KATHERINE Davey is encouraging employers in Cornwall to take advantage of their local job centre and take the strain out of recruitment.

More and more companies are choosing to use job centre facilities to host their interviews, and it’s been a very positive experience for both the employer and the prospective employees, says Katherine, who’s Employer Adviser Manager with the DWP in this part of the county.

“It helps the employer streamline their recruitment process,” she said.

“Our work coaches are sifting through applicants’ CVs, matching the right kind of people to roles, and getting people ready for interview.

“Trethorne Leisure Park was in Launceston Job Centre last week, interviewing 10 customers, and five people were then offered trials on-site. Depending how they do there they’ll start work.

“It was the first time that that employer had used the job centre and he was very impressed with how it helped him with the recruitment process.”

Similarly The Cornwall Bakery, based in Callington, have been interviewing in Liskeard Job Centre recently and were also due be at Launceston Job Centre.

“We’d encourage any employer to get in touch and have a chat about their recruitment needs,” said Katherine.

“We have an employer adviser attached to every job centre in Cornwall.

“With record levels of vacancies across the country it’s our top priority to work with our local  employers and jobseeker to match the right job with the right person. We have employers in our Jobcentres on a daily basis with customers being offered jobs there and then on the day of their interviews.

“We are also organising local Jobs Fairs, bringing together a range of different opportunities for our customers to move quickly into work.”

Meanwhile for anyone looking to return to work and perhaps thinking of making a change of direction, there are lots of Sector-Based Work Academy Programmes coming up soon, in hospitality, retail, care, and security.

These programmes offer prospective employees the chance to gain skills and work experience in a particular field, hear from employers about what the job involves, and have a guaranteed interview at the end of the sessions.

Cornwall’s job centres are also working with the organisation Smart Matching to help fill home-working positions.

Similarly to the Sector-based Work Academies, Smart Matching is doing training with prospective employees to get them ready for remote working, offering work experience with employers, and setting up job interviews.