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Written by - Stuart Wallis
1st Step support apprentices to shape our future and theirs'
1st Step Solutions is proud to be supporting National Apprenticeship week again in 2019. Our Managing Director, Les Fillery recently said "As a business 1st Step has a long-held belief that it is important to support apprenticeships across the industries we serve, which has culminated in us employing apprentices on major infrastructure projects and significant social infrastructure initiatives such as DNRC in Nottinghamshire. We understand our role in promoting the value of apprenticeships for our clients and the wider industry." He added "supporting local education establishments such as Barking & Dagenham College, Havering College and LSEC alongside secondary schools in educating students on the world of work is something has been high on our list of priorities. It was something our former MD, Max White was passionate about and we will continue that legacy on." Shaping Our Future Whilst acknowledging our role externally to the wider industry, Les also reiterated the importance of investing in our own staff through apprenticeships. He said "a lot of people in recruitment join the industry and learn on the job, and there is nothing wrong with that. But there needs to be a clear level of investment in their time and skills to ensure they can reach their potential with the tools they need to do the job. At 1st Step, we are trying to do that via the apprenticeship route to complement the on-the-job training all staff gain along with experience." The apprenticeship programmes for 1st Step are organised and monitored by our HR Manager, Stuart Wallis. At present, we have four apprentices; Nicole Waymont, who is 12 months into an NVQ Level 3 apprenticeship, and we have just started the same qualification through our new provider, Recruitment Juice, for another three apprentices. Stuart said "Nicole is progressing through her apprenticeship and hopes to be completed in 2019. Through our new partnership with Recruitment Juice, we have now started the same process for three other team members; Lee Lewis and Emma Thomas in our Bristol office, and Hayley Laurance in the Rail and Civils division. It is clear to us that through their commitment to the apprenticeship, and our desire to support them with advice, mentoring and guidance, all of our current apprentices can help to shape the future of 1st Step, whilst being an excellent example to those who wish to follow in their shoes." Past Success - Future Leaders Apprentices at 1st Step is not a new thing either. One of our newly promoted Business Managers, Sean Kelly started as an apprentice at 1st Step and he has gone on to grow what is one of our most successful desks. His hard work as an apprentice, which he carried on as a Consultant, has led to his promotion to being a Business Manager with his aims set for higher destinations, something not lost on the Owner & Chairman, Simon Cowdrey. Talking about those taking on the career challenges, Simon said: "There is nothing more pleasing as a business owner than to see people you employ at the beginning of their career go on to grow into ambassadors of your business." He added "I look at my current Directors and see the likes of Sean, Careena Dabbs and Davinia Farr all having carved a career out of being with us, all in different ways. But every single one of them is a shining ambassador for their colleagues across the 1st Step companies in the UK & USA."
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Written by - Stuart Wallis
Shaping the Future of 1st Step continues...
Shaping the future of 1st Step continues The board of directors are delighted to announce that Davinia Farr has been promoted to Associate Director with effect from 28th January 2019. Managing Director Les Fillery said, “Davinia has been with the business for over ten years, she has been dedicated to developing her team and division, to the greater good of the entire company and industry. She is a worthy advocate of the title AD and leads by example and I’m looking forward to working with her as we continue to develop our core strengths across the business.” Davinia’s duties in managing the Management and Technical division will continue, supplying candidates to our clients along with her team. Her role will see her also assisting the development of her colleagues at 1st Step and representing all aspects and divisions of 1st Step to the industry. We hope you will join us in congratulating Davinia in this fantastic achievement.
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Written by - Simon Cowdrey
Season's Greetings and Looking forward to 2019
The year 2019 is fast-approaching, and for us, 2019 will be about the foundations of 1st Step; the staff. This year, we have experienced the reshaping of 1st Step, which has been essential in order to contest with the challenges and demands that BREXIT will bring upon us. I hope that despite these obstacles we have maintained career opportunities and the encouragement of progression for everyone at 1st Step. Irrespective of whether a business is a ‘Nike’ or your local corner shop the fundamentals of success remain, it’s with the people – ensuring staff retention, employee engagement and creating a sense of trust and appreciation. Every person within the 1st Step family has an important and equal role to play, both now and in the future. It gives me enormous pleasure when I read the regular staff updates on anniversaries and employment miles reached. I recall one conversation with a staff member, being told that they ‘could never see themselves working anywhere else’. Even one of our Executive Directors celebrating her 15-year service milestone is an enormous achievement. Only this week, we have run an anonymous survey of our staff about their opinions on the business, and the results are very encouraging in terms of communications, progression and people understanding how they fit into the “bigger picture”. Quarter 4 of this year the Board began the project ‘Shaping the Future’ of 1st Step with three newly appointed Executives to the main Board. These appointments provide diversity and perspective in decision making into the direction we head toward in 2019. I can assure that 2019 will bring about even more employee engagement, opportunities, promotions and achievements within the business. We can expect another tough year during 2019 in trading. However, what we all appreciate in recruitment is that every day is as hard as the next. We work in a people’s industry and every conversation, meeting or situation is unlike the last; that’s why we all love what we do. We thrive on challenges. 1st Step has invested hugely in our the future with a new database, compliance, systems and processes. With the continuous support of our staff along with the combined development of the infrastructure, our future is not just looking bright, it’s looking BRIGHT ORANGE!! (excuse the pun!) I know that this Christmas everyone will be treasuring every moment with their family, relaxing, recharging the batteries. I would like to wish all 1st Step staff, clients, candidates and suppliers a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to working with you all in 2019.
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Written by - Stuart Wallis
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Everyone at 1st Step Solutions Ltd & 1st Step Resourcing Inc would like to wish our clients, candidates and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Our offices will remain open until 24th December 2018, following which we will remain closed until 2nd January 2019. Should you need to contact us urgently, please get in touch with your usual representative of 1st Step via their mobile phone.
