Recruitment specialist launches new Telford office
One of the West Midlands’ fastest growing recruitment agencies is targeting Shropshire as part of its ambitious expansion plans with the launch of a third office in Telford.
First4Staff, which is headquartered in Wolverhampton and has a base in Cannock, has taken on the Plough Road premises in Wellington to help it deliver five new contracts with local blue chip employers involved in both industry and commerce.
Paul Evans has been appointed to manage the new branch and will initially be responsible for three full-time consultants, a figure that the firm would like to see increase within a year.
It marks an exciting summer for the business, who is also leading the way when it comes to preparing its clients for the new Agency Workers Regulations (AWR) with a series of interactive seminars due to be held to tackle this growing issue.
“We are delighted to have our new Shropshire base open and ready for business,” explained Jason Guy, who runs the business with Finance Director Luke Adamczyk.
“Our existing customer base featured a number of businesses in the area which were taking 50+ staff from us every week so we wanted to make sure we had a local presence to deliver even better levels of service.”
He continued: “It also gives us the chance to go out and win new contracts in Telford and surrounding areas. We are already working on three new opportunities that are likely to come off over the next two weeks.”
Established in 2001, First4Staff provides tailored recruitment solutions for companies involved in industry, commerce, driving, the public sector and increasingly education through its established teaching division.
Investment in continued professional development for its consultants and a bespoke software package ensures many requests for workers can be completed within just fifteen minutes.
And with more than 1000 quality approved staff – from shop floor operatives to former head teachers – on its books, the plan is for the Telford branch to be turning over £1m by Summer 2012.
Paul Evans, who has more than 15 years’ experience in recruitment, is looking forward to the challenge:
“We are seeing considerable demand from manufacturers who are looking to cope with increased volumes and Telford, with its major industrial parks, will be leading this trend.
“In just the few weeks the branch has been open, we have successfully interviewed and vetted some excellent candidates so feel that we’re in a great position to offer a cost effective alternative to the established agencies in town.”
He went on to add: “Our focus will be on all of Shropshire as we also feel there is great potential in Bridgnorth, Market Drayton, Newport, Shrewsbury and Oswestry.
ISO9001 accredited, First4Staff is expecting to smash the £3m turnover barrier for the first time in its history later this year.
A fourth office in Birmingham is on the agenda with the longer-term vision to develop a franchise model that will see the company’s presence move into other regions outside of the Midlands.
It is a strategy that the management team is confident will work despite the impending implications of the Agency Worker Regulations that will signify a major change in the way the sector operates.
Luke Adamczyk concluded: “AWR has been on the horizon for some time and we are working closely with our clients to minimize its impact.
“As part of this approach, we have joined forces with Squire Sanders Hammonds to hold a series of seminars that will provide all of the answers to those pressing questions and will also give a few tips on how to embrace the regulations rather than fear them.
“They are free of charge to employers, but places are limited so it’s first come first served.”
To book your place at future AWR Seminars, email Jason Guy at jason@first4staff.net. For more information on the Telford branch, please contact 01952 394424.
