Scottishjobs emerges as a new driving force in Scotlandís e-recruitment sector

As the UKís multi-million online recruitment industry moves toward its tenth birthday in 2005, an independent recruitment website has, in true David versus Goliath fashion, emerged as the new driving force in Scotlandís e-recruitment sector.

ScottishJobs.com is one of the top choices for Scottish recruiters as the company is reckoned to have attracted three times more jobs onto its site in the last two months than its nearest competitor.

Facilitating the increase is the addition of over fifty significant new client companies to its already impressive blue-chip corporate portfolio, as well as boasting an average of seven jobs per client company available onsite at any one time.

The swell of new clients has led to the number of jobs posted online rising from 2,000 to 4,000 over the last quarter, with the total number expected to exceed 6,000 in time for the sectors tenth birthday in 2005.

Founded in 1999, and emerging from a modest management buyout only two years ago, the Edinburgh-headquartered company has reported successive years of 140% (2002-2003) and 200% (2003-2004) growth, which has outstripped its Scottish-based recruitment website rivals who are predominantly linked in to press, radio or TV organisations.

Though the exact date of the birth of the online recruitment industry is difficult to calculate, the period 1994-1995 saw many significant developments in the sector.

This includes the launch of Robbie Cowlingís Jobserve website and the creation of Monster by Jeff Taylor in the US, which was followed shortly thereafter by Stepstone in Norway in 1996.

In Scotland, ScottishJobs.comís dramatic growth appears indicative of how changes in the e-recruitment sector over the last decade have significantly increased its popularity in terms of ease of use, immediacy and cost-effectiveness.

In 1995, less than 6% of the UK adult population has used the Internet in the last twelve months. Now the equivalent figure is almost 60%, representing over 27 million UK adults (NOP World), eleven million of who have used the Internet to look for a job in the last year.

However, recent research by technology group Forrester indicates that over 80% of all jobseekers now see the Internet as the simplest way to source new job opportunities, while up to 70% of businesses will be undertaking some form of online recruitment in future.

ScottishJobs.comís managing director Pat Kelly says, ìCompanies throughout Scotland are more confident and educated about web-based technology than ever before and online recruiting is now viewed as a highly important activity. Weíve worked hard to raise awareness of the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of what ScottishJobs.com has to offer. Our efforts have delivered terrific results for our clients and an excellent response in terms of business development.î

Only two years ago Pat Kelly led a management buy-out of the company from Scotland Online. The buy-out was then followed earlier this year by the purchase of a 75% stake in ScottishJobs.com by leading Irish recruitment site IrishJobs.ie.

New client acquisitions since August 2004 for ScottishJobs.com include Scottish Enterprise, NTL, the Territorial Army, South Lanarkshire Council, Falkirk College, Hutchison 3G, financial sector recruitment agency Keillar Resourcing, Glasgow-based Universal Staff Services and Pertemps, in addition to Phones4U, Bewleys Hotel and -Stretcher, Remax and Logic

The range of Scottishjobs.comís client base now includes over seventeen public sector organisations, eleven financial services companies including Scottish Widows and the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, as well as companies from the Telecoms, Call Centre, Education & Training, Hotel & Catering, Technology and Professional Services sectors.

Attributing its huge success to the method in which it provides cost-effective recruitment assistance and the markets evolving approach to recruitment advertising, ScottishJobs.com expects to report similar dramatic rises in the number of jobs posted online within the next few months.

Pat Kelly continues, ìWeíre delighted that these companies and organisations have chosen to work with ScottishJobs.com and weíre looking forward to helping them achieve their recruitment requirements in every way possible. In terms of our own company growth, the past quarter of marketing and sales activity has been exceptionally good and we look forward to an equally strong performance in the coming months.î

The companyís innovative development includes activities like the recent incorporation of assistive technology for blind jobseekers online, which links employers with the visually impaired, another Scottish first for the leading independent organisation.

Summarising the companyís approach, Pat Kelly says, ìThe market is responding very positively to our online offering and statistics suggest online recruitment alternatives are picking up pace. ScottishJobs.com will continue to apply its expertise in online recruitment, focus on quality jobs and support clients to the highest standard with our dedicated team.î

ScottishJobs.com has offices in Glasgow and Dundee as well as Edinburgh.