We have 86 live managed service jobs available today.
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Managed Service Vacancies
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Customer Contact Advisor - Edinburgh
Edinburgh
£11.81 per hour
Responsibilities:
We are looking for Customer Contact Advisors to join our Customer Contact Team based in a call centre environment in Edinburgh: Pay: £11.81ph Salary: £21,500pa Monday to Friday - no weekend work required Working a rota of 8am - 4pm or 9am - 5pm or 10am - 6pm Contracted to 35 hours per week Remote, Work from Home after initial 1-week on-site training Benefits: 30 days holiday (including Bank Holidays), Pension scheme, Medical Cover, Share Schemes, Retail discounts As a Customer Contact Advisor, you will be the first point of contact for our customers. Through great conversations you will understand the customer situation, take full ownership during the investigation of the situation and support the customer to a resolution. Working as part of a team, you will ensure all calls into the team are answered with company guidelines, whilst providing excellent customer service you will also need to navigating multiple systems during the calls so strong computer skills coupled with the ability to deal with sometimes distressed or up customers is a must. Due to the nature of this role, you will need to come from Regulated background, have a great telephone manner, a problem-solving mind, and a flare for resolving issues. A DBS and Financial check will be completed as part of the vetting process. Customer Contact Advisor Role & Responsibilities: Make sure to put customers first - taking ownership of their queries building rapport quickly and providing the highest level of customer experience Learn to act with skill and diligence - treating customers sensitively and caring about helping them move forward with their futures. Diagnose a full range of customer needs, providing appropriate product information, help and support to meet the needs identified Possess good attention to detail and grow the confidence to spot and call out issues and trends to improve customers' journey and experiences and escalate in briefing activities Make sure all customers are acknowledged and responded to within pre-arranged service levels and time-frames Make sure all interactions are fully, accurately and consistently logged and updated on the customer service systems Respond positively to customer objections using a range of questioning techniques, demonstrating empathy and understanding Take responsibility for managing your own workload to ensure all response times are met or exceeded Take personal ownership to keep knowledge of products, policy and procedures up to date Build and maintain strong working relationships with other parts of the organisation to support the delivery of outcomes and great customer experiences Proactively identify and escalate risks, taking responsibility for complying with all policies, procedures and regulatory requirements Customer Contact Advisor the Person: A proven ability to deliver an outstanding customer experience in difficult situations when dealing with a range of customers, Excellent written and verbal communication skills A thorough understanding of the customer service process and regulatory requirements A comprehensive knowledge of customer contact systems Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to assess and understand all relevant information to reach fair outcomes The ability to manage own workload and prioritise accordingly The confidence to make decisions within agreed discretionary limits APPLY ONLINE TODAY and a member of the team will be in touch Role would be suitable for: , Customer service, Contact Centre Advisor, Call Centre Advisor, Customer Advisor, Complaints Advisor, call handler, telesales, B2C, B2B, Sky, call centre, Tech adviser, Sales adviser, retail, Retail assistant.
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Customer Contact Advisor - Edinburgh
Edinburgh
£11.80 per hour
Responsibilities:
We are looking for Customer Contact Advisors to join our Customer Contact Team based in a call centre environment in Edinburgh: Pay: £11.80ph Salary: £23,010pa Monday to Friday - no weekend work required Working a rota of 8am - 4pm or 9am - 5pm or 10am - 6pm Contracted to 37.5 hours per week Remote, Work from Home after initial 1-week on-site training Benefits: 30 days holiday (including Bank Holidays), Pension scheme, Medical Cover, Share Schemes, Retail discounts As a Customer Contact Advisor, you will be the first point of contact for our customers. Through great conversations you will understand the customer situation, take full ownership during the investigation of the situation and support the customer to a resolution. Working as part of a team, you will ensure all calls into the team are answered with company guidelines, whilst providing excellent customer service you will also need to navigating multiple systems during the calls so strong computer skills coupled with the ability to deal with sometimes distressed or up customers is a must. Due to the nature of this role, you will need to come from Regulated background, have a great telephone manner, a problem-solving mind, and a flare for resolving issues. A DBS and Financial check will be completed as part of the vetting process. Customer Contact Advisor Role & Responsibilities: Make sure to put customers first - taking ownership of their queries building rapport quickly and providing the highest level of customer experience Learn to act with skill and diligence - treating customers sensitively and caring about helping them move forward with their futures. Diagnose a full