Employer Suite helps its 1,000th jobseeker into work

Manchester's Employer Suite served up its 1,000th success story when Leah Mayhew, who had been unemployed for more than three years, took away a permanent job in double-quick time from her visit.

27-year old Leah was recruited as a Customer Service Assistant by fast food restaurant Taco Bell, in their Arndale Food Court branch. She landed her new role after attending an open day organised for Taco Bell by city-centre recruitment hub the Employer Suite.

Blackley resident Leah said, "I applied for another position through the Employer Suite and although I was unsuccessful, they kept my details and let me know about the opportunity with Taco Bell. The staff were really helpful and the venue is great. I wish I had known about the Employer Suite before, because I'd been looking for work for a long time. I love my new job."

The Employer Suite, which is run by Manchester City Council and Jobcentre Plus, provides a free specialist service for local businesses, helping them to recruit the right employees. Fifty employers have already used the suite since it opened in November 2010, resulting in job interviews for over 2,100 Manchester residents.

As well as offering an open-plan space for recruitment open days and pods for individual interview sessions at no cost, Employer Suite staff are on hand to help employers find potential recruits, by advertising vacancies and identifying suitable interviewees from their jobseeker pool.

Neal Hughes, manager at Taco Bell, Arndale Food Court, has recruited around 35 people with the help of the Employer Suite, including Leah. He said, "I spoke to Jobcentre Plus at 9.15am on a Friday and by 10am, I received a call from the Employer Suite. I explained that we needed applicants to take an aptitude test. They set up two testing open days for us and promoted the opportunity to jobseekers, helping us to assess 140 applicants.

"Once I'd marked the tests, the Employer Suite provided us with the space for group induction sessions and a training course for our new recruits. All of this was free of charge. I have told the Employer Suite that I would be delighted to work with them again in the future. The staff were absolutely outstanding."

Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Sue Murphy, said, "The Employer Suite is proving to be a very successful way of connecting motivated jobseekers with local businesses who need staff. We are saying to employers that if they have the vacancies, we have a free, expert service on hand in the city centre to help them recruit the right people.

"We are extremely proud that the Employer Suite has already helped 1,000 people into work and will continue to do everything we can to support Mancunians who are looking for employment."

Employers who are interested in using the Employer Suite, which is on Mount Street in the city centre, should contact 0161 833 0144 for more information.

Find out more about how apprenticeships can benefit your business - attend one of our Apprenticeship Breakfast Seminars for Manchester Businesses.