Jobcentre plus partners with hotel chain to cater for a diverse and commited workforce

Ireland-based Jurys Doyle is one of the fastest-growing hotel chains in Europe. It employs approximately 4,000 people in 32 locations throughout Great Britain, Ireland and the USA and has worked with Jobcentre Plus over a number of years.

Stephen Seymour, UK human resources manager at Jurys Doyle said: As they evolve, many organisations fail to realise that their long-standing recruitment policies and job specifications begin to exclude certain types of jobseeker.

As a supporter of the New Deal since its launch in 1998, we always provide job opportunities to people from disadvantaged groups - such as lone parents or the over 50s - however, we’ve no desire to become complacent. That is why we have a Jobcentre Plus diversity account manager working with us to keep our recruitment procedures in line with best practice standards, Stephen commented.

Sunita Singla, Jobcentre Plus employer diversity account manager, started working with Jurys Doyle to help it attain the ’two ticks’ symbol for organisations that make positive commitments towards potential and existing disabled employers. Key elements include interviewing all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy, and annually reviewing how accessible and welcoming workplaces are for disabled people.

Jurys Doyle also believes that staff retention levels will continue to increase as it makes greater use of its recruitment partner’s capabilities. For example, Jobcentre Plus is now short-listing the most suitable jobseekers and providing them with appropriate pre-employment briefings or training.

The hospitality sector has always struggled to hold onto its staff, Stephen continued. Workplaces where 70 to 80 per cent of people leave every year are commonplace. Although Jurys Doyle fares far better, we want to further increase our advantage over other hotel operators.

Looking forward, Stephen Seymour believes that all these recent developments will increase the total number of vacancies filled by Jobcentre Plus candidates