range of customer needs, providing appropriate product information, help and support to meet the needs identified Possess good attention to detail and grow the confidence to spot and call out issues and trends to improve customers' journey and experiences and escalate in briefing activities Make sure all customers are acknowledged and responded to within pre-arranged service levels and time-frames Make sure all interactions are fully, accurately and consistently logged and updated on the customer service systems Respond positively to customer objections using a range of questioning techniques, demonstrating empathy and understanding Take responsibility for managing your own workload to ensure all response times are met or exceeded Take personal ownership to keep knowledge of products, policy and procedures up to date Build and maintain strong working relationships with other parts of the organisation to support the delivery of outcomes and great customer experiences Proactively identify and escalate risks, taking responsibility for complying with all policies, procedures and regulatory requirements Customer Contact Advisor the Person: A proven ability to deliver an outstanding customer experience in difficult situations when dealing with a range of customers, Excellent written and verbal communication skills A thorough understanding of the customer service process and regulatory requirements A comprehensive knowledge of customer contact systems Excellent attention to detail, with the ability to assess and understand all relevant information to reach fair outcomes The ability to manage own workload and prioritise accordingly The confidence to make decisions within agreed discretionary limits APPLY ONLINE TODAY and a member of the team will be in touch Role would be suitable for: , Customer service, Contact Centre Advisor, Call Centre Advisor, Customer Advisor, Complaints Advisor, call handler, telesales, B2C, B2B, Sky, call centre, Tech adviser, Sales adviser, retail, Retail assistant.
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Warehouse Team Leader - Derby
Derby
£30000 per annum, Benefits: 70% discount on HelloFresh or Green Chef boxes
Responsibilities:
Warehouse Team leader - Derby (DE21) Are you experienced in managing a warehouse operatives and looking for a new challenge in 2022. Do want to work in word leading organisation and unitise your experience? Our client, a global food solutions group and the world's leading meal kit company, active in 16 countries across 3 continents are looking for Warehouse Team Leaders based at their brand new warehouse in Spondon (DE21). You will be expected to drive excellent standards of packing quality, food hygiene, health and safety and the happiness of your team. We expect you to be innovative and assertive in making quick decisions to ensure productivity isn’t affected and customers receive the perfect ingredients. £30,000 per annum plus 70% discount on HelloFresh or Green Chef boxes Sunday - Wednesday or Wednesday Saturday working week 07:00 - 19:00 and 19:00 - 07:00 2 week rota of rotating days and nights As a Warehouse team leader , you will be responsible for: Own the performance of a production line Manage people, processes and systems to ensure key targets are met Deliver against operational KPI's Liaise and communicate with the Shift Manager Seek to continually improve processes and identify areas of potential weaknesses Inspire your team to care about our customers, brand and products Maintain a safe working environment for all You will also support the Warehouse manager with workloads & priorities within tight time scales and contribute to the implementing operational strategy in line with business objectives. Health & Safety is key to our operation and there for risk assessment activities to drive consistent improvements What you will get in return: 70% discount on HelloFresh or Green Chef boxes Bippit financial wellbeing account Premium Headspace account Group Life Assurance Cycle to work scheme Learnerbly professional development membership MoreHappi unlimited professional coaching membership Interested? Please apply online or email Clariss.Skelton@meridianbs.co.uk (Recruitment process: First, you will have a phone interview with a member our recruitment team, followed by our client's Talent Acquisition team. Should you be successful, you will be invited for an interview to assess both competencies and whether you are a culture fit)
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Inventory Stock Controller - Banbury
Banbury
£11 - £19 per hour
Responsibilities:
Meridian Business Support are recruiting for Inventory Stock Controllers to join this expanding team based in Banbury (OX16) at HelloFresh with immediate starts and temp to perm opportunities! Shift times: 07:30-18:30 Standard rate of pay (days): £10.52 Overtime rate of pay (days): £15.78 Shift times: 20:00 - 07:00 Standard rate of pay (nights): £12.62 Overtime rate of pay (nights): £18.93 About the Stock Controller role: This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with warehouse or stock management experience to join a rapidly growing team. You will support Inventory control and stock flow in the warehouse and production areas. Safely and efficiently control stock, execute regular stock audits, manage stock rotation and help with flow of stock. What you will be doing: • Execute stock counts and audits • Support consolidation and stock allocations • General inventory support: including but not limited to stock rotation, write-offs and location management • Be an active part of daily supermarket location counts • Supporting accurate and detailed records of our internal stock management system - MatFlo