Integra People is a national recruitment consultancy, providing quality contract, temporary, and permanent staffing solutions to clients from our wide network of UK offices.
Back in 2008 when our business was established, we wanted a name that revolved around our fundamental values of ‘integrity’ and ‘people’, and from this Integra People was born.
People are the biggest assets to our business, therefore we only hire the best, to ensure we deliver an outstanding level of client and candidate service. From our consultants to our administrators, our team is professional, always ready to listen, and will go the extra mile.
We are one of the fastest growing recruitment companies in the UK, and as a corporate member of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation Ltd (REC), we are committed to upholding the excellent standards of practice set by the REC.
Partnering with the right recruitment specialist can add value to your business, and as a dynamic recruitment agency, we possess the right skills, experience, and knowledge to match your recruitment requirements.
Combining our deep industry knowledge and an unmatched understanding of human potential, we provide professional talent resourcing in the areas of construction, engineering, manufacturing & industrial, IT & telecoms, commercial & business support, healthcare and education.
Hot Jobs
News & Blog
January 15,2019
Recruitment Outlook in 2019
63% of recruitment businesses are expecting their business performance to improve over the next 12 months, and 63% report an increase in demand from employers for both permanent and temporary roles, according to the Recruiting Times survey 2018.
We are in a candidate driven market, where businesses must work hard to attract the best candidate for the role, and this can be helped by developing a strong business brand.
According to Tech Crunch’s 2018 Internet Trends report, job openings are at a 17 year high, and the unemployment rate is at a low of 3.9%. Therefore, competition for talent is fierce.
An attractive recruitment brand is one that demonstrates excellent customer service, and simple, streamlined processes. Having an active social media presence is important to be able to promote the company and the roles on offer.
LinkedIn and Facebook along with other networks remain key areas of growth, to attract and allow for open conversation with potential candidates and clients. Personalised, catchy adverts and paid advertisements could make a huge difference with potential reach and click through rates.
Streamlining the recruitment process means the whole experience with the brand will be much more efficient for the candidates and clients, which could help prevent drop outs mid-way through.
Introducing and implementing modern technology could mean that repetitive tasks can be automated, for example by using templates and bulk actions where possible, and collating data in one place.
If you are hoping to bring in the New Year with a new job, the outlook has not been as bright as it is currently for over a decade. Employers are in a fruitful position.
Integra People are a dedicated recruitment business who can offer expert and confidential help with your recruitment needs. For more information, call 01925 838 600.
News & Blog
December 19,2018
New year, new career?
Lots of people crave a new direction and to move jobs around New Year. A new year often symbolises to many people a “fresh start” whether that be pushing themselves in the gym or in any goals they might have put on the backburner.
The message is out there in every media outlet: this is your chance to achieve more and reach your potential. If you’re reading this and wondering if you should bite the bullet and get a new role, it may mean you do not feel you are hitting your true potential.
January is the busiest time of year for those hoping to kickstart their career, and you will find a lot of companies have put money aside for New Year hires. If you are raring to go, positive and excited, the right job could be a few clicks away.
Instead of worrying and thinking “I wonder how I could get a job there”, your mindset needs to be “I am going to get a job there!”
Here are some helpful tips as you begin your job search:
Try to remind yourself of your skills, strengths and past successes, and sit down with a friend so you can talk through those attributes and skills, as sometimes other people see valuable assets in us that we miss.
It is helpful to begin thinking about what kind of “transferable skills” you can take from one role to the next.
Also ask yourself “What can I bring to this role that others can’t?” Finding out how you are a cut above the rest will help you be able to sell yourself successfully.
We are living in a digital world, and it is commonly known that companies will check your social media footprint before considering hiring you. Use the internet to your advantage, and showcase your talents and promote yourself. Hiring personnel could trawl through old social platforms you used years previous, or just the ones in which you are present currently. However thorough, you should make sure that all they find is a fun-loving yet respectful candidate in and outside the workplace.
