Meridian Business Support is one of the largest privately owned, multi-sector recruitment companies in the UK. In 2019, we celebrated 30 successful years in the recruitment industry. Our extensive network of branches provides over 4,000 temporary staff on a weekly basis and places over 1200 permanent candidates each year. Employing 210 staff, we fill in excess of 200,000 bookings every year, successfully supplying to over 1,500 companies.
In 2021, Meridian went through a Management Buyout and appointment of 11 new shareholders from the Meridian Senior Leadership Team. The completion of this deal lead Meridian's new owners to invite an addition 100 of its team to become shareholder options, taking part in an EMI scheme, which is a rarity within the recruitment industry.
Our branch network covers the major towns and cities in the UK and we have clear and demonstrable expertise in all delivery models, from Ad-Hoc supply to Managed Service solutions at both single and multiple sites. We pride ourselves on being a service-led organisation and offer tailormade specialist recruitment solutions. Our professional service ensures that we retain and grow our healthy client and candidate base, which results in high levels of repeat business. We are fully committed to placing the right candidate in the right job.
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Just an email to say thank you for all the support and advice you have given me the past weeks. I hadn't previously used an agency in obtaining a job role and in all honesty, was dubious of using one. However, you have completely changed my opinion and I would have no hesitation in recommending you and the service you provide. The teamwork displayed by you and your team has been excellent, the service was timely and responsive. I felt all the support you gave me got me through that interview process and I have you and the team to thank for the success of it!
I would thank the Meridian Health team for all of their hard work and effort in helping me find a new job. Throughout the entire application process, the Meridian team put all their effort into ensuring my application was successful. Despite how difficult some of my previous employers where to get a hold of for reference and date checks, they persevered through it until they got a hold of the information they needed. In addition to this any time there was an update in my application status, Meridian ensured I was kept in the loop by emailing me any and all updates with my application. Thanks to the exceptional effort put in by Meridian Health, I am now starting my induction training. I'm so excited to be starting such a rewarding, yet challenging role. If you're looking for work or looking for a career change, I would highly recommend taking the time to contact Meridian Health. As I have no doubt that they will help and support you, in finding and securing your new job.
Mark was a valuable asset in assisting me to find a new position away from retail. Being typecast before I always found it challenging to get my CV noticed. Thankfully Mark work worked his magic and landed me the perfect 'foot in the door position'! I have now been a sales administrator/office manager for nearly a year now and have gained so much experience within that position. Throughout the whole experience I felt like I was supported and encouraged.
Overall my experience in finding a job with Meridian was great! I know I already had an idea of the position I wanted when I came to your office, but you sorted out an interview straight away and were really helpful. The contact from you throughout the interview process was fab! Calls before and after the interview made the process feel really personal, so thank you! Even after I'd started the position, you still kept in touch, which I found really thoughtful.Hopefully I won't need Meridian any time soon, however definitely wouldn't hesitate to use you again!
I wanted to say thank you for all your help over the last couple of months. From my initial application you have provided a top class service but above all, it’s been a personal service. You took a great amount of time to get to know me, understand my strengths and the direction I wanted my career to go. It soon became apparent that you have a similar relationship with your clients as you were able to talk about their business, their ethos and had a good knowledge about the roles being offered. This was invaluable in preparing for the interviews you secured for me and I felt confident going to the interviews that I was already a good match for the role and the business. Even knowing you had been to the site and could advise where to park and what door to aim for was great as Google maps can only go so far! Thank you again for understanding that a career isn’t always about promotion, but sometimes a sideways step is needed to establish the right direction in the right surroundings and I appreciate how this was communicated to potential employers. I’m really pleased with the role you helped secure for me and I’m excited about the potential for me to develop in what already feels like a comfortable business environment. My new role was advertised with multiple agencies and, despite the same CV and covering letter being sent, you were the only agency who had the necessary knowledge and understanding of both your clients and candidates to put me forward. I have taken great pleasure in replying to the rejection emails from the other agencies saying “the depth & quality” of the other candidates meant I had “been unsuccessful on this occasion!
I have been looking to find a suitable position for a few months that met my requirement of the right pay as well as utilising my skills. Debbie was able to place me in a full time job that matched my unique personal and professional requirements. She was extremely supportive in preparation for interview, following up and helping to negotiate terms that were suitable for both me and my employer. Her friendly, personal approach during this process was of great benefit to me and I am very grateful for all the positive guidance she gave me.
Ged gave me plenty of advice and guidance on how to perform in interview. He prepared me for what the job was/is and what to expect from that sector of employment. He did a fab job of boosting my confidence in my abilities before interview.I received a very personable service that was tailored to my personal skills and style. I felt well looked after and also felt he had the best interest of the client in mind as he was quite constructively critical with me in order to make sure I was the right candidate for the job.
I just like to thank you for preparing all the various documents for the interview with employer. The briefing was in such detail, which was extremely useful. This is one of the best experiences I had with a recruiter.
Very helpful and polite people had me in work after a couple of days of ringing and signing up.. would advise them highly.