and equipment Interested? Apply online and you will receive your application within 24 hours or email the team at hfrecruitment@meridianbs.co.uk This role would suit: student, graduate, warehouse operative, production operative, picker packer, yard operative, retail assistant, bar worker, crew member, factory operative, machine operative, catering assistant, Warehouse Operative, Production Operative, Yard Operative, Distribution Assistant, Logistics Assistant, Retail Assistant, Sales Assistant, Student, Graduate, Casual Worker, Care, FLT, forklift, Labourer, Laundry Assistant, Cleaner, Kitchen Assistant, Catering Assistant , kitchen assistant or similar Commutable from: Banbury, Towcester, Shipston on Stour, Leamington Spa, Bicester, Chipping Norton, Brackley, Buckingham, Stratford upon Avon, Silverstone, Birmingham, Coventry, Nuneaton, Warkworth, Cropredy, Adderbury, Kings Sutton, Bloxham, Wardington, Tadmarton, Deddington, Chipping Warden, Claydon, Aynho, Wigginton, Greatworth, Worton, Fenny Compton, Croughton, Hook Norton, Fritwell, Sandford
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Warehouse Operative - Nuneaton
Nuneaton
£10.15 - £18.27 per hour
Responsibilities:
How would you like to work 11 hour shifts with training paid and overtime at premium rates? Meridian Business Support are recruiting for Warehouse Production Operatives to join this expanding team based in Nuneaton (CV10) at HelloFresh with immediate starts and temp to perm opportunities! Shift times: 06:30 - 18:30 Standard rate of pay (days): £10.15 Overtime rate of pay (days): £15.23 Shift times: 18:30 - 06:30 Standard rate of pay (nights): £12.18 Overtime rate of pay (nights): £18.27 As a Warehouse Production Operative you will be working for HelloFresh where you will be picking and packing food ingredients into meal boxes ready to be delivered to our customers. The warehouse is a cold store environment; this means it can be a bit chilly but as long as you wear appropriate cold weather clothing, you’ll be nice and toasty! Please note you must be able to get to St Georges Way, Nuneaton– free car park and Nuneaton train station is a 5 minute walk away. Interested? Apply online and you will receive your application within 24 hours or email the team at hfrecruitment@meridianbs.co.uk This role would suit: student, graduate, warehouse operative, production operative, picker packer, yard operative, retail assistant, bar worker, crew member, factory operative, machine operative, catering assistant, Warehouse Operative, Production Operative, Yard Operative, Distribution Assistant, Logistics Assistant, Retail Assistant, Sales Assistant, Student, Graduate, Casual Worker, Care, FLT, forklift, Labourer, Laundry Assistant, Cleaner, Kitchen Assistant, Catering Assistant , kitchen assistant or similar Commutable from: Caldecote, Higham On The Hill, Bedworth, Hinckley, Stoke Golding, Wolvey, Burbage, Fillongley, Coundon, Grendon, Sharnford, Coventry, Polesworth, Claybrooke, Magna, Sapcote, Stoney Stanton, Meride, Newbold Verdon, Barlestone, Coventry,Kenilworth, Packington, Bubbenhall, Nuneaton, Wolston Knowle, Leek Wootton, Royal Leamington Spa, Wroxall, Brinklow, Hatton, Milverton, Warwick, Water Orton, Birmingham, Leicester, Coventry, Burton-On-Trent, Walsall, Swadlincote, Tamworth, West Midlands, Redditch
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Collections Team Leader - Contact Centre - Edinburgh
Edinburgh
£13.73 - £15.38 per hour
Responsibilities:
We are looking for Team Leaders to join our Customer Contact Team based in a call centre environment in Edinburgh: Pay: £13.73 - £15.38 ph Salary up to: £28,000 pa Monday to Friday - no weekend work required Working a rota of 8am - 4pm or 9am - 5pm or 10am - 6pm Contracted to 35 hours per week Office based but once training is complete there is flexible working where you can work from home for part of the week. Benefits: 30 days holiday (including Bank Holidays), Pension scheme, Medical Cover, Share Schemes, Retail discounts You will join the contact centre and manage a team of 14 Customer Care team on behalf of one of our clients. You will lead a team of customer care advisors, taking calls from customers that need your support to manage their financial repayments. You will coach and guide your team to understand the customers situation, provide suitable options that will resolve the situation and support them to implement that plan. You will manager your team in a fast-paced environment where there can be little or no gaps in calls and you will be supporting our customers while navigating multiple systems so strong computer skills is a must Due to the nature of this role, you will need to come from regulated background, have a great telephone manner, a problem-solving mind, and a flare for resolving issues. A DBS and Financial check will be completed as part of the vetting process. Team Leader Role & Responsibilities: Responsible for the ongoing coaching & development of all team members, ensuring that everyone is equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to succeed Continually look to improve customer satisfaction and minimize customer dissatisfaction Immerse and engage your team in both the vision and values of your associated Client’s brand. Maintain healthy staff retention rates through effective management and ongoing team member development, whilst creating an environment that rewards, recognizes and encourages success at every level. Adhere to all quality procedures and associated time frames. Maintain effective relationships with service colleagues and key stake- holders to ensure the effective delivery of services. Maintain and develop a thorough and up-to-date working knowledge of