Many businesses rely heavily on temporary workers to carry out the nitty gritty of day to day business activities. Driving, industrial, warehousing and distribution are all key areas, where, due to the dynamics of business activity, periodic support is required in order to cope with the fluctuating demands of today’s markets. To address these issues and support the flexibility that businesses require, The Best Connection Group has established itself as the leading provider of quality temporary labour to these sectors across the UK and continues to go from strength to strength.
As a member of the UK’s top 250 mid-market private companies*, The Best Connection is one of the country’s most successful independent businesses. Formed in 1991 and still run by its founding directors, Neil Yorke, Andrew Sweeney, Martin Recci and Michael Cooper, the business specialises in supplying temporary labour to the industrial, driving and warehouse & distribution markets.
Today, the company is a 65-branch, UK-wide operation with a turnover in excess of £170million employing around 600 permanent staff. Its services provide the vital co-ordination and provision of over 50,000 temporary workers every year that support the activities of 9,000 clients many of whom are well respected multi-national organisations.
“For many, finding employment can be a very difficult task. The Best Connection helps people to understand their capabilities and develop their strengths and has an impact on the lives of thousands of individuals, providing opportunities that would, in many circumstances, be difficult to find. It allows many people to prove their worth, and to establish sound work records, references and skills that often lead to full time employment,” said Neil Yorke, Director of The Best Connection.
The Best Connection was established to address a change in employment trends. It acknowledged that today’s companies require the flexibility to employ support staff as and when required. Equally important is the ability to respond to the needs of people living in local communities who require both flexible and full time job opportunities. Temporary staff are supplied for a wide range of duties which include production, assembly, technical, warehouse, loaders, forklift drivers, light van drivers, 7.5 Tonne and HGV I and II drivers.
No. 1 in Driving Sector
The Best Connection is ranked No. 1 in the driving market in the UK transport sector and continued to demonstrate its dominance in 2007 by growing its business by 34% in a market which only grew by 10%.
Local Jobs for Local People
Job creation is focused at a local level through local branches. The company is a major recruitment conduit to local communities through local job centres with a superb temporary to permanent work scheme that also provides an avenue to permanent employment. The Best Connection complies with minimum wage, holiday pay and working time legislation ensuring that rest periods are adhered to and that vulnerable groups such as young people are paid the relevant wage.
Essential Training
Due to the nature of the company’s activities and its unique way of doing things, the company implemented a bespoke training programme to pass on the ‘nuts and bolts’ of working practice. This has been important in delivering the consistency of approach across the branch network. As with most expanding organisations, The Best Connection’s growth is dependent upon attracting and retaining the best possible people. In an effort to reverse the current shortage of quality staff and to promote recruitment as an attractive career option, The Best Connection has developed and launched a new Foundation Course to train all new recruits joining the company. “Over 300 employees have undertaken the company’s Foundation Training course, 200 have attended the Core Skills sales course and 80 have benefited from a new Introduction to Client Visit course. This reflects the importance that The Best Connection places on skills and individual career progression,” Neil Yorke continued.
Each consultant that joins the company undergoes a minimum of six days off-site training within the first six months of employment. Managers also benefit from coaching and mentoring skills courses that are typically delivered over a three day period. “The company succeeds in retaining staff by providing achievable promotional opportunities for those who wish to progress to more senior consultative roles and managerial positions. We have achieved 100% retention of our senior management team, many of whom have been promoted from within the organisation,” added Neil Yorke. Temporary workers are generally recruited from the local community providing local knowledge and synergy with the local people and their needs. The Best Connection’s consultants are also recruited regionally through local media.
Quality Company
To endorse its commitment to quality, The Best Connection has achieved ISO 9002 accreditation throughout its branch network and the company adheres to Working Time Regulations at all times. As members of REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation), The Best Connection adopts a code of practice approved by the Equal Opportunities Commission. www.thebesconnection.co.uk
*2007 Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 250 league table
The Best Connection Group Ltd
Neil Yorke
Tel: 0121 504 3000
Email: neil.yorke@thebestconnection.co.uk
www.thebestconnection.co.uk
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