Gerard has been very attentive, encouraging and has boosted my confidence. Talking me through the whole process of applying for the job, the role and the employer. He has kept me updated, even if it was just to let me know he has not received any information.Very easy and smooth, hassle free. I just left everything to Gerard and Jennifer.
I have been struggling to find a suitable position for about a year that met my requirements of a work-life balance as well as utilising my skills. Shirley was able to place me in a part-time job that matched my unique personal and professional requirements. She was extremely supportive in preparation for the interview, following up and helping to negotiate terms that were suitable for both me and my employer. Her friendly, personal approach during this process was of great benefit to me and I am very grateful for all the positive guidance she gave me.
Incredible good wages and when u have a problem they fix it straight away would work here anytime.
I got the job I wanted through Meridian. From the outset, the support I’ve received from my recruitment consultant, Mike, has been invaluable. He has really gone the extra mile to ensure that I was fully prepared for the interview and has chased up some job related queries on my behalf. I’m very grateful for all this support and would definitely recommend Meridian's services to anyone looking for their dream job!Meridian got in touch with me this month with a perfect job in a perfect location. My recruitment consultant, Ged, has been spectacular, communication has been brilliant and I felt thoroughly prepared for my interview and it went very well indeed. I'm so excited to be joining a company that seems so well matched to my skills and ambitions. It was particularly brilliant to have salary negotiations done on my behalf and I'm extremely happy with the result! I'm very grateful to Meridian and would happily recommend them to anyone.
This is my first experience of applying for a post through a recruitment company and have found it to be a very good one. I received a very prompt email response to my enquiry followed up by a phone call to discuss my CV. Ged and I had a very thorough discussion about what I was looking for and what would be the ‘right’ post for me as an individual.From start to finish the relationship has been very professional, realistic, open and honest with excellent communication. In particular I felt very well prepared by Ged for the interview process which was very different to my past experiences.The whole process has been smooth and efficient, resulting in securing a great role for myself. I have some experience of working in the recruitment industry and would be very happy to highly recommend Meridian to both candidates and clients alike.
I was contacted by Meridian in March 2015 and offered an interview at SSST NHS FT for a procurement assistant. I have been working In this post for the 18 months. Meridian has matched my skills and experience perfectly as I am enjoying my job and obtained a permanent place at SSST. Meridian is providing a services and support for its employees on the highest level, I never had any payment or holidays queries, all documents and statements I have asked for were provided as a matter of hours. As a matter of fact I have interacted with Meridian on a daily basis as my post at SSSfT includes temporary staff management and employment agencies queries and I must say Meridian services are excellent. I will be recommending Meridian to job seeker and to employers. Laura and Clare once again thank you for everything, it was a pleasure.
I have been contacted by Meridian in March 2015 and offered an interview at SSST NHS FT for a procurement assistant. I have been working In this post for the 18 months. Meridian has matched my skills and experience perfectly as I am enjoying my job and obtained a permanent place at SSST. Meridian is providing a services and support for its employees on the highest level, I never got any payment or holidays queries, all documents and statements I have asked for were provided as a matter of hours. As a matter of fact I have interacted with Meridian on a daily basis as my post at SSST includes temporary staff management and employment agencies queries and I must say Meridian services are excellent. I will be recommending Meridian to job seeker and to employers. Laura and Clare once again thank you for everything, it was a pleasure and as I previously mentioned we will be in touch anyway.
I have been working for Meridian for approximately 3 months now. Meridian is a great agency to work with... They are fast, professional and efficient, also shifts are allocated in a convenient manner. The time sheets are easy to compete and therefore I have received prompt payment for my work. All the staff are very approachable and helpful. Michelle Taylor has been a fantastic support to me. Michelle, helped me through the registration process, I couldn't believe how quickly it took. I also had to report a concern, regarding a patient falling during one of my shifts, I felt reassured and supported from the Meridian team. I feel confident when representing Meridian that I have their full support.
From my initial application Shirley has provided a top class service but, above all, it’s been a personal service. She took a great amount of time to get to know me, understand my strengths and the direction I wanted my career to go. It soon became apparent that she has a similar relationship with her clients as Shirley was able to talk about their business, their ethos and had a good knowledge about the roles being offered. This was invaluable in preparing for the interviews Shirley secured for me and I felt confident going to the interviews that I was already a good match for the role and the business. Even knowing she had been to the site and could advise where to park and what door to aim for was great as Google maps can only go so far! Thanks to Shirley again for understanding that a career isn’t always about promotion, but sometimes a sideways step is needed to establish the right direction in the right surroundings and I appreciate how this was communicated to potential employers. I’m really pleased with the role she helped secure for me and I’m excited about the potential for me to develop in what already feels like a comfortable business environment. My new role was advertised with multiple agencies and, despite the same CV and covering letter being sent, you were the only agency who had the necessary knowledge and understanding of both your clients and candidates to put me forward. I have taken great pleasure in replying to the rejection emails from the other agencies saying “the depth & quality” of the other candidates meant I had “been unsuccessful on this occasion”! With best wishes
I got the job I wanted through Meridian. From the outset, the support I’ve received from my recruitment consultant, Mike, has been invaluable. He has really gone the extra mile to ensure that I was fully prepared for the interview and has chased up some job related queries on my behalf. I’m very grateful for all this support and would definitely recommend the Meridian services to anyone looking for their dream job!
