Over the last year B-DACS have been working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus within the Department for Work and Pensions to recruit staff by taking part in their work experience programme. Job seekers aged 16 to 24 who are currently claiming job seeker’s allowance, can get a work experience opportunity through job centre plus. Work experience lasts between 2 and 8 weeks and candidates can work between 25 and 30 hours per week.
Work experience not only provides candidates with the opportunity to gain experience within the industry however it also gives the candidate an insight into what is involved within the role and helps them to decide if this is a career they would like to persue.
B-DACS first entered into the programme in May 2014 when we began to look to recruit our Engineer’s Assistants. During the first stage of work experience applicants we were introduced to Darren Ferguson.
“I turned up to the Job Centre for a CITB course where I met Diane and she told me about a potential job and the work experience opportunity, I then sent her my CV and was accepted to complete work experience with B-DACS. Over the month completing work experience I learned a lot about the job and realised that it was a career path I wanted to go down. After 4 weeks of work experience I was delighted when I was offered a permanent job within the company. I have now been working with B-DACS for a year, it’s a great company with great staff who I get on really well with”
Darren Ferguson – Engineer’s Assistant, B-DACS
After successfully recruiting Dareen we decided to continue our partnership with the Jobcentre and from then we went onto recruit Dylan Robertson into the Engineer’s Assistant Role.
“I was given the opportunity to complete work experience through Jobcentre Plus. When Starting my work experience with B-DACS it really helped me to get a feel for the job that was on offer and also helped me to understand what would be expected of me within the role. It was very beneficial and gave me great insight into not only the job as mentioned however also the company that I could potentially be working for”
Dylan Robertson – Engineer’s Assistant, B-DACS
More recently we have Lauren Fay who has just started her work experience with B-DACS working within our office as Administration Assistant.
“Work experience has given me a great opportunity to gain more experience within an administration role as this is the type of job that I wanted to do, after only 2 weeks I have already learned so much and I’m so happy to have been offered a position within the company and look forward to learning more about the company and the industry as well as gaining more experience”
Lauren Fay – Administration Assistant, B-DACS
“B-DACS implemented work experience around 12 months ago and the results have been fantastic. Through this initiative working in partnership with DWP we have managed to secure 2 full time positions so far for Engineers Assistants. We were delighted with the assistance from Margaret Flanagan at the local job centre in helping us find the candidates which is a great way of finding local people who have a real aptitude for work. We have now made work experience part of our recruitment strategy going forward and have Lauren on a work trial for 4 weeks in the office assisting us with admin duties which has also led to offering her a position within the company. We would certainly encourage other companies to use the facility as we have had real success in finding our people”.
Diane Drummond – Director, B-DACS
“By B-DACS signing up to DWP’s ‘Get Britain Working Campaign’ this has given local young people opportunities to gain both experience and knowledge in a work place envrionment, and for some full time permanent employment with full training provided. B-DACS have been a pleasure to work with due to the flexibility and support they offer to young people”
Margaret Flanagan – Recruitment Manager, Job Centre Plus
More information about work experience opportunities in your area can be found on the DWP website or by contacting your local Job Centre.