Directors Sandra Shepherd and Jonathan Stubbs

The Olympics are not quite with us yet, but the team at Shepherd Stubbs Recruitment were celebrating gaining ‘Silver!’.

It has always been important to the team at Shepherd Stubbs Recruitment to deliver a high quality service to both candidates and clients alike. “Training our teams is fundamental to the success of our business” say Directors Sandra Shepherd FREC and Jonathan Stubbs FCIPD.

Lesley Ling of the IIP who assessed the recruitment agency in December, reported Shepherd Stubbs to have staff who are “proud to be associated with the Shepherd Stubbs brand; the next step for the business would be to strive for the Gold Award!”

The companies training and development culture supports the provision of a quality temporary and permanent recruitment service. Regular ISO 9000 : 2008 audits also ensure proper recruitment processes are followed, and our Candidate and Client Philosophies outline the procedures that guarantee our ability to resource candidates and provide a high quality service, making us an ideal agency for many blue chip, public sector and other high profile local businesses.

To find out more about how Shepherd Stubbs can source the right people for your organisation, find you the perfect permanent role or for advice on becoming a temporary worker, please contact us on info@shepherdstubbs.com or through the Contacts page of the website.

Shepherd Stubbs celebrated its 21st Anniversary this year. It has offices in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire and provides recruitment solutions in commercial office, executive and light industrial sectors.

For more information or jobs online visit: www.shepherdstubbs.com

There are lots of methods of finding work available to jobseekers.  What are the options available, and which of them will result in securing employment in the fastest time?

• Appointments Sections in local and national newspapers
• Specialist trade magazines
• Searching internet job boards
• Posting your CV on websites (such as Monster)
• Utilising the Employment Service
• Finding a role word of mouth – through friends or family
• Speculatively sending CV’s to potential target companies
• Sourcing roles advertised on specific company websites
• Using a Recruitment Agency

The reality is, in the current market, finding a new job can be daunting and incredibly time consuming! 

The truth of the matter is, that the majority of people who are out of work, are not unemployed through personal choice.  The objective for most people in this situation is to get the right job, at the right salary, in a suitable location and as quickly as possible…..sound easy?

When we are unwell we go to the doctor, when we have toothache we go to the dentist….so surely it makes sense to register with a good recruitment agency when you need to find a job.

When selecting an agency to represent you, what should you consider?

• Select a reputable agency and one that operates in your field of expertise
• Choose an agency that values you as an applicant – you are the customer!
• Use an agency that treats you as an individual – does the agency have a friendly and professional approach?
• Avoid agency websites that inform you if you fail to hear from them by a given date, you are to assume you have been unsuccessful
• Check the qualifications of the agency itself!  (Are they members of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation [REC], do they have other accreditations such as Investors in People and ISO9000 Quality Procedures, are the Recruitment Consultants industry qualified?)

Many recruitment agencies need to wake up and realise that at some stage we will come out of this recession.  And when we do, they are going to desperately need many of those candidates that they may have previously turned away. 

At Shepherd Stubbs our philosophy is that our applicants are equally as important as our clients, as without you we have no business!  Of course we recognise that the market is difficult for everyone, the country has been experiencing a recession.  But through all this, there are still companies recruiting and they often choose to do this through an expert recruitment agency.  Shouldn’t you do the same?

We can’t promise to perform miracles, but we can promise to do our best for you; please contact us if you would like to arrange a registration.

For further information or advice on seeking employment please telephone Melanie Richardson or email melanie.richardson@shepherdstubbs.com

Shepherd Stubbs supplies temporary and permanent staff from light industrial through to executive roles from a network of offices covering Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

Call into the office at 20 Market Square, St. Neots PE19 2AF or contact us on 01480 470 477.  For more information on our services and our other branches, visit www.shepherdstubbs.com.

The brief history of my journey to “The Gliding Centre” by John Olds.

Leah with John Olds Pre-flight

It all started in 1996 when I moved to Bedford & was introduced to Sandra Shepherd by a friend who worked for her in Sandra’s recruitment agency in the town. Sandra’s company found me my first job in my new home-town. From that point on our paths have crossed several times from not only a job hunting point of view, but also from the angle of me recruiting for my own business. I have always found the agency to be helpful, friendly & professional – hence the repeat business.

