Nissan and Siemens launch jobs dating website
Thursday 25 August 2011 1:06 PM
TWO powerhouses of the regions manufacturing industry are leading a Government jobs programme for skilled workers threatened by defence cuts.
Nissan and Siemens will today launch the Talent Retention Solution (TRS), a dating style web service which matches advanced manufacturing and engineering companies to a ready-made pool of experienced workers. Both companies are currently recruiting engineers and hope the scheme can help to fill some of their specialist vacancies.
They have urged their counterparts across the North-East to get behind the programme which is being unveiled at Gateshead College's new Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation.
Thousands of skilled engineers are set to flood the jobs market in the wake of cuts in the defence and aerospace industries; leading to fears that some hard-to-find skills could be lost as workers are forced to accept the first job they can find.
The Skills and Jobs Retention Group (SJRG) has worked with Semta to develop the scheme that becomes fully operational in January by which time, 1,500 employers are expected to have signed up to the system.
Allan Cook, CBE, who chairs the SJRG, as well as engineering consultants WS Atkins, and defence contractor SELEX Galileo, said: "It is imperative for future success and economic growth that we all do all we can to retain, recruit and motivate our employees within the advanced engineering and manufacturing sectors.
"This new web based talent retention system will assist businesses in the high growth engineering and manufacturing sector to recruit the staff they need to compete successfully in the international market. With leading companies like Nissan and Siemens partnering with Semta, we have true employer ownership to solve a problem affecting the public and private sectors and the talented people they employ."
Colin Lawther, Nissan Vice President for Production Engineering in Europe, said: "Nissan is currently recruiting for up to 200 new engineers and maintenance technicians at our Sunderland Plant and we see the Talent Retention Solution as a valuable source of potential new employees who could fill these posts.
"This tailor-made system will be a major help for companies to match their job vacancies with skilled workers who are looking for a job, so we are actively encouraging other firms to get involved."
Mike Jones, HR Director, Siemens Energy UK, said the TRS would play an important role in helping to attract and retain skills across the North-East, particularly in the emerging low carbon economy.
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