the Clients services, including procedures, guidance and legislation to deal with inquiries Customer Contact Advisor the Person: Minimum of one years relevant supervisory experience in the financial industry Previous experience of providing the effective planning, organisation and development of a team Experience of delivering individual/group coaching to improve professionalism and overall metrics Motivate, develop, coach, train, induct employees to set performance standards, recognize achievement and deal with performance issues Experience of working within a contact center environment APPLY ONLINE TODAY and a member of the team will be in touch Role would be suitable for: Team leader, Supervisor, Manager , Customer service, Contact Centre Advisor, Call Centre Advisor, Customer Advisor, Complaints Advisor, call handler, telesales, B2C, B2B, Sky, call centre, Tech adviser, Sales adviser, retail, Retail assistant.
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Recruitment Consultant - Account Manager
Bristol
£26000 - £28000 per annum
Responsibilities:
Account Manager Meridian business Support have fantastic opportunity within our RPO division to join us as an Account Manager based in Bristol: Salary: up to £28,000pa – dependant on experience Contracted to 42 hours per week Working Hours: Monday to Thursday 8am – 5.30pm & Friday 8am – 5pm 23 days holiday + Birthday - Day off Benefits include –Bonus, awards & Conference weekend, Pension, multiple lifestyle discounts Great training & development opportunities including your REC qualification As our RPO Account Manager, you will take ownership of a national key account and deliver on client requirements. You will manage and support a team of recruiters to deliver an end-to-end managed service recruitment process. You will ensure that all elements of the process is delivered: from Advertising through to Compliance .You will lead team briefings, effectively delegate tasks and support client meetings to ensure the team deliver the best service throughout the recruitment cycle. Using your exceptional organisational skills, you will drive candidate attraction, actively screen candidates against the role criteria, manage compliance & Right to work documentation and supply MI to client to drive & build a great working relationship. We are looking for an Account Manager with experience of managing volume accounts either in an in-house support function or in a managed service environment. Solid understanding of managing key accounts & client’s engagement alongside permanent volume recruitment experience . Account Manager Core Responsibilities: Drive excellent candidate and client experience without the recruitment process Provide expert market understanding to match robust business solutions to client challenges with Sourcing candidates, maintaining compliance & driving daily management of a team delivering a perm workforce on a national scale Manage process from application to offer and drive retention Drive attention to detail and ensure all information is correct Work as part of the team to succeed against company targets Account Manager Experience/Skills & Competencies: Must have at least 1 years Recruitment experience Must have the drive & confidence to communicate with client & candidate Experience of Resourcing for Key accounts Great communication skills Amazing organisational skills A desire to drive a successful career Must be a great team player and “whatever it takes” attitude Please apply online today
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Warehouse Operative Weekends - Derby
Derby
£10.15 - £18.27 per hour, Benefits: weekly pay
Responsibilities:
How would you like to work 11 hour shifts with training paid and overtime at premium rates? Meridian Business Support are recruiting Production Operatives to join HelloFresh at their brand new warehouse in Spondon (DE21) with immediate starts and temp to perm opportunities! As a Production Operative, you will be responsible for picking our ingredients and packing them into our customer’s boxes, as well as other general warehouse duties. You will be working closely alongside the Line Leaders ensuring accuracy and efficiency on the line. You will also be expected to maintain excellent standards of packing quality, food hygiene and health and safety. Shift times are 07:00 - 19:00 with the following fixed shift patterns available: Saturday & Sunday Standard rate of pay: £10.15 Overtime rate of pay (after 40 hours): £15.23 Shift times are 19:00 - 07:00 with the following fixed shift patterns available: Saturday & Sunday Standard rate of pay: £12.18 Overtime rate of pay (after 40 hours): £18.27 As a Production Operative you will be working for HelloFresh where you will be picking and packing food ingredients into meal boxes ready to be delivered to our customers: Picking, packing and stock movement within the warehouse Maintain the uninterrupted flow of the production line Work in both ambient and temperature-controlled environments Keep the warehouse clear and ensure any potential hazards are dealt with quickly and efficiently Support with goods in/out and stock control Escalate any problems to your Line Leader Comply with Food Safety Regulations and HelloFresh quality standards Adhering to and upholding strict Health and Safety standards Benefits: Weekly pay – every Friday! Free hot drinks Real temp to perm opportunities and career progression Free car parking onsite Overtime available at premium rates Meridian Onsite team office presence 24/7 for guidance and support Interested? Apply online and you will receive your application within 24 hours or email the team at hfrecruitment@meridianbs.co.uk This role would suit: student, graduate, warehouse operative, production operative, picker packer, yard operative, retail assistant, bar worker, crew member, factory operative, machine operative, catering assistant, Warehouse Operative, Production Operative, Yard Operative, Distribution Assistant, Logistics Assistant, Retail Assistant, Sales Assistant, Student, Graduate, Casual Worker, Care, FLT, forklift, Labourer, Laundry Assistant, Cleaner, Kitchen Assistant, Catering Assistant , kitchen assistant or similar
