Working in Partnership with Computer Gym

Background

Computer Gym is an Australian based Training Company originally established in 1992. Upon launching in the UK, Computer Gym quickly earned the reputation as a strong supplier of Work Based Learning qualifications such as NVQ’s, through contracts funded by the Learning & Skills Council. From their success in this environment and taking into consideration the changing economic conditions, Computer Gym identified the employability sector as an area of expansion.

Challenges

Computer Gym secured funding to deliver on the Job Centre Plus Support Contracts, Flexible New Deal and Community Task Force. Upon notification of their success, they were given a tight timeline of three weeks to establish five London based centres and recruit 20 staff to commence delivery. This presented numerous challenges, which included:

The timescale: three weeks to recruit approximately 20 experienced professionals.
Competition: other providers were also delivering on the same programme and sourcing the same type of professionals themselves.
The staff: Computer Gym wanted individuals from a range of backgrounds and abilities, providing them with a diverse workforce with a variety of strengths and abilities.
Market Presence: Computer Gym were new to the sector at this point and as a result had very little marketing collateral and recognition.

Solution

In order to deliver to the brief, we offered a tailored solution to meet all of the above challenges.

We designed an online advertising package to provide a candidate generation strategy that would capture a diverse cross-section of potential applicants. Adverts were placed on a variety of online platforms, including industry sites such as ‘Indus Delta’ appealing to individuals already working in the sector. The ‘Guardian Online’ was utilised to appeal to professionals interested in moving across from sectors such as banking and commercial recruitment. In addition sites such as Total Jobs were used to gain the interest of graduates and also non-experienced personnel keen to move into a trainee role.

All internet traffic was directed to the Morgan Hunt-hosted Computer Gym ‘micro site’. This was a website designed by us that highlighted the opportunity for potential candidates and profiled Computer Gym as an Employer of Choice. This was particularly beneficial as it provided Computer Gym with a platform to present their newly designed marketing material aimed at attracting candidates. In addition to this, we commenced a targeted industry network search which resulted in facilitating the application of candidates known to us for their experience and professionalism. As well as using the current candidate database; Linked-in, Indus Delta and other professional networking groups were searched to identify the valuable passive audience.

We screened each applicant, conducted telephone and face-to-face interviews to ensure each candidate’s suitability for the roles. In addition, candidates were subject to referencing and CRB checks to ensure DWP safeguarding and compliance measures were met and exceeded.

We then facilitated three interview days in three weeks and provided the premises and then presented a shortlist of a minimum of eight candidates to be interviewed by the client. We discussed the quality of applicants and eventually made offers to the successful individuals.

Results

Throughout the three weeks, Computer Gym met with all 24 shortlisted applicants and offered jobs to 18. Once appointed, we provided a payroll facility whilst the suitable systems were established within Computer Gym’s head office. They have appointed a variety of staff including; administrative staff, junior tutors, senior tutors and business managers.

Computer Gym has plans to start delivering on further Welfare to Work contracts in a variety of geographical areas, we will be enlisted to conduct the same recruitment processes for each of these.

“Following a very difficult brief, and very tight time constraints, Morgan Hunt were able to source quality candidates which enabled the successful implementation of a newly awarded Job Centre contract. I would have no hesitation in using Morgan Hunt in a similar context in the near future.”
David Morley, Employability Director