I got the job I wanted through Meridian. From the outset, the support I’ve received from my recruitment consultant, Mike, has been invaluable. He has really gone the extra mile to ensure that I was fully prepared for the interview and has chased up some job related queries on my behalf. I’m very grateful for all this support and would definitely recommend the Meridian services to anyone looking for their dream job!
Incredible good wages and when u have a problem they fix it straight away would work here anytime
I absolutely loved my first shift... It was brilliant. Thanks so much for making the recruitment process so easy and quick! I am very happy to be working for Meridian.
I just wanted to send a quick email to say thank you very much for all your help recently, especially with trying to get me in with Landmark. I really appreciate all your hard work and my apologies if I sounded a bit deflated on the phone yesterday. Based on experiences with other recruitment agencies during the last couple of months (mentioning no names!) I can definitely say that the service you provide and your dedication is above and beyond what I have experienced elsewhere and I thank you for that.
Being new to Exeter it was very challenging to find a permanent job. I had just left a very bad workplace and I was lucky enough to have been contacted by the consultants from Meridian. I was greeted by professional, friendly staff who treated me like a person and listened, showing that my needs were important to them. Very quickly a job was matched with my skills and experience, and in walking distance so an interview was set up. I felt that the consultants knew that my confidence was a bit low and I was asked to come in for a talk before my interview. This talk was so kind and caring and gave me the confidence to face an interview. I got the job. I felt the job matched what I was capable of and more. As they mentioned, they had matched me to a lovely working team too. I have now been taken on permanently and cannot thank Meridian enough. Meridian take the time to get to know you. They are easy to communicate with and are very responsive. I cannot thank Karen and Mags enough for their outstanding help in finding me a job that I am happy doing and working with a great team. I have recommended Meridian to everyone I know and if I needed their help again I would not hesitate in visiting them again.
I’m just dropping this quick email to say thank you very much for finding me this job. I love my job, I love people I work with and it’s amazing. For the first time in a long time I feel happy and all this because of you who gave me this fantastic opportunity.
Louise is the best recruiter I have ever had the pleasure to work with. She is absolutely wonderful. She is honest, professional, extremely hard working, and will go that extra mile to make sure that her client is happy, and making the right decisions. I feel blessed to have met Louise, and would highly recommend her to all my friends and family if ever they are looking for a job. She really is the best.
I came across Meridian purely by chance and what a pleasant surprise! An employment agency that did what it said on the tin... Incredibly professional, honest and open, with a human side. It was a pleasure to be treated as an individual and from the first point of contact Shirley did everything she could to ensure I was listened to and matched with potential suitable employers. To top off my experience I was successful in gaining the first position that I applied for, partly I feel as a result if the careful matching that Meridian/Shirley carried out.
I am two weeks into my new role and absolutely love this job! I wanted to express my appreciation for all of Imogen’s help. My dream job wouldn’t of been possible without her. Unlike most recruitment agencies, I was really impressed with Imogen’s personal but professional approach and her attention to detail when discussing the role in question. She consistently kept on top of things and kept me informed throughout the whole interview process. Helping and advising me for the first and second interview, always making sure that I was ready. I will continue to promote and recommend Imogen at Meridian Business Support in the future, as I believe she is one Resource Manager amongst a sea of them that truly stands out from the rest!
Where do I begin in finding the words to emphasise just how utterly tremendous my experience has been with Meridian Business Support! From the moment I first liaised with Gemma (based at the Salisbury branch), I was incredibly impressed with her first class professionalism, superb personality and the time and interest she took in me as a person. It is a rarity in the recruitment sector to come across someone of this high a calibre, with real competency in dealing with employers as well as candidates. She had the skill to analyse my disposition in order to advise on opportunities that were more suited to my character and always made me feel top priority whenever I called (even though I'm sure you must receive hundreds of calls and emails daily!) I am extremely grateful for being given the opportunity to temp work through Meridian since I was made redundant from my previous role. This has given me some great experience and confidence. I have since managed to secure a permanent role venturing on a new career path I've been striving to attain. Gemma has been exceptional throughout the whole process, providing CV and interview tips, imparting valuable knowledge, expertise and general reassurance. She is a true asset to Meridian, a real "Gem" (excuse the pun) and I can't thank her enough for going above and beyond in keeping me in the loop and ensuring my needs were met. A huge THANK YOU!! 😊
I have worked for the same company in a senior management position for many years so was totally unprepared for the job market when I re entered it looking for a change in direction. I had no idea where to start in my search and applied for a job advertised with Meridian Business support. From my first conversation with Shirley at Meridian Business Support, I felt confident that she was interested in finding me a career position that would suit me as a person as well as my work skills and ability. She supported me throughout the recruitment process, from helping me improve my CV to ringing me after my first day and after my first week in my new job to see how it was going. Shirley instinctively knew that I was the right person for the role that she put me forward for as she understood her clients needs. I was successful at my first interview and I truly feel that this played a huge part in my success. I am now in my new role, which is a totally new career path for me and I am really enjoying the new challenges and people that I am working with. The personal touch and attention to detail that Shirley and Louise at Meridian Business Support adopt towards recruitment made what I thought would be an ordeal, a positive and supportive experience. I would thoroughly recommend them to any business.
