Reed is synonymous with recruitment. But what many people don’t realise is the strength of the personal service available to clients, candidates and the local business community alike. Online processes have become a major factor in the recruitment sector, but the team at Reed firmly believe nothing can replace a one-to-one approach.
Getting to know employers, potential employees, the local market and the people who work in and around it is, according to Reed Business Manager Rebecca Moore, fundamental to ensuring the right candidate is found for the right job.
“We are a team of people who were brought up and went to school in Northamptonshire, who live in the county and know and understand the local area,” explained Rebecca. “Yes, Reed is a large organisation, but within each office there are people who are passionate about getting to know what clients and candidates want.
“I would like people to see us as a recruitment partner – an extension of their business or recruitment team. This is especially important to SMEs because they often don’t have a recruitment or HR specialist within their business, and so we’re here to support them through the entire process.
“Because we are local, we can spend time with clients. It’s important that we get to know their ethos and culture, visit their premises, find out more about the role, meet the team, so that we have a good idea what they are looking for in a candidate.
“Similarly, we do all the groundwork with candidates, gathering as much information as we can so that when we are working to fill a role, we can put forward four or five very suitable, fully screened, compliant interviewees.
“For the client, it’s like starting out at second interview stage because all the background work has been done.”
The team delivers recruitment services for businesses across a range of industry sectors, with experts working in the accountancy, business support, HR, procurement and supply chain functions, to name just a few. Roles recruited for can range between a receptionist, admin and customer service, qualified accountants to accounts assistants, right through to C-suite Executive Search, all on a permanent, interim and temporary basis.
Reed’s Business Support & Accountancy team in Northampton, which is headed up by Rebecca and overseen by Regional Director Chris Willsher, comprises Rhys Logan and Hannah Smith working on temporary and permanent accountancy roles, and Leanne Read in temporary and permanent delivery for contract clients alongside Rebecca doing the same. Michael Greer works on client agreements encompassing all of Reed’s services into a bespoke client service agreement.
By offering contingent temporary employees, alongside permanent processes, Reed is able to provide cover in a range of situations, including on projects and for sickness or holidays. This allows the team to become that extension of their client’s team that Rebecca highlighted as being so important.
Furthermore, all of the candidates Reed place on a temporary basis are referenced, vetted and come with an easy-to-use electronic timesheet and payroll system. The work they do is all geared towards giving clients the level of support they need to recruit the very best people. The services provided are backed up by flexible guarantee packages that offer peace of mind for those taking what can be a major step into recruiting new start.
Chris Willsher said:
“Because we are confident in the services we offer, we are happy to provide clients with guarantees that we will not only be with them every step of the way, from them coming to us with a role to the new employee starting, but beyond that.
“Recruiting can be a big investment, particularly for our main client base in the SME market and if, for any reason, an appointment doesn’t work out in the first few weeks or months, that can be devastating. Our guarantees remove some of the worry and give peace of mind that we are confident we’ll help them find the right person.”
Rebecca Moore added:
“As a recruitment partner it’s not just about putting forward good candidates. We might advise on the package that is on offer – it’s a different marketplace now – we do this every day, so we can help!
“People are interested in things other than salary these days, whether that’s flexibility in working hours or working from home, employee benefits, or extra annual leave. One of the main barriers to someone accepting a job is almost always the counter offer. If everything is based around a good salary, it might not be too difficult for a current workplace, or another potential employer, to offer more to retain or attract that person
“It has to be about more than that, so our consultative-led approach is invaluable.”
Reed’s commitment to its clients is backed up by a desire to contribute towards the economy of Northampton and to be at the heart of the town’s business community. In 2021, Reed moved its core operation into offices within Northampton 900 on Brackmills Business Park, investing £7m post-acquisition into the transformation of the three-storey building into modern, energy-efficient offices complete with state-of-the-art connectivity and infrastructure.
Part of that refurbishment and remodelling saw the launch of Café 900, a modern contemporary community breakout space for informal meetings and downtime for those working in the building and visitors.
The company has also formed strong links within the education arena, offering careers advice and guidance to young people – something Chris Willsher said can make a ‘real difference’.
“If we can attract more young people from the county to stay here and become part of the region’s economy, and not lose them to Birmingham and London, as often happens, that is a good thing,” he said.
“There is so much the business community can do to encourage the right behaviours and engage with people coming out of university, more they can do to attract and retain young people.
“That’s why we’re proud to be sponsoring the Employee of the Year award at the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards later this year. We’d encourage all employers to consider putting someone forward for that. Not only does it show them that you recognise their contribution, it’s a selling point – showing potential employees that you’re a company that wants its employees to gain that recognition, it shows you value your staff.”
Find out more about Reed and visit their website.
