This month we caught up with Claire Wakelin who runs Benjamin Edwards Recruitment to understand what they do and the impact of Covid on the recruitment market in Lincolnshire in general.

“Well, what a year! it really has been a rollercoaster in the recruitment world as in lots of other sectors. Even though there have been many redundancies and furloughed employees,  there is still a competitive market for good candidates. Even when unemployment is high, finding good employees can still be tricky for employers. In a recent survey we carried out on LinkedIn, 55% of employees said they were being treated well and would stay with their existing company”.

Tapping into the quality candidate market can be difficult. Here at Benjamin Edwards we are well connected and experienced in recruiting for Accountancy & Office Professionals in Lincolnshire and surrounding areas. We have placed many people into new positions during these difficult times. Despite what you read in the news, there is not a paucity of jobs in our region. Sure, it has been difficult, but Lincolnshire is a region of survivors, with built-in adaptability, entrepreneurship and some absolutely fantastic candidates. 

Lockdown 

The initial lockdown was cataclysmic for all businesses and households. Companies pulled their vacancies and interviews that were scheduled did not happen. At Benjamin Edwards we adapted our operations and made good use of Zoom and other platforms to connect with our hundreds of candidates. We launched a brand-new website which has been a major success including our Talent Search Program. The website enables clients to search for candidates as well as supporting candidates looking for jobs. Our personal approach and autonomy meant we were unfettered by the restrictions that some of our larger competitors faced.

We focused our time on coaching our candidates with job hunting in a Covid world and published over 20 blogs with tips and hints. We were busy on LinkedIn too, doing everything we could to promote our candidates on our website and keep our profile going which proved to be remarkably successful.

October 2020 to date

We have never been so busy. It is definitely a candidate centred market with good candidates having sometimes up to two or three job offers. We are recruiting experienced Accountancy and Office Professionals who are wanting to support businesses in transition. Some businesses can’t afford anyone full-time or permanently on their payroll. We are geared up for the temporary market, able to pay PAYE, Ltd or umbrella companies. We are busy across the board, especially in our Finance & Accountancy division.  

So why choose Benjamin Edwards?

  • We are great listeners and offer an honest, refreshing, and ethical approach to recruitment
  • Solid local knowledge of both candidates and companies in Lincolnshire & surrounding areas
  • We combine old school recruitment with new-age technology
  • Extensive Candidate database & connections
  • Full end to end recruitment process
  • Smart & targeted advertising
  • Free local market analysis & advice
  • Free remuneration package advice
  • Search & selection
  • Retained services for senior appointments
  • Outplacement support if making redundancies​
  • CV advice
  • Careers guidance
  • Proactive candidate promotion

For an informal chat contact claire@benjaminedwardsltd.co.uk or on 01522 412066.

For further insights and inspiration into the recruitment world visit their website which is packed full of useful information for job hunters and businesses alike.