Following the success of last month’s jobs fair in Kettering, global can-making company Ball Corporation (Ball) is celebrating International Women Engineers Day by holding a second recruitment event – aimed at attracting a diverse and inclusive workforce.
The world’s leading manufacturer of infinitely recyclable aluminium drinks cans, whose new 56,000 square metre facility in Barton Seagrave near Kettering is scheduled to be operational from January, is seeking to recruit a local workforce of more than 200 and is ramping up its recruitment drive as the new plant’s construction gains momentum.
Ball’s second local jobs fair is set to take place on International Women in Engineering Day, Thursday, June 23, at the Kettering Park Hotel, from 4pm-8pm
Paulina Panus, HR Manager for Ball’s new Kettering plant, said:
“We had scores of high-level, exciting applications following our May Jobs Fair, and have been incredibly impressed by the local enthusiasm and talent. As construction picks up pace so too does our recruitment drive and we are committed to shaping and creating a truly inclusive place of work.
“A successful business needs different views and voices to be heard, so to build something truly sustainable we all need to open the doors wider. That’s why we want to attract a diverse workforce, which includes an ambitious 50% gender diversity target, and why we are holding our June Jobs Fair on International Women in Engineering Day.”
Ball’s June Jobs Fair is open to everyone – men and women and regardless of background or work experience, whether you are seeking a new challenge or simply intrigued and want to find out more about working at the leading manufacturer of the world’s most sustainable drinks packaging.
CEO of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), Elizabeth Donnelly, will officially open the Ball Jobs Fair and give a keynote introduction. Also present will be Davene Landsbury, recently recruited by Ball as a Team Leader at the new Kettering plant.
Davene said:
“When I first applied to Ball I didn’t think I would get an interview as I haven’t made cans before and this is traditionally a male-dominated career. I had previously worked for 20 years as a warehouse manager in London where the workforce had been almost all male.
“Ball, though, is turning the stereotypes on their heads and is committed to employing a truly diverse workforce. In all my years of working this has been a real eye opener. Ball is committed to training and teaching, you don’t need engineering or mechanical experience to be recruited.”
Jason Bridger, the new Kettering plant manager, added:
“Our ethos is to be as flexible as possible, which is why we will be one of the only UK plants to have three rather than two shift patterns. This means people will potentially be able to buddy-up. A working parent, for example, may want to do day shifts only and there is no reason we couldn’t make that work.
“We haven’t built our working schedules or rotas yet and are open to suggestions and discussions, so please come along and talk to us.”
In the lead-up to June’s Jobs Fair, Ball is also working with Wellingborough’s Victoria Centre, a meeting place for the multi-cultural and faith communities of Wellingborough.
“We are also seeking to work with refugees,”
explained Jason.
“Those who speak English we will assess in the usual way, although we will also have an interpreter on hand for back-up with technical terms. For those without English language skills who are a perfect fit for Ball, we will provide English lessons. So, even if you have never considered a career in manufacturing or you didn’t think you were right for us we want to convince you otherwise. Turn up at our June Jobs Fair and we’ll do that in-person.”
To find out more about the roles at the new plant, visit: Jobs.ball