A great tip when job searching is to keep updating your CV, and print it out and take it with you to interviews, to refer your answers back to your experience, skills and key attributes. The CV is the reason you get invited for an interview, so it is vital that everything adds up and you come across the way that you promote yourself on paper.
When you look at a new company, figure out who their competitors are, what their mission is, what they excel at and why you want to work for them above all of the rest.
News & Blog
December 10,2018
Healthcare: Will there be enough NHS staff following Brexit?
The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29th March 2019, and the two sides are still negotiating the terms of its exit and its future relations in a whole range of issues. You would be forgiven for not being able to keep up.
One major factor in the deal is our National Health System – depending on the final Brexit deal, will we have enough staff?
According to the Cavendish Coalition/NMC, 1 in 20 of the 1.5m NHS staff are from the EU – 9% of doctors, 5% of nurses and midwives and 16% of dentists.
BMA chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul feels that changes from Brexit have the potential to create chaos in the NHS.
“Freedom of movement has enabled thousands of EU nationals to work in health and social care organisations across the UK, helping NHS trusts, boards and providers ensure gaps in the medical workforce are filled quickly by qualified workers with the appropriate level of training and education.”
There has been a 2,385 drop in EU nurses and midwives in the past year, in the UK, and the group of 36 healthcare charities believes the weaker pound and Brexit could worsen the staffing shortages currently being seen in the health service.
It is not clear what a no-deal Brexit could mean, however the Brexit agreement means that those currently working will have the opportunity to obtain “settled status” to allow them to stay.
The government also plans to “grow its own” by increasing the numbers of doctors and nurses in training, but this does not mean discriminating between any one region or country, and Mr Javid stressed that a skills based system will be based on merit.
The home secretary Sajid Javid said that people immigrating to the UK will have to meet the requirements of a skills based system, pass a ‘British values test’ as well as tougher English language demands.
The system, known as tier two visas, allows doctors and senior nurses to be recruited from overseas.
Dr Nagpaul added: “Our immigration system needs to work for the health and care sector as a whole, and ensure the NHS can recruit and retain doctors and other NHS workers in sufficient numbers.”
News & Blog
November 27,2018
How schools, hospitals and other government buildings could be constructed quicker
Schools, hospitals and train stations that are prefabbed in factories before being erected could be constructed quicker and with less waste, according to Ministers who wish to encourage Britain’s construction industry to become more efficient.
The government have set out £600 billion on infrastructure over the next decade, with the Treasury minister Robert Jenrick stating that new methods of construction need to be embraced.
Prefabbing means to pre-build universal components in factories, manufactured using the latest digital technology, before they are sent to construction sites.
A single component could be used as part of a school, hospital, prison building or train station, and government proposals for the ‘platform approach’ could mean a school that typically takes a year to build could be completed in four months.
This prefabbing proposed could generate less waste and speed up construction time by 90 per cent, officials believe, as they could be built three times quicker using parts shared with hospitals and prisons.
Exchequer Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “We are committed to renewing our infrastructure to drive economic growth in all parts of the United Kingdom.”
As the pace of technological change accelerates, we are stepping up our commitment to digital infrastructure, use of data to drive greater productivity and embrace new methods of construction.
With £600 billion of investment over the next decade, including the largest ever investment in our strategic road network, we are taking the long-term action required to raise productivity and ensure the economy is fit for the future.”
News & Blog
October 22,2018
Employment Rises in Wales
Employment across Wales has risen over the past year, seeing the biggest rise of all the nations and regions of the UK in the last three months.
The employment rate in Wales has risen 2.6% compared with the UK average of 0.4%, and there were 60,000 more people in work compared with a year earlier.
Economic activity (the number of people who are unavailable for work because they are either sick, caring for someone, studying full time or taking early retirement) has also decreased in three of Wales’s four economic regions.
There are 49,000 fewer economically active people in Wales than in the same period last year. The proportion is now 21.9%, which is lower than Scotland, Northern Ireland, Yorkshire and Humber, the north-west of England and the north-east of England.
