Just Recruitment navigating it's way through the crisis

Just Recruitment navigating it's way through the crisis

After making some hard decisions and invoking a business continuity plan (devised several years ago) Just Recruitment is still very much open for business! Peter Foy explains how 

When the Coronavirus crisis hit the UK, Just Recruitment’s business fell off the proverbial cliff. In less than a week, over half of our revenue disappeared. Companies put recruitment on hold, clients that use temporary workers were suddenly planning for lockdown. Amidst the nationwide sense of concern, even panic, about the threat to health, there was also an underlying threat to the economy. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor both made bold promises about the help that will be available to companies like ours.

    Several years ago, Just Recruitment put together a business continuity plan that we have now invoked.  

Three weeks in and, where are we? Well, there are still many questions about how the financial assistance promised by the government will be delivered. Whether that be from HMRC or the banks, there remain questions as to how the process will work. At the time of writing, we have just been told that the lockdown will continue for at least another three weeks. There is still considerable uncertainty.

However, there is also a silver lining to this dark cloud. Several years ago, Just Recruitment put together a business continuity plan that we have now invoked. Of course, that plan did not include the use of furlough or social distancing. But it did anticipate a reduced workforce working from, either home or strategically chosen branches. The investment in technology that we made, which included our Private Cloud and Internet-based telephony, allowed the redeployment of people in minutes. A huge thank you to our technology partner, Lucid Systems, who have proved their worth over the past few weeks.

A significant part of the continuity plan was to maintain client contact. All our clients were facing the same issues we had. Obvious differences reflecting the different sectors, but we were up against very similar challenges. Several of them were closed, effectively on government instruction, but many of them are either in the food supply chain or the medical instrument supply chain. These companies faced all the problems of the virus while having to continue working. I am incredibly proud of how my colleagues stepped up to the plate to help these key companies. We have had regular conference calls where we have, very openly, shared plans and problems and work together to find solutions.

The nation quite rightly takes to the streets every Thursday evening to applaud our care workers. We should also remember and recognise, those individuals further down the supply chain. The men and women who are manning production lines, working in distribution centres and driving delivery trucks. Also, the people behind them, the folk in HR, logistics, finance and, of course, recruitment. It is said that in a battle, for every soldier on the front line there are 10 soldiers behind him; supporting him. The same is true of the Coronavirus frontlines; for them to do their vital work the entire supply chain has to keep working.

Of course, our business has taken a hit during the crisis. Our revenues are down, our profits disappeared, and half of our colleagues are on furlough. Only a fool would think that there is going to be a quick turnaround. But there will be a turnaround. The virus will be beaten and although the normality we return to will be a new normality, we will, to coin a phrase, meet again.

Speaking only for Just Recruitment, I am confident that the team I am part of will be stronger, more driven and more mature. The shared experience of this crisis has taught us we can depend on each other. It has given us all the opportunity to be pushed to the limit. Only a fool would wish to live through an event like the one we are experiencing, but the experience, once survived, will be transformational.

We are still in a dark place, but we are headed toward the light and, government restrictions notwithstanding, Just Recruitment is moving back to Business As Usual.

Published: 17 April 2020

© 2020 Just Recruitment Group Ltd

If you liked this article you may like to read: What has Coronavirus meant to Just Recruitment?

If you enjoyed this article, you may like: Can’t find the right word to describe how you feel? Reach for The Happiness Dictionary

 

Jobs currently available

New job
Multi-skilled Site Services Trades Person
Sector: Property and Construction
Salary: £15.70 per hour
Location: Braintree, Essex
Role: Part Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913728
About the role

Just Recruitment has an exciting opportunity for a Site Services Tradesperson to join an engineering company based in Braintree, Essex.

Please note that this is a part-time role — working 24 hours per week, ideally over 3 days.

You will be part of the Facilities and Maintenance team, delivering general maintenance support to all buildings.

This role involves liaising with the Department Chargehand for daily tasks and with the Department Manager for any special or additional requirements. You will be responsible for carrying out general maintenance duties, as well as conducting Health & Safety compliance checks across the factory site, including inspections of fire extinguishers, legionella water testing, fire escape routes, and fire call points.