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Warehouse Operative - Derby (Nights Fixed Shifts)
Derby
£10.15 - £15.23 per hour, Benefits: weekly pay
Responsibilities:
How would you like to work 11 hour shifts with training paid and overtime at premium rates? Meridian Business Support are recruiting Production Operatives to join HelloFresh at their brand new warehouse in Spondon (DE21) with immediate starts and temp to perm opportunities! As a Production Operative, you will be responsible for picking our ingredients and packing them into our customer’s boxes, as well as other general warehouse duties. You will be working closely alongside the Line Leaders ensuring accuracy and efficiency on the line. You will also be expected to maintain excellent standards of packing quality, food hygiene and health and safety. Standard rate of pay: £12.18 Overtime rate of pay (after 40 hours): £18.27 Shift times are 19:00 - 07:00 with the following fixed shift patterns available: Saturday & Sunday Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday As a Production Operative you will be working for HelloFresh where you will be picking and packing food ingredients into meal boxes ready to be delivered to our customers: Picking, packing and stock movement within the warehouse Maintain the uninterrupted flow of the production line Work in both ambient and temperature-controlled environments Keep the warehouse clear and ensure any potential hazards are dealt with quickly and efficiently Support with goods in/out and stock control Escalate any problems to your Line Leader Comply with Food Safety Regulations and HelloFresh quality standards Adhering to and upholding strict Health and Safety standards Benefits: Weekly pay – every Friday! Free hot drinks Real temp to perm opportunities and career progression Free car parking onsite Overtime available at premium rates Meridian Onsite team office presence 24/7 for guidance and support Interested? Apply online and you will receive your application within 24 hours or email the team at hfrecruitment@meridianbs.co.uk This role would suit: student, graduate, warehouse operative, production operative, picker packer, yard operative, retail assistant, bar worker, crew member, factory operative, machine operative, catering assistant, Warehouse Operative, Production Operative, Yard Operative, Distribution Assistant, Logistics Assistant, Retail Assistant, Sales Assistant, Student, Graduate, Casual Worker, Care, FLT, forklift, Labourer, Laundry Assistant, Cleaner, Kitchen Assistant, Catering Assistant , kitchen assistant or similar
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Latest News

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

Employing the right people in a candidate shortage – Small things that mean a lot
If you have been trying to get new people on your team recently, you may have found it slightly more difficult than usual. The current employment landscape is not quite as easy to navigate as it was in the past. It’s no wonder then the most common questions we are being asked right now are around how to attract and hire the right people in a skills and candidate shortage. The good news is that not only is it possible to attract the right people, but a few small changes in approach can make a big difference. Keep in mind that if you have a fair offer, money isn’t the only motivator. The first instinct in a skills shortage is often to increase the salary offer, but a huge pay hike may not be necessary if the job itself is appealing. That said, there is a noticeable rise in salary levels for skilled workers and in shortage areas, so it may well be a good time to do a review of your offer. We are happy to help with this if you need our input. Your employer brand really matters to candidates. One of the reasons for the first point about salary is that there are so many other motivators in the mix. Your employer brand is the shop window for your business. In a reduced candidate pool, it’s not just about attracting the right people, your brand also needs to encourage them to connect with you. Look to employ to train where possible. One option to increase your potential pool is to widen your search criteria. We have seen some very successful hires where employers have accommodated the idea of training someone into the role rather than demanding full experience. Of course, this may not always be an option in very specialist jobs, but where it is possible, it can open up new possibilities. Make the offer quickly, then follow up as soon as possible. If you need that great candidate, then other potential employers will also be looking. Once you see the person you want to hire, we suggest you make the offer right away. Hesitating could result in the candidate being snapped up or receiving a counteroffer from their current employer. Once the offer is made, it’s important to keep in touch before the start date to help offset any counter offers. Make the most of your recruitment partner. Talk to us about what you need, and let’s look at options together. With our combined experience, we will be able to work together to make sure you are reaching the right people. Building a development pipe of internal growth will help future