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Written by - Courtney Roye
Macmillan Mighty Hike 2022
On Friday 13th May 2022, Hayley and Davinia excitedly set off up to Norfolk to take part in the first Mighty Hike from Cromer to Blakeney. Little did they know what was ahead of them the following day!! The day didn’t start well with them nearly missing their train as they were trying to board a steam train, meaning it was time for a quick warm-up sprint to the correct train to arrive on time. Upon arrival, along with 1,998 others, they set off on their way. This is the first event to be held in Norfolk and is due to raise a staggering £1.1 million for Macmillan Cancer Support. As you will see from the pictures, they passed some beautiful scenery on the 15-mile journey they hiked including breathtaking sea views, windmills, and picturesque villages. The day was full of challenges, firstly, there were the hills (and there were lots of them!) followed by having to walk 3.5 miles on deep shingle. Not only that, but they weren’t the only people taking part in an event that weekend! Hayley and Davinia found themselves trudging through sinking sand and dodging the fishing lines of the sea fisherman attending the Seabass Fishing Festival. Many times, it got difficult but they were encouraged on, having met so many cancer survivors on the day, including a lady who finished her treatment a year ago to the exact day, and a local artist Colin who had painted many of the sea wall murals along the wall at Sheringham, who had sadly lost two brothers, two sisters, both parents and his daughter to this cruel disease whilst fighting it four times himself. Hearing about Colin and his family certainly put into perspective the sunburn and blisters they received on the day!! Their day was finished with a well-deserved glass of wine and a chance to reflect on the incredible generosity and support they have received from so many donations that had kept them going on the day. To date, they have raised £1,170 for a worthy cause and one that is so close to the heart of 1st Step. Well done, both!!
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Written by - Careena Dabbs
Christmas Opening Hours and Timesheet Deadlines
1st Step Solutions Christmas timesheet deadlines, opening times, and emergency contacts During the festive period, our payroll department has a very limited window to process timesheets and payments. Timesheets received after the given deadlines will not be paid until the following week. Week Ending 19th December 2021, Timesheets will be sent out at 9 am on the 17th December 2021 Week Ending 26th December 2021, Timesheets will be sent out at 16:30 on the 21st December 2021 1st Step would like to wish all of our Clients and Candidates a very merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
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Written by - Courtney Roye
EU Settlement Scheme
What is the EU Settlement Scheme? Initially announced in March 2019, it is now nearing the deadline of 30th June for all EU, EEA or Swiss citizens to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme, holding either pre-settled or settled status. As of the 1st July, all Employers must hold evidence of their employees’ right to work in the UK in the form of their settled or pre-settled status. We have been in conversation with both working and registered candidates for the last year, advising those affected of the need to be registered under the scheme verbally upon registration and sending out regular email alerts to all candidates. Due to our preparation, almost all of our current workforce has already provided evidence of their settlement status. Of those we have spoken to, there were a small percentage who wrongly believed they would not have to register for the scheme. However due to our early conversations, we have been able to give them relevant advice and contacts to ensure that they registered in time. The work that our compliance team and consultants have put in will ensure that there is no disruption or surprises when the deadline for ensuring that we hold evidence of settlement status at the end of the month comes into effect. All contractors on site can continue to work, thus not interrupting the projects in what is traditionally a very busy period. What checks are being done to ensure affected workers are eligible for work in UK? Until 30th June, we have a legal obligation not to discriminate against EU, EEA, or Swiss Citizens currently living/working in the UK and therefore we are unable to insist on them proving their status until after it comes into effect, however our consultants and compliance team have been speaking with all EU/EEA candidates that are working with us now and those that present themselves for future work, encouraging them either provide their settlement status share code or to ensure they are registered by the deadline. Our dedicated compliance team verifies all contractors requiring a settlement/pre-resettlement status using the home office tool - https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work It is worth noting that the letters provided to applicants notifying them of their application status clearly states that it is not proof of settlement. As of the 1st July 2021, all individuals must share their status with employers using the online tool provided and the employer must hold a record of the online check in order for it to be considered statutory excuse. As we are a provider of a temporary workforce, this is obviously an ongoing task with new contractors every week, and therefore our procedures have been updated, all recruitment personnel have received training, and account managers will ensure that all clients are kept informed of any issues that may arise with their labour in the next three weeks, but we are confident that all operatives will be compliant in time for the 30th June deadline.
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Written by - Courtney Roye
Easter Opening Hours and Timesheet Deadlines 2021
Here are our Easter opening hours and timesheet deadlines. In order to deal with the Bank Holiday, our payroll department will only have a limited time to process the entire payroll. Week ending 28/03/2021 timesheets will be sent out at 9am on 25/03/2021 Week Ending 04/04/2021 timesheets will be sent out at 9am on 01/04/2021 Happy Easter from everyone at 1st Step!
