Pictured above:  Amanda Petrie (ncn) and Sally Lambert (D&G) outside FutureStore in the city centre

Notts-based call centre Domestic & General (D&G) has teamed up with New College Nottingham (ncn) and a number of employment agencies to give people a head start when applying for jobs.

As well as ncn, the call centre is also working with JobCentre Plus, Working Links, Making the Connection and FutureStore in order to give people a boost ahead of the job application process at D&G. 

The call centre, which employs over 700 people at its Talbot Street office, is well known for being a good local employer that has continued to recruit even during the recent downturn. Its employees range in age between 16 and 74 and the company offers excellent training opportunities as well as the chance to progress and have a career with the company.

Candidates can apply for the pre-employment training through JobCentre Plus, they are then put through a series of pre-screening tests such as literacy, numeracy. If successful at this stage they then undertake 64 hours of training in areas such as communication skills and sales with ncn over a four week period (16 hours per week). 

Following on from the training, the prospective candidates will then go through an assessment centre at D&G which will include a group exercise, listening to calls, and a one-on-one interview. Candidates can apply for training through JobCentre Plus in order to give them a good idea of the business prior to applying for a role with D&G.

Sally Lambert, senior HR advisor at D&G says: "The pre-employment training is a great opportunity for candidates to get a really firm grasp on the business and what we do at D&G.  It is a commitment , but it can really benefit them in the long run in terms of preparing them for an interview here. It also teaches people the basic skills needed to work at the centre along with building their confidence at an early stage in advance of an interview."

Since the pre-employment training programmes were introduced this year, 45 individuals were successfully recruited to the call centre agent role.

Sally adds: "The fact that individuals come to D&G knowing what we do, and what skills we are looking for is testament to the fact that the advanced training gives them a head start, which is great news for us as a company, as well as the candidates."

Amanda Petrie, ncn head of retail says: "Our trainers tailored the training programme in partnership with D&G to suit both the individual learners and the business needs of the call centre, and delivered pre-employment training sessions in the FutureStore. It is important to keep the momentum going, so we are also working with D&G and three of its new employees to enable them to 'top-up' their training now they are working. These staff members will complete a full NVQ Level 2 in Customer Service which will be invaluable in the development of their careers."