HOMEBASE

CDG has worked with the Croydon branch of Homebase, a British home enhancement retailer with over 300 stores across the UK, for the last year. In that time, around 70 jobseekers have been taken on as part of CDG’s placement and work trial scheme, with 11 finding full time employment with Homebase.

Wency Britto, service manager: “About a year ago, Sam (Davis, CDG placement officer), came into the store and asked to see a manager. She mentioned the placement and work trials and I was immediately interested.

“Now I’ve taken on quite a few people from CDG, either here or at our other stores, or at our sister company Argos. A couple of them work in security, but most work on the customer servicing side. Some have found full time employment with us, too.

“It has proved much better to have people working with me who I already know from the trials than having a stack of application forms on my desk. There is a level of trust already there; you already have a relationship.

“All of the people are here with pride and they want to be here. I offer them the experience and the benefit of my 29 years as a manager in this country so it’s a boost for their CV. I also offer them references, which are very important to them because many have been without employment for some time. If they are working well I tell them to change their CVs at the earliest opportunity to say they have worked with Homebase.

“Occasionally it takes jobseekers a bit of time to remind themselves of the disciplines involved in being at work, but after a week they start to get into the routine.

“I’ve taken on 60 or 70 work placements in Croydon, and 11 in part time and full time employment with Homebase and a couple of our other providers. About another eight to ten have moved onto other jobs. I'm always happy to give positive references for people who have worked well. Work placements have also come out of it at Matalan and our stores in Wimbledon and Streatham.

“I must admit that Sam has been wonderful. She has vetted the people CDG has provided and they have been really good. I don’t have the problem of having to say 'this person is not the right fit for Homebase' because she knows the kind of people I am looking for and that they should be keen and want to work.

“Another aspect of the service is that CDG keeps in touch with me. Sam regularly calls to ask how the placements are going. When I assess the people here and what their strengths are, I sometimes make recommendations to CDG and they send people on training courses to get the skills they need, both for Homebase and or their own future.”