I am happy to say I have accepted a role as Operation Director for a Medical supply company looking after Logistics, supply chain and Customer Service. I would like to say of all the agencies and consultancies I dealt with, you and your colleague were the most human, courteous and charming which made your professionalism all the more outstanding. Sadly not everyone I dealt with had that touch. May I take this opportunity to thank you for your kindness and consideration in looking after me and thank you for all your efforts. Truly they were much appreciated and never taken for granted.
From start to finish Rikin and Meridian were fantastic. Whether it was following up on the many questions I had asked or keeping me updated on the progress/status of my potential new role. It's safe to say that thanks to Meridian and Rikin, I have found my perfect role . Overall I'd say absolutely over the moon with them! And couldn't have asked for a better person to help me through than Rikin.
Just to say a very special thank you for getting me the job I wanted, the service I received from you was one in a million, it’s very rare when you deal with any agency that they stay in touch and take time out of their own spare time to call and give you advice and put you first. I will definitely recommend anyone who is looking for a job in the future to get in touch with you and if there is anyone at Meridian I could speak with to get you the praise you deserve then I'll be glad to do it. I still can’t believe how good the job is that you found me I'm still over the moon, so thanks again Emma and hopefully I will get the chance to deal with you again one day.
I would like to start with a thank you. For you and all of your team. You have been more than helpful in regards of my personal needs and circumstances. I have never experienced treatment like it before. Within a week you had me a job in a place I'd like to spend a lot of time with. I cannot thank Meridian enough. I hope I don't have to deal with being part time again but if I do Meridian will be my first option. Thanks again for the services time and commitment.
Dear Sir, I think the world of the Chester branch. They are very special people. They have always helped me with work, from time to time. Someone of my age (59) work is hard to come by one reason why I look one way Meridian I think you are the best.
Emma has been a total pleasure to deal with. She really cares about what she does. I have never in my career seen someone so dedicated to their work. She was often working long hours around my schedule in order to help me find the right role. Emma is very professional from start to finish. She takes the time to understand the client and candidate ensuring a positive match. She will help you and guide you through the whole recruitment process and answer any questions you may have. I would have no hesitation in recommending her as a recruiter for her work. She is a credit to her industry and her company.
This is just a few words to say how happy I have been with the service I have received whilst with Meridian Business Support with yourself as my consultant. Since joining in early October I have been impressed with the level of professionalism and courtesy shown to me. All the shifts I have been given have included detailed instructions and directions and plenty of notice given, which is not always the case with agency work. I would have no hesitation in working for or recommending yourself or Meridian to others.
I would like to personally thank you for the help you have done with finding me a permanent job. Without you I probably would still be unemployed, sitting at home, pulling my hair out. Also whilst going to look for work at the same time and always walking away with the same answer all the time. You are the only person I know who actually put their faith and trust in me without actually knowing me personally. You risked putting me in there so they could see me for who I really am rather than reading off of paper. Words really cannot explain how thankful I am for helping me and helping me realise I can do it and I can succeed. Since I started this position things have really started to turn around for me and my life just gets better and better everyday due to the fantastic benefits of having a permanent job. I can’t be more thankful to anybody but you. Thank you so, so, so, so much Shirley, you’ve made me the happiest boy ever. P.S.. That drinks offer still stands for when I get paid. Many thanks once again
Outstanding staff, can’t be more happy with the support I received very professional and very helpful
Thank you for your help in trying to find me a position. Throughout my long search for employment (apart from the temping jobs) Meridian was the only agency that got me any interviews. I felt very disillusioned with my experience with other agencies and am quite tempted to write to them letting them know what I think but I know they wouldn't read it! I would have no hesitation contacting you if I ever find myself looking for work again.
I have found you to be professional, efficient and helpful in dealings with any queries/problems I have had. I get the feeling you put yourself into the shoes of the people you are dealing with and address issues as if they were your own. Good customer service is not as common a skill as people might think. I’m happy to report that my experience of Meridian and especially my dealing with you have been a positive one. My compliments on a job well done, and if you ever need a recommendation (verbal or written) please don’t hesitate to ask.
I have dealt with many recruitment agencies lately, but yours has by far been the most efficient, helpful and competent consultant that I have dealt with. Should I be seeking employment again I wouldn't hesitate to contact Meridian Business Support. It's apparent that the team in Witney are doing a fantastic job, keep up the good work!
I wanted to thank you for putting me forward for the recent job role. I also wanted to let you know how useful the documents about interview techniques and the job interview were, particularly when one has not had to be interviewed for a while. I also wanted to let you know that yours is the first agency I have come across who actually talk to job seekers in a pleasant manner and are helpful, so thanks for that as well.
