Chamber Recruitment Services (CRS) was re-launched in March this year and enlists the vast expertise and resources of industry heavyweight Monster UK and local market leader My Sheffield Jobs.

As a result, CRS offers Chamber members a holistic recruitment service, with access to its experienced and professional Human Resources and recruitment specialist, Joanne Clarke, as well as preferential, members-only advertising rates with Monster and My Sheffield Jobs and ease of access to a wide range of member recruitment agencies.

Just a few months on and CRS is getting great feedback from members who have used the service – both employers looking to fill vacancies and job-hunters on the look out for their next role. 

One boss who was pleased with the help received from CRS is Bob Cushing, managing director with The Wired Workplace, who said: "We have asked CRS to find candidates at a range of levels across technical, sales and marketing disciplines. The service has been prompt and accurate and we have offered jobs to two sales people. 

“Joanne has been proactive and efficient without the overly sale-sy approach you get from a lot of recruiters. I am very happy with the service and feel it’s good value."

And his Wired Workplace new recruit, who experienced CRS from the candidate’s point of view, agrees. Gemma Hardy, now a business development executive with the Wired Workplace, said: “I felt like CRS was finding the job for me and not just to hit targets. CRS asked me in because they genuinely had jobs on their records that matched my preferences. 

”In the interview I felt comfortable and it was more like a two-way conversation rather than a grilling.

”I was sent to two job interviews through CRS and felt they had spent time matching me to the jobs rather than just sending me ‘willy nilly’ for interviews. I actually could have done either role. So often you get sent to job interviews by agencies that cost you money to attend only to be told you are inexperienced or over experienced - wasting your time, money and a lot of effort. 

”The time it took them to actually place me in a suitable role - from first seeing Joanne to actually receiving the offer letter - was a mere few months. Ace!”

Said Chamber recruitment manager Joanne Clarke: “The priority CRS service complements those of Chamber member recruitment agencies, with the Chamber acting as a ‘broker’ to assist with business recruitment issues.

“This makes CRS feel like more of a bespoke service, where we are dedicated to finding the right job for the right person – or vice versa.

“Members are also keen to access the job advertising discounts with My Sheffield Jobs that the Chamber can offer through CRS.

“We are usually working on between 20 to 25 vacancies at any one time and register new candidates regularly. The sectors CRS is currently benefiting the most, in terms of suitable candidates we are helping to place in jobs, are engineering, I.T., sales and manufacturing.”