When Sones Landscaping were awarded the Councils Grass Cutting contract, they were signposted to Derwentside Employment Team (DET) in their bid to employ local people for local jobs.
After meeting with Jim Cambell, General Manager/Director and Darren Hardman Operations Manager of Sones Landscaping, Angeline Brown the Employer Engagement Consultant for DET agreed a recruitment exercise that would allow unemployed people of Derwentside to have the best possible access to the 20 vacancies for Grass Cutters and Team Leaders.
Angeline explained “We worked closely with Jobcentre Plus to help source the right people for the job and with the support of Derwentside Training a pre-interview day was set up to prepare those who wanted to brush up on interview techniques and application forms. A presentation from Sones provided a further confidence booster”
The interviews were co-ordinated in February, and in March twenty two local lads started work, twenty of which were unemployed.
Darren Hardman said “We are very pleased with the support that we have received from the Derwentside Employment Team in the recruitment of our new Grass Cutting Staff. Our primary objective was to recruit local people to help us deliver the Derwentisde District Council Grass Cutting Service. Derwentside Employment Team have enabled us to achieve this goal”
He added “ At Sones Landscaping we believe in the benefits of local people delivering local services in the area where they live. We are confident that our new recruits, working in their locality, will help us provide high standards and pride in the workmanship delivered in this prestigious Partnership Contract with Derwentside Council”
Sones have since returned to the team for five more recruits. Derwentside Employment Team’s continued partnership work with the Jobcentre has enabled long term local unemployed people fill these additional posts.