The challenge
Reed offers quality teachers and trainers to education providers around the country, including prison education specialists. Our client, Novus, is a non-profit organisation which provides education to people in prisons and similar institutions.
Mark Smith, Novus’s Head of Education, approached us looking to hire five professionals for temporary and permanent positions which were particularly hard to fill. “Ideally, we were looking for people with experience working in a prison environment, who could start as soon as possible.” This gave Reed’s further education recruiters, Chloe Chambers and Cassie Knowles, a short deadline.
Chloe stated: “With learners being 15–18-year-old males, strong teachers and trainers were required for this site.” The limited talent pool meant that finding professionals with the required skills would be challenging.
Reed has supported us well through the requirements that we have had – often at short notice. A vast majority of the candidates have stayed and performed very well since placement.
Novus’s Head of Education
The solution
Chloe and Cassie used every tool at their disposal to find suitable candidates for the roles. Once found, Reed facilitated initial calls between clients and the professionals, ensured all documents were filled in – especially those related to coronavirus safety for anyone visiting the site for interviews and open days.
Mark said: “Communication with Reed has been appropriate and timely without relentless badgering, which we have experienced working with other recruiters. Reed has listened to our feedback and altered approaches and candidates based on our specific requirements.”
“They exhausted all routes possible to source candidates and have been honest in their appraisals of each one.”
Chloe explained how they decided who to put forward to meet the client: “All candidates were fully vetted over the phone regarding their previous experience and qualifications. We discussed their reasons for applying and ensured that those with a genuine interest in working with offenders were offered a chance to meet with Novus.”
Deborah Key, one of Novus’s new offender learning trainers, originally found Reed and the job online. “It looked much better than other jobs available on the market. After I submitted my CV, Chloe contacted me within two hours, showing her great professionalism. She communicated well with me through every stage of the process.”
The results
Five of the candidates Reed found were offered the five separate positions.
Chloe supported the education provider and its new tutors through the onboarding process: “The feedback from the client was that the applicants were strong and confident in their specialisms, and that they would make great additions to the team at the prison.”
Mark said: “Through Cassie and Chloe, Reed has supported us well through the requirements that we have had – often at short notice. A vast majority of the candidates have stayed and performed very well since placement.”
Chloe says she has received positive feedback and thanks from the newly-placed professionals: “This felt very rewarding after the time and attention spent working with Novus and the professionals to fill these five vacancies.”
Overall, Deborah experienced Reed’s exceptional service, claiming: “I would use them again. Thank you so much for helping me find my new role. I absolutely love it and have been told I am doing a great job. My colleagues are great, the job is very challenging, which is good, and the learners are working hard for me.”
