KR HR & TRAINING NEWS ARCHIVES

Our Kickstarters, Rebecca O and Rebecca H, share their experiences of joining the KR HR & Training Consultancy Team.

The Kickstart scheme is a £2 billion fund aiming to create 6-month job placements for 16- to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long-term unemployment, helping gaining experience in order to compete in a challenging job market. The scheme aims to provide thousands of high-quality jobs to young people to boost their employability.

But what do young people actually think of the scheme? We asked our Kickstarters, Rebecca O and Rebecca H, to share their stories…

What attracted you to apply for a Kickstart role at KR HR & Training Consultancy Ltd?

RO – The reason why I applied for a Kickstarter role is because they have many more learning opportunities and the chance to gain more qualifications which will benefit me in the future.

RH – The opportunities to gain new qualifications while also gaining experience before I went to university next year was too good to pass up. The 6-month contract meant I could gain experience but not have it interfere with my university studies.

What was the interview process like?

RO – The interview process was pretty heavy to start with, but I can honestly say one of the best. The reason I’m saying this is because it made me think more and express how I wanted the role.

RH – This was the first formal interview I have done for a job role, so I was admittedly nervous, but Kathryn and Kirsteen made me feel very welcome and were understanding of how I felt. I ended up feeling comfortable and able to answer all the questions for the interview. 

What concerns did you have about starting the placement?

RO – Scared I was going to get too attached to the company as there is not a guaranteed job after the 6-month placement.

RH – I was concerned about being able to handle the stresses of a real working role as I had never done HR or administrative work before. But the team introduced my duties with careful explanation and were supportive when I needed advice.

Tell us about a typical week as a Business Assistant at KR HR & Training Consultancy Ltd?

RO – Many courses have been in the mix (our Kickstarters have undertaken a variety of qualifications on subjects ranging from HR to teamworking to psychological first aid) but we sort out the recruitment inbox and make sure candidates are hearing from us, handling their queries, and then we can shortlist them.

RH – The week can vary quite a lot but our common jobs include organising our recruitment inboxes and responding to candidates, aiming to provide the best experience in what could otherwise be a stressful process. We also process the invoices using tools such as Quickbooks to handle transactions with clients.

How have you been able to use your existing skills and interests?

RO – I have certainly learned a lot in a mathematical way from using QuickBooks, more fractions and decimals and just how invoices work. I have used organisational skills in the team and arranging some meetings to go through some work together.

RH – Within my first months here, I have been able to use my love for writing to create and plan an article that was published on our websites and company social media. I have also found a passion in recruitment, from shortlisting to conducting interviews, I find it fulfilling to give hopeful candidates a chance. 

What new skills have you learned?

RO – As above, QuickBooks has been the most challenging as I am not very confident with decimals but now, I have learnt how to do it, that will stick with me forever.

RH – I have learnt how to properly format professional emails for both candidates and addressing clients. I have learnt how important considering the Job Description is when applying for a role and how to decipher candidates’ CVs to find those best suited for roles. 

What has been your favourite part of your placement so far?

RO – Being with such an amazing team after the most challenging year of my life.

RH – My favourite part has been communicating with our team, who are amazingly supportive after a difficult year. I also enjoy the opportunity to gain new qualifications while working. I also enjoy having the schedule of regular work after the hectic year we have had, the routine is refreshing. 

What has been the most challenging part of your placement so far?

RO – I can honestly say nothing because the amount of support I have received is just amazing.

RH – Getting into the routine initially, figuring out how to divide work up over the course of a week between myself and the other Business Assistant. 

What would you say to a young person who is considering undertaking a Kickstart placement?

RO – My exact words would be I would 100% recommend. You can experience a whole different variety of qualifications, expand your mind and really have the full support when you are struggling for a job. This has been an eye opener and the best thing I have honestly done. One day I hope I can be like my Manager Kathryn Fairlie with holding her business and helping all different charities with vacancies and give support to a Kickstarter and help them find their future goal.

RH – Take the chance. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. This is a unique chance to gain experience in a very competitive system which can otherwise make finding work harder. The more experience you have the more likely you’ll fit the needs for the role you want in the future. 

Interview with the boss…

KR HR and Training Consultancy employs two Kickstarters as well as supporting our clients with Kickstarter recruitment and training, so our Director, Kathryn, has much experience with the scheme from the employer’s perspective. She answered some questions of her experience and we thought to share them with you.

What drew you to the Kickstart scheme in the first place?

KR – Since the onset of the pandemic, it has been a hugely challenging time for everyone in so many different ways. Yet increased demand for our HR services meant that our business actually expanded during this time. We took on an additional HR Consultant, Kirsteen, in June 2020. In Autumn 2020, I was considering options for expanding the team further to incorporate admin support, and at the same time the Kickstart scheme was launched. This seemed a great opportunity to give something back by supporting an unemployed young person to develop their career, whilst also adding capacity to our business. 

What support have you received as a part of the scheme? Have you had any issues while working on the scheme?

KR – At the outset, I had not realised how long it would take to get through the approval process and start receiving candidates from Jobcentre Plus. However, it was worth persevering as we ultimately found two very motivated candidates who have been a delight to have on board. 

Have there been any unexpected benefits to working with Kickstarters?

KR – It’s always great to gain fresh perspectives and see our new starters gaining new skills and working well together.

It’s been rewarding to see how much our Kickstarters have benefitted from the experience. Helping with shortlisting applications has been a good window into the recruitment process for Rebecca H, who can see first-hand what makes a job application stand out and why a tailored cover letter is so important. It surprised me (in a good way) to hear how much more confident Rebecca O now feels working with numbers from handling invoices – it never occurred to me that I’d be helping someone with their maths skills! There are so many unintended positive consequences from this scheme.

From a business point of view, it’s been a great help to have extra pairs of hands to support moving to a new accountancy system (which I would never have had time to do myself), as well as handling the administration of client recruitment processes.

What would you say to other businesses considering employing a Kickstarter?

KR – Just do it! You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. The fact that there’s funding to cover the set-up and training costs, in addition to salaries means it’s affordable to create brilliant career development opportunities.

Further information on the Kickstart scheme:

The Kickstart Scheme is aimed at young people at risk of long-term unemployment.   The scheme runs through Job Centres across the UK, aimed at helping those on Universal Credit to get into employment. Young people interested in the scheme can talk to their Work Coach about the local vacancies available or can find out more at: Starting out in your career? – Job help (campaign.gov.uk)

Companies can also reap numerous benefits from employing a young employee on the Kickstart scheme. Beside the opportunity to help boost a young person’s chances of employment, the employer is funded £1,500 per job. This should be spent on setup costs and supporting the young person to develop their employability skills through routes such as training and mentoring. Employers can find out more at: Apply for a Kickstart Scheme grant – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Interviews by Rebecca Owen, Rebecca Hannam and Kathryn Fairlie
Written by Rebecca Hannam