proof your key areas. The skills shortage isn’t likely to go away quickly. One option is to build an internal development pipe and employ further down the experience chain to grow people into roles. Having a clear and appropriate development policy will also help attract new talent at all levels. It may take a while to fully develop, but this way, you have a pool of skills rich internal options for new roles. Think benefits, bonuses, and perks. Candidates are often swayed by ‘fringe’ motivations as much as they are by salary. Simple things like gym memberships, a parking space, the option to work from home as well as health plans and similar can mean a great deal to employees. Most importantly, though, they can be the deciding factor when weighing similar offers. If you want to future proof, then remember that Gen Z are not the same as Millennials. They are digitally native, flexible in their approach to the notions of ‘the workplace’ and invested in the ethos and brand of their employers. According to research by the Carson College of Business in the US, Gen Z workers are likely to be worried about their career and have a high level of drive to succeed. It would be wrong to mistake this as a success at all costs approach, though. 75% of Gen Z respondents said they look for an employer to prioritise work/life balance and almost as many felt it was important that the employers’ values matched their own. In terms of defining traits, though, it is the importance of inclusivity, diversity and positive impact that strikes you as high on the Gen Z agenda with the latter being important to over 80%. If employers want to attract and keep a new generation of skilled workers, then clearly, they need to encourage an inclusive workplace, display their business values and be prepared to allocate time to development. Small changes like these will pay off in increased applications and help offset the skills shortage problem. Despite what some of the doom and gloom merchants are saying, there are available candidates. To attract them, you need to have a good recruitment partner and reach out to them in the right way.
23
Nov

Is it time to move on? What a candidate shortage means to your career path
Let’s start with a clear statement about the employment market as it stands. As a candidate either actively looking for a new role, or perhaps one who is just considering the possibility of a change, you are currently in a very strong position. There are a lot of jobs available, and in many cases, the candidate pool for those positions is smaller than it has been in recent times. That means employers will be a little more competitive when it comes to attracting the right people. As a result, you will probably notice an increase in the potential salary and benefits for roles you are interested in. All of which sounds like good news for candidates, and it is. If you are considering a move, then the chances are, now is a great time to look.Here are a few things to think about:Look at your career, not just the money on the table. Be very careful of making salary the only motivator for your search. Money, as they say, isn’t everything, and that can be particularly true when it comes to moving to a new role. You should look for a pay rise if one is on the table but keep perspective. A few pounds a month is no compensation for a poor career move or missing a long-term opportunity.Think about that skills gap, not the candidate shortage. Skills are always in demand, but the number of available jobs changes. A good career move is about long-term gain, so we will always suggest thinking about what skills or experience the role will give you and how that relates to where you want to be in years to come. With a shortage of candidates, employers may well be more open to training you and upskilling.Take the guesswork out of it all and get a good recruitment partner. Talk to us about where you want to go and what you want out of your career. The more we understand what you want out of your next job, the better we can find the perfect position for you.Look for the opportunity to move up. One of the effects of a candidate shortage is that employers can be more open to moving people into a more senior role. Now may be the right time to think about progression.Take your time and lose the FOMO. It can feel like there are jobs everywhere and hundreds of great opportunities that you should grab, but don’t let the Fear of Missing Out rush you into a decision. Instead, let’s sit down and refine what will be the best for you. Ignore the noise and make the right choices.Once you have made the decision, stick with it. Be very careful about accepting counteroffers from your current employer. Statistically, it is very unlikely that you will end up staying with them anyway, and all the reasons you wanted to move on are not going to go away because you suddenly earn a little bit more. Finally, just a reminder to keep your perspective. Despite the candidate shortage, no employer is going to take someone who is totally unsuitable for the job. So, take some advice on what is and isn’t practical. Probably the biggest advantage of a favourable market for candidates is that you may have the opportunity to work with the employers you really want to work with on more favourable terms than you could previously have hoped for. If that is what you want (and why wouldn’t it be?), then make that your goal. Keep a clear head about where you want to go and aim to go there. The next offer may seem nice, but it won’t be as satisfying as getting that job you always wanted.Contact your nearest Meridian branch and let’s chat about how we can help you cut through all the noise and find the right track.
