Recruitment
“Recruitment processes at Unipart Rail, Traction and Rolling Stock (T&RS) have been transformed in the last 3 years. Growth in the business has meant an increasing need for highly skilled staff either with existing Rail experience or with individuals bringing their talents, skills and experiences from other areas into our specialist sector.
Recruitment numbers over the last 30 months at Unipart Rail have been as follows:
2013 – 79 new staff members
2014 – 89 new staff members
YTD 2015 – 38 new staff members
The business has also embarked on an aggressive “Graduate Hunt†to employ some of the brightest stars to launch their careers in the rail industry. Over 25 graduates have been recruited in the past 24 months either for specific job roles or on a rotation scheme approach that gets them a foot on the bottom rung of the career ladder and then working their way into more senior roles and bigger opportunities. There are a number of individual cases at Unipart Rail that highlight this progression, which can be seen in the Rail Staff Graduate of the Year nominations!
Unipart Rail T&RS has had to employ a number of unique ways to meet this recruitment challenge to meet business requirements whilst keeping a close eye on cost control. The objective was to have a transparent cost structure but also a streamlined approach so that Recruitment partners had a dedicated contact and communication within the business. Mandy Kendrick in the HR department is responsible for recruitment who deals with 12 agencies in different specialisms, overseen by Lucy Weaver, Head of HR. There are a number of key agencies Unipart Rail work in collaboration with including Ortolan Group, Search, Intec and through various offices using the Hiring Hub.
Unipart Rail has also worked with the departmental hiring managers to coach them to define their requirements more accurately and to streamline communications so that hiring managers are engaged in the optimal way. This has proven to be successful so that they focus on their operational roles whilst the HR department search, identify, refine and present candidates for interview and selection.
The HR department is also looking to the future by engaging with the educational sector to improve awareness of Unipart Rail as a potential employer by attending university fayres and supporting local schools activities including the Teentech initiative. Unipart Rail also works alongside the Doncaster College and has a history of bring in apprentices to support the bogie overhaul activity which now sits under the joint venture with Lucchini UK limited, LUR. Recruits have also been from the Armed Forces to join the Engineering teams with a large amount of relevant skills to apply to the rail sector.
The team continue to meet the challenges of recruitment by constantly reviewing recruitment processes, induction experience and ongoing training into the business. This is does in the spirit of the Unipart Way philosophy of continuous improvement and providing a cost effective and highly responsive service to the business.“
“As a Recruitment company we deal with hundreds of business' around the UK and as GOLD standard Investors in People we understand the relationship between staff, suppliers, customers and potential candidates.The way the HR team at Unipart deal with each application as a 'person' and not just a CV, is what really separates them from the majority.
They listen to our feedback and take advice and criticism on board - enabling them to better their process every step of the way.
It is for this reason that Unipart has as good a 'recruitment brand' as they do for their service and products.
My main point of contact has always been Mandy Kendrick and whilst I have also worked with Lucy and Jess - it is down to the way Mandy has dealt with the many candidates she has met, as to why the feedback from all candidates has always been so positive (regardless of the interview being successful for the candidate - they always speak highly of Mandy and the team).
Rather than taking each application based on just their CV, the HR team are inquisitive and sympathetic to the individual needs of each candidate respectively; i.e. considering the commute distance for applicants/ childcare/ salary/ culture/ experience etc; and only when they are comfortable they can meet the candidate's expectations are they comfortable bringing them forward for interview.
They have been flexible with salaries where warranted and adjusted to meet the needs and experience of the individual candidates - The HR team have played the greatest part in presenting this case to the hiring managers.
When candidates have not been suitable for a specific role but show the right attitude and strength in other areas - The HR team have been responsible for recommending them to other roles/areas of the business - again a huge reason why they have such a good reputation in the industry.
They are always contactable and give good constructive and detailed feedback to every candidate.
They are accommodating when we ask to visit site and meet hiring managers and always arrange this for us.
If I speak to candidates that interviewed with Unipart some years ago - They ALWAYS remember the HR team by name. In my 10 years of recruiting Engineering professionals in South Yorkshire, not only can I say this is RARE - but to happen every time with the same team is outstanding and a credit to Mandy, Lucy, Elaine and Jess.“
“Thanks for a great evening.”
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