Regional employers can face significant challenges when trying to recruit top talent. Building out a skilled workforce can involve an immense amount of time and effort, with turnover rates often contributing to the extensive draw on organisational resources that constant recruitment presents.
Regional recruitment specialist Work + Stay has developed a recruitment approach specifically designed to overcome regional employment challenges. Its bespoke approach is now in play across Australia and the employers they have worked with are seeing significant savings of time and effort when it comes to filling vacancies and growing their workforce.
Filling four highly-skilled roles for Port Macquarie’s local council
In the beautiful seaside city of Port Macquarie, Work + Stay has partnered with the local council to successfully recruit candidates for four vacant roles. These are very particular, highly-skilled roles, and staff at Port Macquarie Hastings Council feel they’d still be looking to fill these positions without Work + Stay’s help.
The council has also been very pleased with Work + Stay’s ability to find candidates who align to its needs.
“I have been very impressed with the calibre of candidates… that is four of my staff through your agency, wow,” said the council’s Group Manager of Infrastructure Planning and Design.
Work + Stay’s success in helping regional employers build out their workforce can be attributed to its bespoke, comprehensive recruitment approach.
“We have a strong focus on sourcing candidates with the right skills and experience, but we are also very careful to understand the needs and preferences of the entire family when we match candidates for relocation to regional roles,” said Kate Sowden, Work + Stay’s Executive Director.
“Ultimately this protects the investment that organisations make in new hires, as retention is vastly improved when candidates feel their new home aligns with the lifestyle and community attributes they are seeking.”
Work + Stay’s specialist recruitment team worked closely with the local council to understand the skills required for each role, and scope what was needed for a good cultural fit.
It then led talent sourcing, headhunting and initial screening, before presenting a range of skilled candidates and providing support throughout the recruitment process. Ultimately this has resulted in successful recruitment for four hard-to-fill positions, an outcome the council is extremely happy with. Work + Stay’s tailored recruitment offering has also resulted in candidates fitting seamlessly into the culture of the council.
New Zealand, Dubai and Sydney candidates head to Port Macquarie
Work + Stay’s candidates have been supported in their moves to Port Macquarie by the STAY relocation and retention service. Hailing from New Zealand, Dubai and Sydney, the candidates and their families were supported across every aspect of their regional moves. This included help with accommodation, travel arrangements, access to the local services each family needed and an all-important personal touch-point in the local community, known as a Welcome Ambassador. In Port Macquarie, Welcome Ambassadors Neil, Rob and Bob are local members of the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie.
They personally met the new candidates when they arrived, oriented them to their new community and remain an important touchpoint for local knowledge as they settled in. They’ve provided help with everything from finding preschool spots, to local spice shops and have also introduced the candidates to some of the best spots to enjoy the natural beauty and stunning coastlines the area has to offer.
This support will be in place for two years and extends to the whole family. For one candidate, Dinusha, this has seen Work + Stay support his wife to also secure a role at Port Macquarie Hastings Council.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council has noted that integrating into new roles and the community has been noticeably smoother for these new hires because of the relocation and settling in support Work + Stay has provided.
Help for regional employers experiencing workforce challenges
Work + Stay understand the challenges faced by regional employers. If you need help finding the right people to build out your workforce, then please reach out to [email protected].
Call for candidates
If you’re a professional who is considering a regional move, then please register as a candidate at www.workandstay.com.au or send an email to [email protected].