16
Nov

Job burnout – How to spot it and what to do about it
Burnout is a problem that affects all types of people in all types of organisations, and it can sometimes be hard for employers to spot the early warning signs. Sadly, this means sometimes it can progress to the point where it seriously starts to affect a person’s motivation, productivity, and sense of self-satisfaction.In addition, the darker nights drawing in can increase instances of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which can exacerbate any problems with stress and burnout by causing depression, lack of energy, loss of concentration, loss of appetite, and feelings of being under a black cloud. Causes of burnout at work could be due to many reasons, such as lack of control over factors that affect the job, dysfunctional workplace dynamics, unrealistic job expectations, lack of support, work-life imbalance, and many other factors.According to the WHO, when burnout is left untreated, it can lead to serious physical and psychological illnesses such as depression, heart disease and diabetes. In this blog, we look at ways to spot the tell-tale signs, protect your employees and keep your business running smoothly. ExhaustionAn overload of stress at work can cause problems with relaxing at the end of the day and trouble sleeping, which leads to constant fatigue. If your employees seem overly tired or are complaining about not getting enough sleep, this could be a warning sign. IrritabilityHave you noticed someone suddenly struggling to get along with everyone and being irritable? This could be a sign the person is under a lot of pressure and may need some reassurance or help with their workload. Irritability can leave people feeling ineffective and unimportant. MistakesOne of the signs of burnout is an inability to concentrate and remember things, ultimately leading to mistakes being made. You can help staff by being supportive and giving them space to talk about which aspects of their job are overwhelming them. Perhaps some of these can be delegated or made easier? Reassure them that they are not at risk of losing their job and that you just want to help. DepressionBurnout can frequently lead to depression, which can manifest itself as a drop in confidence, acting withdrawn and worrying about workload and deadlines. Encourage employees to talk about how they are feeling in a safe, non-judgemental environment. SicknessWhen people are stressed, they are much more vulnerable to colds and viruses. Have you noticed staff taking more time off sick recently? Perhaps it’s time to dig a little deeper and see if there is more to it than meets the eye.Cynical and negative outlookAre there signs of a negative outlook and cynicism in the workplace? This can also be a sign of burnout. Cynicism also affects trust and loyalty in co-workers or management and can lead to low productivity. Make sure you have transparent processes and that employees know you are there if they need to talk. Perhaps try changing their routine to see if this helps them feel enthusiastic again. Re-engaging burnt-out employees isn’t easy and can take weeks or months of work on both sides to find the best solution for everyone. Managers need to be aware of their own role in creating workplace stress so it can be addressed and prevented from happening again in the future. It’s important to keep talking to employees individually about how they feel mentally as well as professionally. Make sure you listen properly to their concerns and don’t dismiss them or give negative feedback, and it’s vital not to apportion blame. Ultimately, it’s important to find a solution that works for both the employee and the company to keep everyone performing at their best and promote a happy and healthy workplace. Is a lack of resource causing high workloads in your organisation? Contact your local Meridian branch for advice on how we can support you find your new hire.
18
Oct
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