More recent times – I was made redundant in July 2008 from one of the major banks (lucky escape) & made the decision to get back into the hospitality trade – I went through the process of registering with several agencies including Shepherd Stubbs Recuitment – This is when I first met Leah Westerby from Shepherd Stubbs in Kettering – Leah registered me and started her hunt for suitable employment – with the employment market getting tougher every day I was not hopeful! I started taking temporary & short-term contracts to keep me going. Then just before Christmas 2008 Leah called and asked if I would be interested in a manager’s role at a gliding centre (confused)!! However she explained that they wanted a non-flying person to manage & promote the club. I was hooked & in January 09 was selected for a first interview. I left the interview feeling really excited & started to prepare for a second interview – this process seemed to take forever, but finally in March 09 I got the call inviting me back for the 2nd interview (YESSS!!!).

I had to do a 30 min presentation to part of the committee (scary).  I gave it my all & then the painful part, waiting again. Six days later the call came – (I got IT!!!!)  What a journey – I was leaping around my kitchen with excitement when my wife arrived home with my 6 year old daughter, once they knew what was going on, all 3 of us were leaping around the whole house for most of that night.

Nail biting!

So the start date was set for the 6th April 09 – I had given notice to my then current employer & was preparing for the new role. The day came & went so fast - but I went home feeling really good.  I have now been at the club for a little over 2 months & I am still loving every minute of my new job. I have thanked Leah for getting me in at The Gliding Centre & have sent her on her first trial flight – she looked a little apprehensive (her fingers had shrunk in length), but I know she loved it from the massive grin on her face as she climbed out of the glider at the end of her flight.– I had my first flight a few weeks ago – FANTASTIC!!!! Two more fruit loops at the club!!!!

So what does “The Gliding Centre” have to offer? Well we cater for all ages from 14 to 114+ & that’s just the gliding. We offer trial flights from as little as £45 to full training courses to take you to the  “Silver Badge” which is an internationally recognised qualification throughout the gliding world.

“The Gliding Centre” also has much-much more to offer as we have developed our clubhouse to cater for conferences & corporate entertainment events. With on-site catering & fully licensed bar we really do have a lot to offer. Our rates for meeting rooms start as low as £65 & special rates can be agreed for any regular

What a view!

users of the facilities – so why not come and check out our venue for holding your next board meeting or corporate event.

Our facilities are suitable for a wide range of corporate events and we can tailor these to meet the needs of most companies. As well as offering your corporate customer the opportunity to experience the joy of silent flight, we can also offer adventure activities including clay pigeon shooting and off road driving in conjunction with our neighbour Avalanche Adventure. For companies wishing to launch a product our large club-house has a purpose built room that can be used for the product launch and presentations in the morning; then delegates can be treated to a flight in the afternoon. Experience has shown this is the ideal way to ensure your clients turn up on the day!  For larger numbers you can split the group into two, one group flying and one group listening to your presentation and then after lunch the groups swap over. You may be surprised how cost effective this is compared to the usual golf or driving days.  

Evening flying groups is a very popular idea for clubs, companies and just groups of friends. It is a fun way to experience a glider flight in the comfort of your own group. Held normally in the summer on Monday, Friday or Saturday evenings, even those who would perhaps not venture to try the experience find a relaxed environment and have some good fun when with familiar people. We offer discounts for these events and the costs depend on the numbers involved and the type and number of launches required. Please contact John or Sarah for details, or check out our website – www.theglidingcentre.co.uk 

The Gliding Centre is based just outside Husbands Bosworth village, a short distance from junction 20 of the M1 or junction 1 of the A14, making it very easy to reach and locate. We operate 7 days a week throughout the year (weather permitting) and trial flights are normally arranged by appointment but can, subject to a telephone call, be on the same day. Five-day courses are run from the beginning of April through to the end of October. Our own on-site catering and bunkroom accommodation supports the courses, but there are also a number of local Bed and Breakfast hostelries if preferred.

