A national construction equipment specialist with a depot in Harlow is helping local unemployed people build new careers after partnering with employment group Ingeus. Groundforce Shorco, which supplies excavation support equipment, has unearthed the talents of three Ingeus clients who have been recruited for roles at the company’s busiest depot.
The thankful trio, Tyler Bond and James Turner from Harlow, and Kim Matthews from Cheshunt, were all previously long-term unemployed before being supported with their job search by Ingeus. Delivering the government’s Work Programme across the East of England, Ingeus helps prepare unemployed people for work and supports employers of all sizes and industries to recruit out-of-work applicants for vacancies.
Kim, a single mum who was unemployed for eight years, attended Ingeus workshops to improve her confidence before being recommended to Groundforce where she has “never been happier” as a part-time administrator.
James, 35, and Tyler, 21 are both general assistants tasked with checking and maintaining Groundforce equipment hired out to construction companies across the south east. James, who has just successfully completed his probation period, was out of work for five years and loves having such an active role after his disheartening job search.
As a young new recruit, Tyler was employed with support of the Youth Contract wage incentive, a government initiative to encourage employers to recruit unemployed 18-24 year olds. He said:
“It was so demotivating applying for jobs and not hearing anything back. Being young meant my lack of experience counted against me but Ingeus encouraged me and put me forward for lots of roles. They even helped fund my interview clothes.
“I love working at Groundforce and hope to progress far. I’m learning lots and as soon as I pass my driving test I hope to join the team that responds to clients’ call-outs throughout southern England.”
Groundforce, a division of VP Plc, supplies excavation support equipment and allied products to major construction companies throughout the UK and across Europe. For Regional Operations Manager Tim Dickinson, giving unemployed recruits an opportunity to get back to work has been a rewarding experience.
“We were keen to employ local people with a mix of backgrounds and experiences,” said Tim, who held an open morning at the Groundforce depot for Ingeus applicants to learn about the roles.
“Ingeus gave us access to quality applicants who just needed a chance. They provided appropriate candidates for our roles and supported our recruitment process throughout, all free of charge. We have three valued team members as a result and I wouldn’t hesitate in approaching Ingeus with future vacancies.”
Tim worked with Patricia Martin from Ingeus’s employer services team in Harlow. The team can provide CVs for single vacancies through to handling the full recruitment process for a large employer or chain. The service is fee free to employers and as the UK’s largest provider of the Work Programme, Ingeus has access to many talented jobseekers, all enthusiastic to get into work. Visit www.ingeus.co.uk/employers for further information.