Unemployment in Wales remains at 3.8%, which is lower than the UK average of 4%. The figures show that there were 10,000 fewer unemployed people in Wales compared with March to May, which is the biggest fall of all nations and regions of the UK.
Welsh Government economy secretary Ken Skates, said: “These results are broadly encouraging for much of Wales, particularly Mid and North Wales, and demonstrate that our approach to supporting businesses in Wales during challenging circumstances is having a positive impact.”
First Minister Carwyn Jones, said: “With a Brexit deal still yet to be secured, these are increasingly uncertain times. We will continue to do all we can to strengthen Wales’ economy in innovative and effective ways so we are in the strongest possible position to face the challenges ahead.”
He added that the figures were a testament to the Welsh Government’s work to support businesses and make it easier for people to access jobs.
If you are looking for a job in Wales, please get in touch with Integra People at our Bangor office: 01248 668 700.
News & Blog
October 17,2018
How Teachers Can Deal With Stress
Although teaching is often a thoroughly enjoyable, rewarding job, as with any profession there will be times when you face stress and difficult days, or struggle to find a home/work balance.
Whether you are just starting out in the profession or have years of experience, the classroom can be a nerve-wracking place, and you need tried and tested techniques to manage the pressures the job brings and improve your physical and mental health.
Here are a few tips to help you unwind and help be positive and control your feelings of stress and anxiety:
Communicate
When you are feeling overwhelmed, it is important to talk to people you trust about the situation or issue you are concerned with, and sometimes simply getting it off your chest will give you some form of relief. When workload is getting on top of you, communication is key. Speaking to colleagues can or mentors can help reduce pressure, as they are people who probably know all too well what you are going through.
Say No
Learning to say ‘No’ is an art form that can take time to master. You may feel that you don’t want to disappoint, however telling people firmly and politely that you do not have time or are not able to do something is assertive and will actually gain you respect. It shows that you know your capabilities and ensures you can manage your workload and prioritise your inner needs.
Breathe
Breathing deeply can have amazing benefits for your health, and it is something that you could even practice with your class to promote a calm and balanced state. Breathing exercises are a great way to practice mindfulness.
Meditate
A short meditation practice can help you start your day with a positive attitude. Relaxation techniques can include yoga and tai-chi, and anything that allows you to connect your mental and physical senses.
Exercise
Exercise not only works on your physical fitness, but releases endorphins and relieves tension, which has a positive and calming effect on the mind. You might think you do enough cardio by running around the classroom, yet exercising at the gym or by going for a brisk outdoor run is different as you are focusing on yourself and are in a different environment.
Sleep
Teachers commonly report finding it difficult to switch off after a days’ work, or that they end up going to bed very late after marking until the early hours. In order to make sure you can sleep like a baby, lose the laptop and smartphone at night, and cut down on caffeine in the afternoon.
Have Some You Time
Achieving a better work/life balance means prioritising some time in your week for yourself. Work is important, but so is your personal life, so it is a good idea to diarise time with friends and family. As well as diarising seeing other people, put some time aside for yourself: take a couple of hours to switch off, whether that be relaxing in the bath or reading a book.
News & Blog
October 10,2018
Office Administrator Interview Questions
Office administrators are found in the administrative teams of all types of companies, and it is a role that is vital to businesses in all sectors.
Before an interview, you should ensure you have a sound knowledge of the company, the industry they are in, and the position you are applying for. You need to turn up on time and smartly dressed, and conduct yourself in a professional manner.
What makes a good administrator?
To make a successful administrator, you must be reliable and resourceful, and be able to solve problems quickly, using your own initiative.
Administrators need to have good communication skills, as they will often become the first impression for clients and customers whether in person or over the phone.
Administrators also need to have finely tuned organisational skills, as it is a detail-orientated role where you may be required to multi-task effectively.
Typical Interview Questions
What experience do you have?
