A partnership helping unemployed people back into work has been hailed a success after more than 30 participants found new careers with Edinburgh-based logistics company Menzies Distribution.
The wholesaler, which distributes newspapers and magazines to 29,500 retailers across the UK daily, has been working with employment and skills experts Working Links since September 2011 to find new recruits for its Linwood Customer Service Centre.
Working Links, which delivers the UK government’s flagship Work Programme initiative to help unemployed people back to work, developed a two-day training ‘routeway’ to ensure the firm was supplied with suitable candidates.
And all newcomers took part in Menzies Distribution’s thorough three-week induction programme, which equips all new employees with the knowledge and skills they need to deal with customers.
As a result, more than 30 previously long-term unemployed people have now found careers with the company.
And as testament to the partnership, two Working Links recruits recently won accolades at Menzies Distribution’s inaugural Spirit Awards: Alan Paterson was awarded the Customer Service Centre’s Best Employee prize and Scott Wilson was named Best Newcomer.
Scott, who was unemployed for 16 months before starting his new role, said: “Working Links provided a great route for me into employment. They helped me progress tremendously throughout the process, from assisting me with my CV and providing valuable interview advice to generally bringing me up to speed on what employers are looking for.”
Menzies Distribution’s Customer Service Team Manager, Bobbie-May Bryson, said: “Our work is very time sensitive so we need enthusiastic and reliable advisers like Scott to ensure any customer queries are handled quickly and correctly.”
Author: Jo Robinson
Published On: 24th Apr 2013 - Last modified: 22nd Mar 2017
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