This is just a few words to say how happy I have been with the service I have received whilst with Meridian Business Support with yourself as my consultant. Since joining in early October I have been impressed with the level of professionalism and courtesy shown to me. All the shifts I have been given have included detailed instructions and directions and plenty of notice given, which is not always the case with agency work. I would have no hesitation in working for or recommending yourself or Meridian to others.
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Latest News
Video: Talking Transport Modelling with Fred Ewing
With leadership being found as the top most important management skill, we wanted to take some time in our new series to speak to Meridian's leaders about their work and the niche environments in which they operate. In this first edition, Meridian's friend, life coach and former employment rights lawyer, Suhail Mirza, interviews Head of Transport & Infrastructure Fred Ewing about transport modelling, climate change and how the work he and his clients are doing today wont be seen during this life time.
26
May
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Best Companies League Table Success
On Friday, in a virtual day presented by BBC’s Dan Walker, we were delighted to receive our rankings within the Best Companies UK league tables.This followed our accreditation of 3-stars in the prestigious Best Companies ratings in April– the highest accreditation a company can receive. This meant we were ranked within 4 tables, the Northwest, Southwest, Mid-Sized Company and Recruitment Company.After a tense wait to see where we placed within the country, we were thrilled to place:· 26th in the Northwest· 11th in the Southwest· 17th in the UK Recruitment Sector· 24th in the UK Mid-Sized Companies.Meridian’s Head of HR, Sarah Ward said: “It is such an honour for Meridian to receive our 3* Best Companies rating, and then to place so highly within each of the league tables is an incredible reflection of the hard work of the Meridian team.”Best Companies create their league tables each quarter and we are happy to be new additions to some of these league tables; the rest of which we have climbed through the rankings year on year to help businesses to create a ‘happier and healthier workforce’, which we are proud to uphold as a key value at Meridian. Under the leadership of CEO, Derek Skelton, Meridian is continuing to go from strength to strength, with 2021 having been our best year to date.We are very proud to have achieved such an accolade and would like to extend our thanks to the entire Meridian team who filled in the survey and work so hard every day to help us achieve such praise and status across the UK.
25
May
Meridian Completes MBO
Meridian Business Support is pleased to confirm the completion of a Management Buyout and the appointment of 11 new shareholders from the Meridian Senior Leadership Team.The MBO was led by Meridian's CEO, Derek Skelton, and Finance Director, Jeanette Barrowcliffe, following Meridian's outstanding performance over the last five years. In particularly, Meridian has thrived in the challenging socio-political climate and had a turnover exceeding £100 million in 2021. About the deal, Meridian's founder, Rod Kavanagh commented:"Meridian's exceptional performance over the last few years has proved that the company is in very capable hands. I am confident in this decision and know that the future of Meridian will be bright".Meridian's new shareholders would like to thank Rod for his dedication to the business for over 32 years.The completion of the deal led the Meridian Senior Leadership Team to invite an additional 100 of its team to take shareholder options, as part of an EMI scheme - a rarity within the recruitment industry - to ensure that the company's future is in the hands of those who have contributed to our recent successes. Commenting on plans for the future, Derek Skelton said:"This seamless deal represents an exciting new chapter for Meridian. We have a world-class culture, as demonstrated in our 2022 Best Companies 3-star accreditation, and the move to include more employees as shareholders and share option holders will only strengthen this as we work together to identify new opportunities and developments for our future. We will continue to work closely with our clients, suppliers and candidates, and guarantee that they will always receive the same high standards of services that they expect."
23
May
Meridian awarded Best Companies 3* rating!
We are excited to announce that Meridian Business Support has been awarded a Best Companies 3-star rating – the highest accolade Best Companies offers! After receiving the 2-star accreditation in 2021, our teams have been working even harder together to ensure we have an inclusive and open culture that enables people to thrive and enjoy coming to work. As a result of their brilliance, Meridian has now joined this exclusive list of 3-star rated businesses across the UK. Meridian’s CEO, Derek Skelton commented:“I am always proud of the Meridian family and this rating is testament to determination of each one of them to live and breathe our values, delivering best in class service to our customers. Meridian’s culture is one of the best out there and it is fantastic to have this recognised by Best Companies and join the 3-star elite.”Meridian will soon be able to share our UK wide ranking within the recruitment sector and we are excited to see the business continue to go from strength to strength. https://www.b.co.uk/companies/meridian-business-support
12
May
Take Care of Your Mind this Stress Awareness Month
