Town has jobs but seeks skilled staff

JOBS availability in Rugby is the best it has been for years but there are not enough suitably skilled or willing applicants to fill them.

While a bleak picture for employment opportunities is painted nationally, town firm Rugby Recruitment is reporting its highest number of vacancies since the economic slump first hit in 2008.

The Regent Place company of 24 years says it has around 160 vacancies available in sectors including engineering, logistics, sales, marketing, accounts and health and safety within ten miles of the town.

But the problem is there are not enough people with the right skills or desire to fill them, according to Rugby Recruitment business manager Bill Bates who said vacancies had shot up in the last three months.

Mr Bates said: "At the beginning of the recession companies cut back on staff as much as they could, but an increase in orders meant they either turned away the work or they had to take on extra staff.

"Despite some companies having to cut down on staff, we have others desperate to recruit people.

"The biggest problem we have is finding the right people for the right job. Customers want people to hit the ground running with the minimum of training, but there is a skills shortage in many areas.

"Engineering is a great example. We have 20 companies looking for skilled engineers but there are not enough people available to fulfil the demand.

Nationally, Rugby's unemployment level fell faster than anywhere else in the country at the end of last year, with the number of adults receiving Job Seekers' Allowance dropping by over 13 per cent.

By contrast, across the UK people claiming unemployment benefits rose by over ten per cent.

Mr Bates said: "Rugby is lucky enough to be known as a main hub for the UK’s logistics industry, and being in the centre of the UK we are lucky enough to have some huge distribution centres on our doorstep.

"Warehouse staff are vital to the town's economy but we also need skilled staff to work in the town too.

"We keep hearing on the news about there being an unemployment problem throughout the country. We need skilled people to come to Rugby - we will find them jobs."

Rugby's MP Mark Pawsey said the overall picture was encouraging.

He said: "We are fortunate Rugby has seen continued month by month falls in unemployment and this is testament to a positive attitude to jobs, by local businesses and Government agencies alike."