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Written by - Courtney Roye
International Women's Day 2021
This International Women’s Day campaign theme is #ChooseToChallenge and we at 1st Step couldn’t be prouder to say that we are committed to challenging the inequality and bias, and questioning the stereotypes within our industry and in general. At 1st Step Solutions and across the 1st Step Group, we have always celebrated and embraced the incredible women within the recruitment and construction industries, and never wish anyone to feel as though they are any less than their colleagues, regardless of their gender. Currently, women make up 64.5% of our overall workforce. This year so far, we have seen Andrea Llufrio promoted to Associate Director – Finance and Commercial, and Karen Munday was promoted to Credit Control Supervisor. One of the most pivotal roles within the business is held by Careena Dabbs, who has been with 1st Step since the beginning and has proven to be vital to the functioning of the group in every way imaginable. We are committed to investing in all our staff, offering training and development to ensure everyone can progress their career with us in the best way possible through apprenticeships and Chartered courses. We currently have Ashley Boyce, Group HR Coordinator, currently enrolled to study and take her CIPD Level 5, which we will offer all support we can. Not just today, but every day, we would like to celebrate the strong, hard-working women not just within 1st Step, but everywhere!
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Written by - Courtney Roye
1st Step are APSCo Approved
We are pleased to announce that we are now an APSCo approved recruitment agency. APSCo (The Association of Professional Staffing Companies) is the only membership body dedicated to representing excellence in the professional recruitment industry. APSCo aims to support, promote, and differentiate the provision of top-quality recruitment services in the professional staffing sector. They provide support with a variety of services including Legal & Compliance, HR & Training, Events, Public Policy and Research. Ann Swain, CEO of APSCo, commented: “I’m pleased to welcome the 1st Step Solutions’ team into APSCo’s membership. It’s great to have the experienced mechanical and electrical recruitment firm on board and the business’s commitment to the development and mentoring of its consultants shows that the values of 1st Step Solutions and APSCo go hand-in-hand. We’re looking forward to supporting the company and helping the team achieve their full potential through a continued best practice approach to hiring.” We are looking forward to working with APSCo and continuing to provide our clients and candidates the best and most knowledgeable service possible. Careena Dabbs, Executive Director of 1st Step commented: “We are delighted to have been approved by APSCo, and we are looking forward to working with them going forward. APSCo represent a great deal of companies within our particular recruitment sectors, and their advice and support is invaluable when dealing with legislative change. Click here to find out more about APSCo and what they do.
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Written by - Courtney Roye
National Apprenticeship Week 2021
This year is the 14th annual National Apprenticeship Week, taking place from 8th to 14th February 2020 and we are proud to be supporting this once again. National Apprenticeship Week is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships across England and is a time to recognise and applaud businesses and apprentices in their apprenticeship success. The apprenticeship programmes at 1st Step are organised and monitored by our HR Department and are in partnership with Recruitment Juice. Apprenticeships offer people of all ages and backgrounds a high-quality route to skilled employment with the option to train at every level in a range of exciting professions. Our Executive Director, Careena Dabbs, recently said “Many people join the recruitment industry with little to no experience, which is perfectly fine since many of the skills required can be learned on the job. Over the years, we have encouraged apprenticeship schemes to our staff as these are a great way to expand knowledge and understanding of how to further your career.” Success Stories: Business Manager, Sean Kelly, joined 1st Step as an Apprentice Resourcer back in 2012 and has worked hard using the knowledge he has gained to build his own successful desk within the business, eventually being promoted to Business Manager. Following this success, Sean is currently in the process of completing a Level 3 Diploma in Management (RQF) and is close to completing this, with only the last pieces of coursework and exams to go! Hayley Laurence of our London & South East Trades Team has completed her Level 3 Certificate in Recruitment Practice (CertRP). Hayley has taken this journey and new expertise and applied it to her day-to-day recruiting, progressing from Resourcer to a Consultant, managing her own selection of clients in the most professional and knowledgeable manner. Hayley would also like to progress her career with the Level 3 Diploma in Management (RQF) at some stage, just as Sean has done. The Next Class of Apprentices: Rai Radvilavicius started his apprenticeship just after National Apprenticeship Week 2020. Particularly after speaking with our previous apprentices and seeing the value of the extra education, he decided the apprenticeship route is what he would like to do to progress his career with 1st Step. Varsika Kumar also began her apprenticeship in February 2020. Her line manager, Sean Kelly, has already proven the success of the apprenticeship schemes and has actively encouraged and supported Varsika to expand her knowledge and skills so that she can provide her clients and candidates the best service possible.
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Written by - Courtney Roye
Shaping The Future of 1st Step: Introducing...