Visitors are most welcome at the clubhouse. Please do call in and watch the flying whilst having a drink or snack from our bar & servery, or call in to discuss flying options/packages with our helpful office staff. Gliding is suitable for all ages and the Club operates a very keen package of charges for young persons (14 to 21) giving reduced rates for both membership and flying charges whilst they are in full time education.
For launching the gliders, the club uses either our Supermunk aircraft or our powerful 4 drum winch and, with 10 gliders owned by the club and over 100 belonging to members based on site, we are one of the most active airfields in the country. A typical summer’s day will see over 100 launches taking place with pilots flying cross-country and covering up to 1000 kilometres in a flight. Our airfield is sited in the heart of the country and is ideally located for good soaring weather. Minimal local airspace restrictions make for a superb cross country site with many visiting pilots from other clubs in the UK and overseas joining our members during the summer months. Indeed, we normally hold 1 or 2 competitions each year for 50 to 60 pilots who compete against each other to become national or regional champions.

The club was formed in 1953 at Baginton Airfield and was called the ‘Coventry Gliding Club’, and this is still our ‘Company’ name as registered with Companies House. The club grew steadily at Baginton and acquired a number of gliders. Initially, all launches were by winch but a fleet of Tiger Moths accrued, allowing Aerotows to take place. Gliders at this time were of wooden manufacture, such as T21, Grunau Baby and Olympias. Baginton Airfield also continued to grow and it became clear that gliding would soon become restricted from the site, so in 1964 a number of members started to look for a new site. At this time the Air Ministry was disposing of a number of ex WW2 airfields, including Husbands Bosworth Airfield. After a meeting of the club members it was decided to attend the auction and attempt to buy sufficient land to enable the club to operate from it. The money for the auction was raised by purchase of ‘Life’ memberships and the sale of the Tiger Moths to a club member, who then leased them back to the club. Also, available grants were utilised and loans to the club were provided by some of the members. At the auction the land was purchased for the princely sum of £5400, and a deal with an adjoining landowner was struck, enabling the club to obtain the additional land required. The security of land ownership enabled the club to build its first hangar and workshop on the site. This was followed by construction of a clubhouse. Members also brought caravans to the site so that they could spend more time at the facility.

The membership continued to flourish and the glider fleet continued to grow. The first ‘Chipmunk’ tow plane was bought from an RAF auction, and that was followed by the purchase of 3 more with engine conversions to Lycoming units. This is the basis of our current aerotow capability. To accommodate the growing fleet further hangars have been built (giving now 4 in total), which now house all the club fleet in secure and sound conditions. Prudent management has enabled the club to continue updating the fleet and this provides for all aspects of the sport using modern fibreglass gliders.

The original clubhouse, which was made from ‘pre-fabricated’ design, was now showing its age and again the membership provided funds to commence a major rebuilding project (extended over 3 phases) and gave the club a facility that is ranked second to none in the country. All of this history now leaves The Gliding Centre as one of the foremost clubs in the country and, due to the international competitions held on site, is recognised as a wonderful place to experience the delights of gliding in Britain. Tie this to our current clubhouse facilities we really are well placed to cater for virtually any occasion, so call us today on 01858-880521.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my journey to “The Gliding Centre” and look forward to welcoming you to our great facility.

Many thanks
John
John F. Olds
Club Manager

There are very few businesses that have not been affected by the current economic situation. So, while companies are facing tough decisions, cost cutting, making redundancies and struggling to maintain sales, what can be done to ensure the team you have remain as upbeat as possible?

Information is the key. Many people would rather know the whole truth about the organisation they work for, even if this may cause them some concern. Your team is far more likely to understand business decisions, such as salary cuts or cost cutting, if they understand the reasons. Communicate with them, particularly financial and market information specific to your business. When employees know what is happening, they are more likely to work with you. And let’s face it ”team work” in such conditions is vital.

One could argue this may encourage employee insecurities, which may cause them to leave. But if redundancies are possible, perhaps natural business streamlining would be less expensive and preferable?

Keeping staff positive and happy can be challenging in such conditions. So when finances are tight, what can be done to help without increasing company costs?