This week marked the start of stress awareness month, a month based around lessening the effects of stress and discovering their causes so issues can be tackled head-on. Stress can be experienced in many different ways, it can help to motivate us to achieve things in our daily life, but too much stress can affect our mood and cause us to feel anxious.Research shows that 74% of the UK felt overwhelmed or unable to cope at some point over the last year following the impact of the pandemic, changes in the ways of working, and the uncertainty of the job market during this period. Although restrictions have now lifted and life is seemingly heading back to some level of normality, the impact of such stresses can be long-lasting. Stress Awareness Month aims to help people pick up on what makes them stressed and address issues head-on before they affect day-to-day life, and now post-pandemic aims to help people feel a sense of normality in the workplace. Stress presents itself in many ways, therefore needs to be dealt with through different means. Throughout this month, we will be looking at the ways in which stress can be reduced in the workplace. We have listed some ways to face stressful situations, whether they be physical such as going for a walk, doing some exercise, or getting a break away from your computer or phone, or mental, such as talking to a friend or colleague about worries you may have, or making sure you have a clear workspace to focus on your tasks for the day.Here are some tips to help reduce the feelings of stress to get you through a stressful day:Get outdoors for a walk - Fresh air and exercise are both ways of winding down and helping to relieve stress.Take a break! - Getting away from your screen for a short break can help massively. Grab a cuppa with a friend or colleague and take 5 minutes to switch off!Get some exercise - Exercise releases endorphins in the brain to make handling stress that little bit easier.Listen to your favourite music - Make a playlist of your favourite songs and take some time to switch off and relax.Make a list of priorities for the day - tick off each point on the list as they're completed to keep track of what you've achieved throughout the day.Clear space, clear mind - Remove any distractions you may have by having a spring clean. This could be your workspace, one room, or your whole house!Lessen your screen time - Sometimes our phones can be the biggest distraction day-to-day. Try to take some time away from the screen for a little while each day.Talk to a friend or colleague if something is worrying you. Always talk to someone if you’re feeling stressed or anxious and get things off your chest. A problem shared is a problem halved.Set yourself a challenge - focus on something completely new, such as taking up a new hobby or sport to keep your mind active.We are very fortunate at Meridian to have a very supportive team across all of our branches. If you ever find yourself struggling, please reach out to someone you trust, there will always be someone to help. There are also many online resources available such as MIND, MentalHealth.org, and ReThink.https://www.mind.org.uk/https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/stress/https://www.rethink.org/advice-and-information/living-with-mental-illness/wellbeing-physical-health/stress-how-to-cope/https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/getting-help
08
Apr
Meridian Conference & Awards 2022
Saturday 5th March marked the day of our annual Meridian Conference & Awards at the beautiful Carden Park Hotel, sponsored by The Access Group, Brabners, Corinthian, Exchequer Solutions, FluidOne, Gallagher, Altodigital, Aziz Coach Service, Veritas, and W Denis. Each year Meridian brings together the team from across the country to celebrate their hard work and incredible achievements throughout the year including a number of new awards this year following a record year of achievements in 2021.Following an introduction from Meridian CEO, Derek Skelton we had an update on the past 12 months and what an amazing year it was for Meridian, including 33 promotions across the business and an incredible number of job roles being filled. We were delighted to see many awards being presented during our day event including our graduation and financial awards and long service awards; Student of the Year – Charlotte McMeechanCommunity Champion – Samantha BealeLargest Perm Fee – Fred EwingQuality Award for Compliance – Trafford ParkOutstanding Team Contribution – NRCUnsung Hero of the Year – Cathy KendrickMost Improved Branch of the Year – Glasgow Long Service Award - 5 yearsJanet CalthorpeOlivia BodleyLouise KetteringhamDeimante LekuteGemma LakinPaula DragonskaAdam TemmeNicola ThomasSteph SopjesDerek SkeltonAdrian SafferyGary CallowStephen PearsonAnd many more awards, presented by Head of Learning and Development, Jamie Abbott and honorary ‘Professor’ for the day, Derek Skelton. We were delighted to be joined by guest speaker, Roz Savage, the first woman to row solo across the worlds ‘Big 3’ Oceans – The Atlantic, Pacific & Indian Oceans, rowing over 15,000 miles, around 5million oar strokes and spending over 500 days at sea in a rowboat, with injuries along the way, and most disastrously – a broken stereo! Roz is now the holder of 4 Guinness World Records and an MBE for services to fundraising and the environment. Roz addressed the Meridian team on the importance of resilience and perseverance through difficulties, this was proven by 4 members of our team joining Roz on stage ‘rowing’ a mile whilst being splashed by ‘waves’ along the way. One way of getting through the struggles was to ‘begin with the end in mind – your funeral’ and not leave behind any regrets. Roz profoundly stated ‘I want to look back and know I did my best and tried my hardest. I realised I wanted to leave a legacy’ a statement to live by!Following a catch-up at the bar with colleagues and friends from branches across the country, our evening event commenced, with everyone dressed to the nines and celebrating our colleagues once more presented by our esteemed host, Rob Latimer. We presented many of our incredible team members with awards during the evening;Best Newcomer – Carmel BardsleyBest Client Facing Customer Experience – Rebecca AmesBest Candidate Facing Customer Experience – Karen BrownBest Internal Customer Experience – Alan OrmesherSupport Services Department of the Year – Credit ControlManager of the Year – Clariss SkeltonKey Account Manager of the Year – Rob RichardsOnsite Biller of the Year – Danielle AveryTemp Biller of the Year – Colette SmithPerm Biller of the Year – Fred EwingBranch of the Year – Wakefield Next A-Z Branch of the Year – ExeterOnsite of the Year – HelloFreshMeridian Ambassador Awards – Lana Bennett & Danny HardingChief Executives Award – Steph SopjesLong Service Award - 10 YearsPiotr NaroznyNatalie LomaxFrancesca WoodsfordLong Service Award - 20 yearsTom AndrewsCathy KendrickAnton GleaveCath HaslamSteve PittWe also had a special award to present at the end of what was an amazing evening of celebration addition to the Meridian Hall of Fame this year. The Hall of Fame welcomes people who contribute to the foundations of Meridian and uphold our company values, and this year's recipient was our Financial Director, Jeanette Barrowcliffe.The day concluded with dinner and dancing following an exceptional day and a raffle to raise money in aid of Leonard Cheshire. Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to our sponsors, the AV team, the organisation team and the Carden Park staff for helping us to celebrate in style!
