NEW SERVICE LAUNCHES TO MEET BUSINESS RECRUITMENT NEEDS LOCALLY

Is your business seeking to hire staff within your community? A free service matching local people to local jobs has been launched in Kingston upon Thames.

Kingston Council’s bespoke recruitment service Kingston Work Match advertises local opportunities on its platforms and then screens candidates on behalf of businesses, to assess their suitability to each role.

A dedicated business engagement team works with businesses to advertise jobs in all sectors, from businesses of all sizes – for free – as long as they are in the borough.

Work Match also has an existing talent pool of people on its books which means it can introduce candidates to opportunities quickly and efficiently.

Kingston Work Match can also extend the Career Transition Programme to businesses in the borough that are making redundancies, with support for employees at risk of redundancy at no cost to the business.

The free brokerage service is tried and tested after being set up in 2013 by Richmond & Wandsworth councils, where more than 1,500 local residents have found employment.

It is one of a number of initiatives Kingston Council is currently undertaking to boost and protect the economic sectors that contribute to the borough’s economic productivity, and mitigate high rates of unemployment and low trade caused by the COVID-19 pandemic through meaningful interventions and actions.

The Work Match team supports candidates through the application process – including help with creating CVs and interview skills – to give them the best chance of success. They will also help local people find any pre-job training and support their needs to get ready for the workplace.

Councillor John Sweeney, portfolio holder for business and leisure at Kingston Council, said:
“We’ve all felt the impact of COVID-19. Kingston Council, along with partners, community and voluntary groups across Kingston, are working hard to provide support for our residents and businesses.

“According to the council’s recent COVID-19 impact survey, completed by almost 900 residents during August and September, more than half said they were concerned about employment opportunities.”

For new business enquiries and if you wish to advertise your vacancy for free with Kingston Work Match visit www.Kingstonworkmatch.org, email: rbkworkmatch@kingston.partners or call 020 8871 5191.