• Appreciate them – say thanks for their contributions.
• Continue regular staff appraisals – people need feedback….even if this won’t result in pay rises.
• Continue to provide in-house training – additional tasks are difficult to manage without the right support. A limited workforce often requires further responsibilities for those staff that remain. Personal growth and development is important.
• Maintain company focus and direction, a business plan will help channel your team’s ideas.
• Lead by example – demonstrate that you are prepared to do what you are asking of them.
• Show empathy – understand it is a difficult market, and work with them to provide solutions and ways to affect the bottom line.
• Ask for their ideas – people buy in to change more if they feel the ideas emulate from them.
• If you agree to something stick to your word; follow through and deliver.
• Reward loyalty – give back what you can, when you can. This could be offering flexibility with hours, or days off in lieu if not financial incentives.
• Inject a feeling of fun!! – perhaps offer the option of dress down days now and again – perhaps contributions could be made to go towards a staff outing?
• Socialise – the more your people know about each other personally, the more they are likely to bond and work together as a team.
• Recognise employee contribution – make them feel special by having incentives such as an “Employee of the Month Award”.
• Don’t take people or their efforts for granted.

Most of all, remember……happy people hit targets!!!

There are very few local businesses that have not suffered implications due to the current economic climate.  But what can you do to minimise the impact on your business during this difficult situation?

As an employer you may have some hard choices to make regarding how your business cuts costs in times of recession.  When sales figures are not enough to guarantee company profit, redundancies can become an unfortunate reality. 

When tough decisions regarding redundancies are necessary many organisations have pre-determined selection criteria.  These may limit an employers’ ability to pick and choose, which staff stay, and which staff they are forced to lose.  This may mean the last people to join an organisation are first out, or cost cutting measures force your hand by losing whole departments, or high earners.

As a result of uncertainty within our current economic climate, insecurity can mean companies lose crucial personnel with skills that are important to their business.   Recruitment freezes are often imposed in such situations, preventing permanent replacements.   Or if an employee feels their position is vulnerable, they may also be likely to seek alternative employment. Whether a business has chosen to streamline their staff due to cost, or key people have decided to leave, taking on skilled temporary staff could be the short-term solution.

When the local market experiences a downturn the result is an increased availability of highly skilled temporary labour.  Often clients assume temporary workers have limited skills, and only trust them to do the most mundane tasks.  This is simply not the case. 

Many people love the flexibility that temporary work offers.  Others have found themselves in a situation where they need to work until they find an alternative permanent role. With the incentive of continually improving temporary benefits more and more people are choosing contract work and assignments. These applicants vary from trainee people looking for commercial experience through to senior managers, the result - high calibre applicants available for temporary work.

Employing temporaries can offer many flexible benefits to a company: 

• A temp becomes a supplier invoice rather than permanent headcount
• The recruitment agency pays their NI, holiday pay and SSP
• Managers gain the flexible option of deciding week to week how their labour budget is spent
• An organisation is able to employ the skills required for their business without committing to spend an annual salary
• Recruitment utilising the temp to perm route allows a business to experience an applicants skills first hand in a working environment
• Temporary labour can be recruited quickly
• The employer can control the duration of the assignment
• Flexible labour can be adapted around business requirements, when help is required take on temporary assistance, when things are slow let them go

To find out more about the flexibility of a temporary workforce, or for advice on becoming a temporary worker please call Melanie Richardson at Shepherd Stubbs Recruitment on 01480 470 477 or email melanie.richardson@shepherdstubbs.com 

Shepherd Stubbs celebrates its 20^th Anniversary this year.  We have offices in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire and specialise in commercial recruitment.  For more information please visit www.shepherdstubbs.com

All you need to do is wear pink and donate £2. From sock to sunglasses, bras to boxers -everyone can join the fun and support this worthwhile cause. Dare to wear as many pink items as you can or wear your pink undies on the outside for maximum effect!

“It’s all about the right people . . . in pink!”