11
Mar
Diary of a New Starter: Tom Bagnara
I’m Tom and I have recently started as Labour Co-Ordinator for the North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands, and I’m based on the Mechanical and Engineering team at our Manchester Head Office. A large part of my job is to fill vacancies for clients that need plumbers, electricians, and pipe fitters onsite. I also keep my team informed of who is becoming available and who is currently onsite. Prior to working at Meridian, I went straight from school to playing football full time for Altrincham until I had a knee injury that led me to getting an actual job. From there, I worked as a sales executive before deciding to travel around Europe. I spent two months back home in Avellino, Italy where most of my family are from and after that I travelled around lots of different places including Santorini and Iceland.Shortly after starting at Meridian, I took part in several induction sessions with Head of Learning & Development, Jamie Abbot, where we were also joined by our CEO, Derek Skelton. I have learnt a lot from the sessions with Jamie, and the most important point I have taken away is how much Meridian look after you and they will always be willing to put you through more training if you ever wanted to. The attraction to recruitment came from a financial perspective - money is a key thing for me. If you put hard work in and maintain good relationships, you can make a good career, and earn quite a lot of money! Plus, working for a large company like Meridian can help me to spread my name across the industry. However, my main reason for wanting to work at Meridian was to learn about recruitment, build good relationships with people in the office and to just enjoy being back in work again.To see how Tom can help you with your next position, contact him at tom.bagnara@meridianbs.co.uk or call 0161 929 3860
09
Feb
Meridian Business Support Receives Good Business Pays 'Fast Payer Award'
● The award recognises Meridian Business Support for the way they support small suppliers by paying at least 95 per cent of their invoices on time and within 30 days or less, consistently over the last 12 months.In a great start to the year, Meridian Business Support has been awarded the Good Business Pays ‘Fast Payer Award’, which recognises large companies that have demonstrated excellent payment practice to their suppliers over the past year. Meridian Business Support is an award-winning recruitment agency that operates in multiple specialist markets throughout the UK. We specialise in temporary, permanent and contract recruitment across four key sectors, Built Environment, Health, Office & Professional and Industrial.Analysis of the latest information submitted under the Duty to Report Regulation, shows that Meridian Business Support joins the likes of United Utilities Water, Aviva and Severn Trent Water who were the first to receive the award in October 2021 in paying invoices within a fast timescale.The Good Business Pays ‘Fast Payer Award’ was established in 2021 to recognise businesses that pay at least 95% of their invoices on time and within 30 days or less - in line with the government’s guidelines in the Prompt Payment Code - consistently over the last 12 months. Jeanette Barrowcliffe, Finance Director at Meridian Business Support, commented: “We are delighted to have been awarded the ‘Fast Payer Award’ from Good Business Pays. This is a huge compliment to the Finance team at Meridian Business Support, who are making sure payments are made on time, ensuring our suppliers are looked after. They are a credit to the company.” The Good Business Pays campaign is calling on business leaders to speed up their payments and re-evaluate their standard terms to ensure smaller suppliers are paid when they need it the most. Terry Corby, Chair of the Good Business Pays campaign commented: “I’m delighted to be awarding Meridian Business Support with the Good Business Pays Fast Payer award. The award recognises the big businesses that are supporting their small suppliers by making responsible payment practises a business priority.“Unfortunately, there is still a way to go to make faster payments standard practice. We’d like business leaders to take note and start making changes to their payment practises by complying with the Prompt Payment Code, created to help protect small businesses. Paying invoices faster has never been easier with technology enabled systems available, so there really is no excuse.”Backed by Federation of Small Businesses, the CBI, manufacturers group Make UK, the BCC, IoD and the Creative Industries Federation, the Good Business Pays movement was launched in May 2021 to encourage the UK's largest companies to fast-track payments to small suppliers, helping them bounce back and inject vital capital into the economy.A study carried out by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) in 2021 estimated that if small businesses invoices were paid on the day they were submitted, their revenues would increase by over £40bn per year. This could provide a significant income boost for small businesses, helping them play a stronger role in the UK’s economic recovery. To find out more about the Good Business Pays principles, pledge support for the campaign and explore the CEBR study, visit goodbusinesspays.com.
