What prompted the decision to branch out into social housing?
Having established ourselves over the last 20 years as a leading recruiter in property, engineering and construction sector, we had developed a number of long standing relationships with consultants, developers and contractors all working with Housing providers and Social Landlords so it made sense to extend our skills and knowledge into this area. And we are glad we did! We already had a strong and diverse database of qualified professionals and skilled trades people so the transition has been smooth and with the values of many organisations mirroring our own, it has been an exciting process.
On your website you detail the involvement of two new work experience employees, how important is RGB’s commitment to supporting the next generation when it comes to career opportunities?
It’s a well known fact that our sector is struggling with a skills shortage, albeit there are signs are improvement which is encouraging. Our business took the view some years ago that we wanted to contribute positively where we could by supporting schemes and initiatives that welcomed applicants from all backgrounds to consider careers within the built environment. We have worked closely with schools, colleges and local authority funded schemes providing CV and interview guidance, mentoring programmes, training courses and job shops offering individuals the opportunity to train or enter into the industry. We love the enthusiasm, energy and new ideas the next generation bring and are looking forward to see how they change the world!
What can RGB recruitment bring to the social housing sector in particular to elevate recruitment to the next level?
RGB is clear in our mission – to make a positive impact on the clients, candidates and communities we serve. We work extremely hard to ensure the “recruitment journey” is a smooth one and a positive experience for all parties. At the heart of recruitment is people. The hiring process whatever side of it you are on, is personal and needs clear communication. This key component can often get lost with portals, systems and processes, all designed to make recruitment easier but can often lose the personal touch which is so important when you are trying to create diverse, inclusive teams based on skills and talent. This is where RGB is particularly strong in bridging the gap between compliance and communication to find the perfect match quickly and effectively. The support we provide doesn’t stop with the recruitment process, our dedicated charity committee extend our services to support our client’s and other local charitable endeavours, this year we are tackling the 3 Peaks!
How integral is RGB’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion?
We really believe that our success is down to our values and our people. We are incredibly proud of our own diverse team and our track record in recruiting above the national average where there is a lack in diversity. Our team is passionate about EDI, undertaking various training and attending events to broaden our knowledge and understanding. We are disability confident employers and continue look for more areas to improve our offering and make a difference.
RGB caters to a range of businesses, across a myriad of areas within the construction sector, what is the key to providing your services and catering to so many different needs?
Our business model is based around providing a specialist service within the Built Environment. We have honed our knowledge and experience over many years and built an enviable reputation for delivering quality enjoying high levels of repeat business. This is testament to our commitment to making a positive impact so people keep coming back to us. Each consultant operates their own vertical market which reflects each element of the sector from Design and Planning through to Building Surveying, Cost Management and Skilled Trades and Support staff. This allows our staff to really understand their sector and collaborate fully with team to open up new avenues and search techniques. This has proved to be a successful way of managing our business and growth with a high staff retention rate of which we are very proud and thankful of. Our people are everything!