Download PDF

“It’s all about the right people…”

Shepherd Stubbs Recruitment has regained it’s Investors in People status for the second time ­ the standard was originally achieved in 2000 - and in the process, has gained IIP Champion status nomination for early 2007.  Shepherd Stubbs is committed to this aim and this will mean that it will become a role model and advisor to other IIP companies in learning and development matters. The independent IIP assessor’s report commented:

“It was a pleasure to assess this unique and excellent organisation that has a refreshing approach to continuous improvement driven by core beliefs that are at the heart of everything that is done.”

Also in October ’06, Shepherd Stubbs successfully retained its ISO 9000 Quality Procedures accreditation, which provides a framework for the Company to meet its objective of providing quality recruitment solutions to local and regional businesses.

Shepherd Stubbs supply quality temporary, permanent and executive people to large and small organisations from its network of offices in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

For more information, advice and recruitment services, visit www.shepherdstubbs.com or call 01234 269191.

Shepherd Stubbs, which has offices in Bedford, St Neots, Kettering and Rugby, can now run core skills training programmes for their recruitment consultants that form the REC’s Certificate in Recruitment Practice.

Judith Armatage, the REC’s Director of Professional Services, said: “I am thrilled that Shepherd Stubbs has joined the accredited scheme which leads to the Certificate in Recruitment Practice.  Its training programme is comprehensive and truly embeds the core values and culture of the organisation.

Shepherd Stubbs has gained Recruitment & Employment Confederation Qualified Status through its people philosophies, ‘Investors in People’ accreditation and its comprehensive training programmes and practices.  The Company joins a small number of select recruitment agencies in the UK who can provide professional recruitment qualifications.

Shepherd Stubbs supply quality temporary, permanent and executive people to large and small organisations from its network of offices in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Warwickshire.

The Role:

A Receptionist is the first contact that a client or customer has with the organisation, so you represent the whole company, in person and on the telephone. Your colleagues will rely on you to pass on messages, connect calls and depending on the size of the organisation, conduct administrative and secretarial duties. Some receptionists will also act as a PA the MD or director(s), while others, in much larger organisations, will solely be responsible for connecting calls and greeting customers. Being a Receptionist is a very responsible and rewarding role as you are remembered for your multi-tasking, professional image and friendly nature.

Typical Responsibilities:

A Receptionist’s key purpose is to present an efficient, professional and helpful image to all visitors and internal customers. Below is a summary of typical responsibilities:

• Answering the telephone in a professional manner
• Connecting and transferring calls
• Taking and communicating messages
• Greeting customers and clients professionally
• Dealing with incoming emails and company correspondence
• General administration duties when required
• Distributing incoming post to relevant departments
• Managing the visitors book and passes
• Keeping the reception area organised and tidy

Conditions & Salary Expectations:

Receptionists are paid a basic salary depending on the size of the organisation, his/her experience and how busy the reception is on a daily basis. A starting salary of between £14,000 - £16,000 can be expected. A higher salary may be achieved if the role is combined with secretarial and/or PA responsibilities.

Conditions vary according to the size of the organization, but you can expect the role to be very busy with constant incoming calls and customers to greet. You will need to be fast paced and have a love of being busy and multi-tasking. Some reception desks will have several receptionists in order to accommodate the high level of calls where as others, may have one member who may combine the role with other functions.

Entry Requirements:

To become a Receptionist, you will need to have a friendly, professional and presentable nature and appearance. A good knowledge and use of the English language plus good all round communication skills are also essential, but no formal qualifications are required. However many employers prefer you to have GCSE’s at A-C grades, in particular to include in English and Maths.

In addition, certain personal qualities are needed:

• Friendly but professional image
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to multi-task
• Ability to prioritise and to work under pressure
• Excellent organisational skills
• High standard of written and communication skills
• At all times approachable
• Ability to deal with difficult situations confidently and calmly
• Sound I.T. skills
• Proficiency with office equipment - switchboard, fax, copier

Career Development:

Career development opportunities vary depending on the nature and size of organisation. Larger companies that have several receptionists, may offer career development in the form of promotion to Senior Receptionist or a Team Leader running a team of Receptionists. Smaller organisations may offer development into other roles, such as a Secretary or a Personal Assistant.

National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ’s) can also be obtained in Customer Service Skills, which will further raise the experience and qualifications of a Receptionist. For further information about our current roles in Reception, please contact us.