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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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Written by - Samantha Boreham
The 1st Step Group
We are pleased to announce that within the past two weeks, 1st Step Solutions Ltd has completed a deal to purchase On-Site London, making them part of the 1st Step Group. Like 1st Step Solutions Ltd, On-Site London supply M&E candidates to construction sites across London and the South East. They have the added speciality with providing airside passed candidates for Heathrow & Gatwick, which is not something all agencies can attain to! The process of applying for an airport authorised signatory is not an easy task but we can now proudly announce that in the past week On-Site London has successfully gained another 12 months. Our Chairman Simon Cowdrey said “The On-Site London team are established with longevity in employment, led by their Director, Neil Saunders, whom I’ve known personally for 30 years. The acquisition of On-Site London is a great addition to the 1st Step Group, now consisting of 1st Step Solutions Ltd, 1st Step Resourcing Inc. and Wells-Brooks Associates.” He also added, “this is a very exciting time for the group, with grossing our accumulative turnover to 50M, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our accountant Kris Havard - Wells Associates, lawyer Nick Gabay - Thomson Snell & Passmore, and the previous owner Darren Burnett in facilitating this deal.” Neil Saunders, Group Business Development Director statement: “The team at On-Site London are excited at the new challenges ahead. We are confident that with the joint experience and knowledge of the industry of both On-Site London and 1st Step, that both our clients and candidates will reap the benefits. On-Site London specialise in the supply of M&E and Construction blue-collar trades in London and the Home Counties. We are also authorised signatories for both Gatwick and Heathrow Airport. The team at On-Site London has over 30 years of experience collectively in the industry.” Les Fillery, Managing Director/Finance Director statement: “1st Step Solutions Ltd are delighted with the acquisition of On-Site London and excited to welcome the team onboard. As with any business, diversification and expansion is necessary for growth and with this partnership, we can offer different areas of experience within our market. The On-Site London team add to our extensive knowledge on supplying M&E trades and labour and in particular, at both Heathrow and Gatwick Airport as airside signatories. We, in turn, will be able to offer their clients and candidates the benefits of our LUL, Rail and technical divisions.” Lara Cameron-Wells, Managing Director statement: "Since Wells-Brooks Associates joined forces with the 1st Step Group, we have had the opportunity to expand our presence on a global basis to include, UAE, Europe, and the USA. Wells-Brooks specialise in the recruitment and training of Doctors and Nurses, with training academies in 12 countries, including London and Manchester. We are perfectly placed to address the ongoing shortage of suitably qualified candidates for the NHS and private sector. Our strong pipeline of GMC /IMC registered Doctors graduating PLAB 2, and our Nurses graduating CBT, IELTs/OET means we can uniquely present candidates from all specialities ready for relocation to the UK. We offer a full recruitment service including support from our inhouse immigration and compliance team, this includes a 12-week aftercare service for both candidates and clients which ensures confidence in our commitment to developing long term relationships." Nana Boss, Vice President statement: “1st Step Resourcing Inc. is located in New York, a thriving place for construction with some iconic structures, all of which we can acclaim to having provided white-collar and permanent placement staff for. We are specialists in the provision of operatives for Exterior, MEP, Ground Up, Heavy Construction and General Contracting sectors. We also operate on the East Coast of the USA and currently working towards the Mid-Atlantic USA. As a division, we have over 20 years of industry knowledge as a team.”
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Written by - Samantha Boreham
Australian Fires
Over the past 6 weeks, the Australian bush fires have destroyed wildlife habitats, residential homes and towns. It has been labelled by the Australian fire authorities as the worst in the state's history. The fires burn alongside the Eastern and Southern coast, which is where most of the population lives. This includes areas around Sydney and Adelaide. As of 8th January 2020, there have been more than 200 fires which have sadly claimed 28 human lives, numerous amounts of people missing, killed 8,000 Koalas and affected almost half a billion animals along with other estimates of animals such as bats, amphibians and invertebrates to have now put the number killed at over a billion, which have left some species on the verge of extinction. If you wish to donate, here are a few charities to consider. Any donations will help support all those in need during this dreadful time. General https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-donate https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/donate/make-a-donation/donate-online/?appeal=disasterappeal https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw Wildlife https://www.facebook.com/donate/1386120504919105/10158318179549750/ Fire Service (NSW Rural) https://quickweb.westpac.com.au/OnlinePaymentServlet?cd_community=NSWRFS&cd_currency=AUD&cd_supplie
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