Draw upon skills you have gained with any previous employer and demonstrate how your experience elsewhere can be beneficial in this role.
Give an experience of a time when you delivered excellent customer service
This should be an example of a time where you went above and beyond your job specification in order to fix a problem or turn a negative experience into a positive one for a customer.
How do you work within a team?
The interviewer wants to hear that you are happy communicating with a range of people, are willing to help others out, and can take direction well.
How do you prioritise your workload?
If you use any tools to stay organised, or you have a method for prioritising, the interviewer wants to hear about it and how effective your methods have been previously.
What IT skills do you possess and what software can you use?
In the digital age, an employer will be keen to know that you can navigate your way around a computer and you have some experience with software that they use.
In what ways have you contributed to improving efficiency within an office environment?
If you have ever come up with a way to simplify a day to day office procedure, go into detail here as this shows initiative and helpfulness.
How do you cope with busy periods?
Being able to keep your cool during stressful moments/days is a desirable trait for a busy administrator, so give an example of an especially busy time during a previous role, and describe your coping mechanisms.
Do you enjoy interacting with clients/customers?
This question will also reveal whether you are a sociable and friendly person on the whole, which is important for an administrator, who will also have a lot of interaction with internal employees.
Are you good at solving problems?
An office administrator needs to be the eyes and ears of the business at times, and if things go wrong they need to be able to spot it, raise it, and come up with solutions.
Hopefully now you should feel more prepared for your interview, so now you just need to remember to keep eye contact and extend your arm for a firm hand shake.
News & Blog
September 19,2018
Returning to work after a career break
There are several reasons people take a break from working, whether voluntary, involuntary and following maternity or childcare.
Getting back into work after a break is often exciting but can be difficult. Getting up on time, the daily commute and the responsibilities piling up can often be tough, however returning to work after a break for any reason plays a vital role in the quality of your life.
The change also has wider implications. According to research by PwC, getting people back into work after a career break could provide a £1.7 billion boost to our annual economic output.
How to make it happen
Remind yourself what you are good at and why you deserve a job – even ask friends and family for feedback on what you are good at and come up with a list. Write down at least five achievements and demonstrable skills.
Secondly, make sure your skills set is up to speed and that you are aware of the latest trends in your chosen field, you could do this by taking a course online or offline or simply reading some books/online articles as a refresher.
When you come to apply for jobs, you should be prepared to network, as you never know who might be able to help you (a good place to start is LinkedIn).
In your CV, be positive about what you want now, instead of going into too much detail about why you have had a break or coming across apologetic for it. Mention all relevant study and voluntary work and express a keen interest.
Whether you are planning on going into permanent or temporary work, temporary positions might initially be a good place to start as this kind of work fills your CV gap, builds your network and your confidence, and may even lead to a permanent role.
You can target applications for jobs that fit your strengths, and if it is a new field you are interested in, doing temporary work can enable you to figure out if you are heading in the right direction.
Voluntary
Only 17% of retirees think they’ll stop working after reaching retirement age. Nowadays, many people past the retirement age decide to go back into work after a break, even if it is in a completely unrelated field to what they did previously.
Some voluntary career breaks are due to the desire to travel. In this case, you could say that you have finished your soul searching and are now ready to commit. Maybe the time away confirmed which direction you want to take your career in.
If your voluntary time off was to undertake a new qualification, this should go a long way to persuading an employer you have a thirst for knowledge and will be of value to the company.
Involuntary
Experiencing redundancy can unfortunately be a common reason people are off work for a while. There were 110,000 redundancies in 2017, and this is talent that could be redeployed into work where there is demand.
There may be other reasons too, and whatever they may be, it is important to try and focus on the positives, even if you feel unenthusiastic about having had time off.
Explain how you overcame whatever situation caused you to take time off, and prove that you are talented and hard-working enough to drive their business forward and not just focus on the past.
Maternity
The average maternity leave is 100 days: women are returning to work earlier than ever before after giving birth (PwC), however every single personal situation is unique.