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Written by - Stuart Wallis
1st Step now Approved Gatwick Supplier
1st Step Solutions have taken a major step forward in our quest to become the leading aviation construction agency in the UK by becoming approved airside signatories at Gatwick Airport. This means that, as your agency of choice, we can support your business across the airport sector with a security-cleared construction workforce from Labourers to Project Managers. Our Chairman, Simon Cowdrey said "Congratulations to the Heathrow West team on this major achievement." adding "We have always been strong in terms of compliance, so the next natural step for us is to apply this expertise to this area where highly complex security clearance processes are required." Jas Dhunna, Business Manager said, "this is excellent news for 1st Step, and credit must go to Laila Haddad for her hard work in getting this over the line." She added "We are renowned for our customer service, which we are very proud of. It is a testament to this that our clients were willing to support our application, so a huge thank you to them, too." For more information on working for 1st Step at either Gatwick or Heathrow Airports, please call us on 01753 708988 or email heathrow@1ststepsolutions.co.uk and speak to Jas, Laila or Stuart
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Written by - Simon Cowdrey
1st Step to soar to new heights with Heathrow West
I am delighted to announce that 1st Step has launched a new office based at Heathrow West This brings two innovative divisions to support the construction industry. We have enlisted a specialist team to clear and pass candidate’s airside for both Heathrow and Gatwick airports, directed by our new Recruitment Manager, Laila Haddad. What’s more, within Heathrow West, we have further new division focusing on the recruitment of construction trades within the M25 and South East. This team will be headed up by our newly appointed Business Manager, Jas Dhunna. The 1st Step vision is to create a platform that allows our employees to excel; both externally for our clients, but also in their own personal development and career progression. It goes without saying that the staff at 1st Step are what leads and drives our business. The growth & development of our 1st Step family is equally as important as the growth of our business.
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Written by - Katherine Castellanos
1st Step Resourcing Inc. at the 11th Annual CFMA Awards
Our colleagues Katherine Castellanos and Anthony Isidro were last night in attendance at the 11th Annual Construction Financial Management Awards at the Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, New York. At the event, Ed Harms, Managing Partner of Island Companies and Laura Curran, Nassau County Executive were honored as Construction Executives of the Year. Katherine, Branch Manager for 1st Step in New York, said "it was a great pleasure to attend the CFMA awards in their 11th Annual event. It was not only a great opportunity to network with some of the largest construction companies around the NYC area, but it was also raising awareness for a great cause in supporting Contractors for Kids". Katherine added "I would once again like to thank Keisha and Danielle for the invitation and also congratulate Ed Harms on receiving the construction Executive of the Year. We look forward to supporting future events and furthering the brand name of 1st Step".
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Written by - Stuart Wallis
Welcome to Laila Haddad and Jas Dhunna
We are pleased to welcome two new employees to our Heathrow West office, which houses our airports and Construction Trades division covering London and the South East. Laila Haddad, Recruitment Manager Laila joins as our Recruitment Manager, and she brings with her a wealth of experience in providing security cleared personnel to the South East's main airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. With a background in recruiting for Construction Tradespersons and M&E personnel, Laila will fit in with the ethos of customer service coming first within 1st Step. Jas Dhunna, Business Manager Jas is our new Business Manager in Heathrow West and will be leading the team in developing 1st Step across London & the South East, leading the ongoing growth of 1st Step, focussing on the structural steel and architectural sectors but with a view to growing the team and what they can offer. Jas has five years experience in recruitment and has a desire to succeed and business acumen that will only serve to deliver excellence for 1st Step in becoming a partner of choice for our clients and candidates. Owner & Chairman, Simon Cowdrey said "adding Jas and Laila to the team is a great move for us and they have already fitted in brilliantly with the rest of 1st Step. Their work ethics and desire to put the clients and candidates first are akin to what has become expected of us by people that work with 1st Step."
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Written by - Stuart Wallis
Welcome to Heathrow West - 1st Step's Latest New Office
We are pleased to announce the opening of our latest office, Heathrow West, with business opening with a flourish today (29 October 2018). The office is based on the Bath Road and will house our dedicated Recruitment Team which specialises in security cleared and passed candidates across London's busiest airports, as well as supplying candidates to our valued clients across London and the South East. Our Owner & Chairman, Simon Cowdrey said "1st Step has been trading for 14 years and has become renowned for excellent customer service, built originally on our footprint across London and the South East. That has spread to the Midlands with our office in Newark, our offices in Bristol and most recently in New York which began our presence in the USA". He added, "We are delighted to have acquired premises and a fantastic new team in the Heathrow West office who will strengthen our resolve and ability to deliver for our clients and candidates alike." The Heathrow West team can be contacted by emailing heathrow@1ststepsolutions.co.uk or calling 01753 708 988.
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Written by - Stuart Wallis
A Warm Welcome to...Chantelle Nelson
Chantelle recently joined us at 1st Step Solutions in our Newark office, as part of the Midlands M&E Trades team. Here we find out a little bit more about our new colleague. What was the reason you accepted a position with 1st Step Solutions? Mainly because Mike explained the office dynamics and work ethics of the company, which really fitted with my character and how I like to work. So far, it is living up to expectations! What do you enjoy most about working for 1st Step? The banter in the office, talking to clients and candidates and being part of the team! What would you like to achieve working for 1st Step? To grow and develop in the Company, and help 1st Step achieve its aspirations for growth. Finally, tell us something about you that wasn't on your CV? I teach ballroom and latin dancing in Newark during my spare time. I do this because I danced from when I was four years old. I went on to get my teachers certificate and then decided to carry on, being fully qualified by the time I was 17!
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