,000 in the quarter to August, to 1.66 million, the official figures showed. In the West Midlands, that figure was 3,000 higher at 168,000 for the same period.

The UK claimant count, including those on Jobseeker’s Allowance, also increased last month – up by 700 to 776,400. It was the sixth time in the last seven months that the figure has increased.

But employment was up by 106,000 in the latest quarter to almost 32 million, the highest since records began in 1971.

Average earnings increased by 2.3 per cent in the year to August, down by 0.1 per cent on the previous month.

ONS statistician Nick Palmer said: “While there was also a small rise in the headline unemployment level, that was accompanied by more people actively seeking work.”

Graffiti Recruitment are a recruitment agency which specialise in finding individuals work within the the Information Technology Industry. If you are interested in finding an IT Job in Shropshire, check out our vacancy page by following this link! 

 

– Shropshirestar

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