1st Step Solutions are delighted to announce Tony Clayden will be joining the 1st Step Group as a Regional Director on the 1st October. Tony will be part of the Basildon team and lead the line in business development; bringing with him a wealth of industry knowledge to boost and expand the newly reformed London & South East Trades & Technical Team. Tony has also been invited to join our main board. Tony has 23 years of Construction Recruitment experience under his belt, specialising in Contract and Permanent recruitment for both Trades and Technical roles within the Construction, Civil Engineering and Building Services sectors. Tony comes highly recommended by a number of key blue-chip companies, providing the highest level of service on a national basis. During this unprecedented time, we can assure our clients – both current and future – that 1st Step is committed to providing a leading service and the addition of Tony to the business will strengthen our service levels. Welcome to the team, Tony!
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Written by - Courtney Roye
World Suicide Prevention Day 2020
10th September marks World Suicide Prevention Day; A day in which organisations around the world can get together and raise awareness about suicide and how we can all work to prevent it. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), close to 800,000 people die globally from suicide every year; equating to one person every 40 seconds. Furthermore, for each suicide, there are more than 20 suicide attempts. In the UK, every week 125 people take their own lives; 6,500 deaths every year. In 2020, a day like this is even more vital. Throughout this global pandemic, people all over the world have been affected emotionally by both the uncertainty of the virus and through unemployment, confirmed and potential. In the UK alone, the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits has more than doubled since March, when the crisis began. The number of employees on UK payrolls fell by 730,000 from March to July, the largest fall in decades, average earnings fell, and the average number of hours fell by a record amount. It has also been recorded that 1.2m people have been placed on furlough. It can’t be forgotten that those essential workers who have continued to work throughout this pandemic may have also experienced difficulties working through such a stressful time, taking on more work which may be out of their remit due to the lower staff numbers following redundancies and furlough. The WSPD 2020 falls just days after The Office of National Statistics released distressing figures that the suicide rate for men has reached its highest figure for two decades. This equates to 75% of Suicide Deaths being accountable by Men. Following on from this, the rate of Suicide in Construction workers is more than three times the national average for men. Now is the time to check on your friends, colleagues, and family members. To be there for whoever needs it. If you are worried about someone, there are many ways that you can help and make a difference. Samaritans has a guide on the signs that someone may not be ok, and how and when to help. (https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/if-youre-worried-about-someone-else/how-support-someone-youre-worried-about/) If you, yourself, are struggling to cope, there is nothing wrong with asking for help. The stigma surrounding mental health needs to be removed, and this starts with us all opening the lines of communication with each other. It is recorded that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England. There are a number of external organisations out there that are dedicated to helping those in need and at 1st Step, we are also available for anyone, even if it is just for a little chat. It’s time to #TalkSuicide and #SmashTheStigma. Samaritans: 116 123 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year) CALM: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm – Midnight, 356 days per year) Mind: 0300 123 3393 (9am – 6pm, Monday – Friday) Construction Industry Helpline: 0345 605 1956 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
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Written by - Courtney Roye
National Apprenticeship Week 2020
This year is the 13th annual National Apprenticeship Week, taking place from 3rd to 9th February 2020 and we are proud to be supporting this again. National Apprenticeship Week is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships across England and is a time to recognise and applaud apprenticeship success. The apprenticeship programmes at 1st Step are organised and monitored by our HR Department and are in partnership with Recruitment Juice. Apprenticeships offer people of all ages and backgrounds a high-quality route to skilled employment with the option to train at every level in a range of exciting professions. Over the years, we have encouraged apprenticeship schemes to our staff in which we have had success, this leading to company development and progression. Apprenticeships are a great way to expand knowledge and understanding of how to further your career. For those who do not wish to take the apprentice route, we also provide support with additional recruitment coaching and training. Back in 2012, Sean Kelly completed his apprenticeship within 9 months. Sean joined 1st Step as an Apprentice Resourcer, and following completion of his apprenticeship, he has worked hard over the last 8 years developing one of our most successful desks, being promoted to Business Manager at the end of 2018. This month, Hayley Laurance, of the London & South East Trades team, will be completing her NVQ Level 3 apprenticeship in Recruitment Practice. This has now given her the opportunity to build her client relationships and fully understand the recruitment industry. Lee Lewis in the South West Trades team will also be completing his NVQ Level 3 in Recruitment Practice this month. Since beginning his apprenticeship, he has gained an understanding of what needs to be done to maximise his sales opportunities, resulting in an increased client base. Nicole Waymont, of the London & South East Trades team, is in the process of her NVQ Level 3 in Recruitment, to which she is looking to complete in May 2020. During this process, she has gained the confidence and experience to be able to take on the role of junior account management, both in the office and out on site.
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