Required skills include:

  • General plumbing – mains water and WC.
  • General carpentry and woodwork.
  • Light building works (tiling, light building repairs, etc).
  • Painting and decorating.
  • General maintenance duties.
  • Be self-motivated and organised, and able to work on own as well as in a team.
  • Driving licence.
  • A forklift truck licence is desirable but not essential.

Hours of work:

  • Monday to Friday, between 07.30 to 16.00.
  • Hours negotiable, ideally 3 full days.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Commercial Assistant
Sector: Public Service and Administration
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913727
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing business based on the outskirts of Colchester, looking to add a Commercial Assistant to their team.

You will be responsible for supporting the Commercial Team in managing the financial and contractual performance of their projects. Primary functions of this role include administration, pricing and agreeing variations, client liaison, query handling and contributing to the efficient running of the department.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Reconciling and archiving completed jobs.
  • Document control and administration.
  • Updating internal reporting records.
  • Raising and agreeing variation costs.
  • Assisting with negotiation and agreement of order terms and conditions.
  • Communicating with clients and internal departments as required.

Experience/skills required include:

  • Experience in an administrative role.
  • A confident communicator, both written and spoken.
  • Excellent organisational skills and ability to multitask.
  • Computer literate with good working knowledge of MS Office.
  • Good numeracy skills and a high attention to detail.
  • A willingness to learn and take initiative.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week.

Please note that, due to the company’s location, you will need to drive.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Full Stack React Developer
Sector: Information Technology
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Colchester, Essex
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913726
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing, well-established and market-leading organisation, who are looking to recruit a highly motivated Full Stack React Developer to join their team — to work across a variety of digital products and website projects.

You will be involved in the development of new client projects and will also work on the maintenance and development of existing projects.

You must have the ability to accurately code design layouts.
As a Full Stack React Developer, you will be expected to develop bespoke WordPress themes (not a theme modification).

Skills required include:

  • Knowledge in creating WordPress-based websites.
  • Exposure to server-side JavaScript and APIs.
  • Proficiency in modern JavaScript features (ES6+).
  • Strong experience in HTML and CSS.
  • Have experience working in an agency environment.
  • Experience with Version Control systems (Git).
  • Development in line with accessibility standards compliance and SEO best practices.
  • Experience using build tools (Gulp, webpack, Sass).
  • Experience with automated deployment.
  • Experience integrating third-party APIs.
  • High attention to detail.

Desirables include:

  • Proficiency in React and JS frameworks.
  • Exposure to Web Security principles.
  • Exposure to Docker and Kubernetes.
  • Exposure to ThreeJS.
  • Exposure to GraphQL.
  • Understanding of unit and integration testing.
  • Know your way around Figma.

Hours:

This role will initially be full-time in the office. After the initial period, the working pattern will shift to four days in the office and one day working from home each week.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Transport Coordinator
Sector: Public Service and Administration
Salary: £26,000 - £28,500 per annum
Location: Halstead
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913723
About the role

Just Recruitment is supporting a well-regarded business based in Halstead who are recruiting for a Transport Coordinator to add to their team.

You will be responsible for planning and coordinating the transportation of goods and materials from one location to another.

Key tasks include:

  • Answering incoming calls, giving product information, lead times, dealing with general enquiries and queries — redirecting calls to relevant departments.
  • Planning and coordinating the movement of goods between locations using various modes of transportation.
  • Communicating with customers, drivers, carriers, and other parties to ensure smooth and timely delivery of shipments.
  • Maintaining records and reports of transportation activities and transactions.
  • Scanning documentation.
  • Arranging couriers and/or carriers as required.

Role key requirements include:

  • Strong communication, organisational, problem-solving, and multitasking skills.
  • Excellent computer skills.
  • Good eye for detail.
  • The ability to work well under pressure.
  • Courteous.

Preferred experience includes:

  • Previous Transport Coordinator experience gained within an office environment.
  • Customer Services experience would be desirable.
  • Excellent telephone manner with the ability to communicate at all levels.
  • High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and experience with in-house systems.
  • Ability to multitask and prioritise own workload.

Hours:

  • Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.00pm.
  • Friday 8.30am to 14.30pm.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more