25
Jan
Diary of a New Starter: Sophie Rooney
Well, what a week it’s been! I’m Sophie and I am delighted to have been welcomed with open arms into the team at Meridian Business Support. I am already thrilled to be here as Content Marketing Executive within the Marketing Team.Having only graduated from Liverpool Hope University in 2019, I am still very new to the working world in my eyes, with a couple of ‘grown up’ jobs under my belt up to now. However, starting at Meridian has opened my eyes to a brand-new sector that I am super excited to learn more about.Meridian Business Support is one of the largest privately owned, multi-sector recruitment companies in the UK, celebrating 30 successful years in the recruitment industry, with extensive network of branches provides over 4,000 temporary staff on a weekly basis and places over 1200 permanent candidates each year and around 210 in-house staff.This week I was introduced to a small number of the team based at head office in Manchester – due to the sheer delight of Covid restrictions, sadly not many of us are in at the moment – however, the team that I have met so far have been super welcoming and I am so thrilled to be working alongside such a positive group of people - very much matching my loud, chatty personality (and ability to get a conversation out of a brick wall!)Meridian has a structure of induction sessions in place for all new employees, I joined the ‘Welcome to Meridian’ session, which involved an introduction from all the new staff, including myself and 11 new members of the branches from across the UK, all the way up to Meridian Business Support CEO, Derek Skelton & Head of Learning and Development, Jamie Abbott. Just getting the hear the genuine enthusiasm coming from the long-standing members of staff and new members was so inspiring to be a part of. Meridian very much keep their staff at the heart of the business and in doing so, retain staff for great lengths of time, as I have seen with people receiving their Long Service Awards - very telling of how much people love working at Meridian! It only takes a scroll through the company Instagram, Meridian Life to show you the support shown to the staff and from the staff in raising money for charity, the celebration of key events in the lives of staff members and the great fun that the team at Meridian Business Support across the UK get to enjoy. All this fun, whilst working hard and providing staff to companies across the UK in need of roles filling in industrial, health, office & professional and so many more roles.Our second session involved a much more detailed introduction to Meridian’s products and services with so many positive notes to pick up on about how the company runs across each of its sectors and how each individual team works to fill the job roles for our clients. With the recruitment sector being worth around £42.3bn, getting the best staff for our clients is key, with over 85 nationalities currently represented within Meridians external staff, but finding internal staff who work well together and enjoy their jobs, also a key aim for Meridian.My time here has only just begun, and I am SO excited for what the future brings for me here at Meridian Business Support. Now onto a few weeks of getting involved in the final planning for the annual MBS conference and another step up in my marketing career.
25
Jan
Time to walk the dog – The pros and cons of temping
Temporary working and short-term contracts have a lot going for them and may be the right solutions for many workers. Choosing temp work can be a lifestyle choice that enhances your work-life balance if you do it right. That said, temporary working isn’t always an option at all, and for others, it only makes sense in the short-term. The important thing is to consider whether this is an option that works for you.Temporary working is a permanent choice for many businesses and workers.What we mean by that is the requirements of the working world have changed for many businesses. It is not uncommon for a company to work with temp working as a permanent operational choice. Project work and the rise of the ‘gig economy’ approach means employers sometimes simply do not need the traditional 9 – 5 workforces anymore. As a result, there are some excellent job opportunities available. Temp working is about your lifestyle as much as the available work. Work-life balance matters because it is important for your emotional and physical wellbeing. Temping puts you in control of where and when you work—assuming that the work is available where and when you want it, of course. Undoubtedly, the biggest worry people have around temping is the concern of the available roles suddenly drying up. Yes, that is possible, and it has happened before, but right now, the opposite is very much the case. If you are thinking of temp work, then the first thing to do is speak to your recruiter about what is available around the hours and jobs you want to work in. It gives you time back. Many people choose the temporary option if they are in a situation where working the usual hours is difficult or not possible for them. Caring for others or childcare requirements are two very good reasons for wanting a job that supports your other commitments. For some, though, it is simply that they want to focus on other aspects of their life such as building a new business, travelling, charitable work or just less stress so you can spend more time with the family, relax more and take the dog for a walk. Temporary jobs pay more over the short term. We need to be very clear about what this means, though. While it is true that some temp roles pay more per hour than permanent roles, there is a downside. In the run up to Christmas, for example, you may be able to build up cash very quickly by temping, but the time you can do that for will be limited. If you have periods of not working, the overall pay for a permanent worker soon catches up. Temping could allow you to decide on your actual career. If you are unsure of where your career path is heading, temping offers the opportunity to experience different jobs and work environments. It isn’t unusual for people to temp until they find something they are really interested in. It could ease you back into the workplace if you have been away for a while. If you are returning after a period of illness, giving time to childcare or any other reason, and you want to ease yourself back into the workplace, temping is a great option. So, there are a lot of benefits to not having a permanent contract. The freedom it offers alone makes it worth considering. As we said at the start, though, it isn’t for everyone. Permanent may well be less exciting and less flexible, but it does have security and consistency. The guaranteed pay packet at the end of the month and the long-term job are not things to be discarded lightly, particularly if you have a partner and children to consider. There is also the long-term advancement and training that often comes with permanent working to throw into the mix. In the end, the decision to become a temporary or permanent worker is about how it fits with your lifestyle and budget as much as it is about the available work.
30
Nov
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