Perhaps you have just had your first child, or have a couple of young children in Primary school, if you have decided to return to work after a break it can feel scary and many mothers find themselves lacking in confidence.
It is important to remember that some skills requested in a job description can be developed outside of a business, professional environment – and skills such as organisation, communication and negotiation, which are sharpened as a parent, are vital attributes in the workplace.
What can employers do to help the transition?
Returning to work can be daunting. Companies can help to make the transition easier through being welcoming, empathetic and understanding, and ensuring strong communication throughout the recruitment and on-boarding process.
Many companies may also make allowances for parents with flexible working, subsidised nurseries and job shares being just some of the ways they can make your work/life balance easier.
To find out how Integra People could help you back into work on a temporary, contract or permanent basis, please call the Head Office on 01925 838 600 to speak to one of our friendly consultants.
News & Blog
August 09,2018
Integra People appoint Head of Education
Leading national recruitment agency Integra People is proud to announce the appointment of Debbie Unsworth as Head of Education for its existing growing division.
David Lewis, Managing Director at Integra People, said: “Integra Education was launched in response to client and market demand, and we are pleased and excited to pay considerable attention and invest in growing the team, to ensure we continue to provide a quality service.”
Debbie joins the business with almost 20 years of recruitment experience, specifically in the Education sector, and is based in Integra People’s head office in Warrington.
She said: “I still loving finding the perfect role for my candidates, and I get a huge buzz from knowing that I did a great job and provided the best service to one of my schools and teachers.”
“I think that the Education sector is currently facing many challenges, and there is a shortage of teachers. When this is combined with budget restrictions, it makes for a difficult time for schools.
I chose Integra People to work with as they empowered me with a certain level of freedom to do what is right for the schools and not just the agency. I want to make our service affordable to the schools whilst still providing outstanding service.
I feel that Integra People can become the number one choice for both schools and teachers by working together to provide a personal, friendly and professional service.”
Also joining her team this month is Jackie Edwards, a SEND consultant, who has not only recruitment experience but after over 10 years as HLTA in Primary school, she also has an excellent understanding of how schools operate and how best to help them with their requirements.
Speaking about her new opportunity, Jackie said: “I have had such a warm welcome from everybody here at Integra, and I am very excited to get started.”
News & Blog
August 02,2018
UK Construction activity unexpectedly expands in July
Britain’s construction industry has gained momentum and grown at its fastest rate in over a year, boosted by the biggest increase in house-building since the end of 2015.
According to the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), construction jumped to 55.8 from June’s reading of 53.1, and a reading above indicates growth. It was predicted to be a slowdown in growth to 52.8.
These figures are a huge contrast to the weak start to 2018 (which as a result of unusually icy weather, saw the first quarter output fall by 0.8%) and the overall tone from the construction industry was positive.
“While the recent rebound in construction work has been flattered by its recovery from a low base earlier in 2018, there are also signs that underlying demand conditions have picked up this summer,” HIS Markit economist Tim Moore said.
New orders flowed in at the fastest rate since May 2017 and both house-building and employment in the sector rose by the most since December 2015.
A general improvement in client demand has led to successful contract negotiations on large scale projects across the community. It has sparked a jobs boost, resulting in the largest rise in employment numbers in two and a half years.
However, rising demand has led to longer lead-times across the construction supply chain and construction companies are still cautious about the business outlook in the year ahead. The survey also showed that Brexit-related uncertainty continued to weigh on business sentiment.
Duncan Brock, group director at the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) said: “Rising demand meant that supply chains creaked under the strain and delivery times lengthened to the greatest extent seen in 12 months.”
“Material shortages, limited inventories and capacity pressures bore down as constructors caught up on previous weather delays and stocked up for new orders.
Though optimism remains at lower-than-average levels, with the biggest rise in job creation since December 2015, there’s some conviction that the future is brighter, at least in the short term,” Mr Brock concluded.
