B&Q chooses The Job Channel as part of nationwide UK recruitment drive

Interactive digital television recruitment service, The Job Channel, part of MultiMedia Television PLC, has been selected by B&Q, the UK and Europeís leading home improvement retailer, to form an integral part of its next major UK recruitment drive due to break in February 2005.

B&Q is looking to the service to play a central role in raising awareness of the range of opportunities throughout their warehouse, supercentre and mini-warehouse stores. Opportunities include customer advisors, trade experts, warehouse supervisors and design consultants. The move represents the third successive year that B&Q has integrated the Job Channel into its recruitment activity.

Kate Skilton, Retail Recruitment Manager at B&Q, commented,

ìWe have been surprised with the response that we have received via the Job Channel over the last two years. As a result, we now view iDTV as playing an integral part in our national recruitment drive.î

Over 9.5 million households ñ 21 million viewers - already have access to interactive digital TV via Sky, ntl and Telewest, its audience more accurately reflecting the social demographic of the UK than the internet.

Angus Drever, CEO of MultiMedia Television PLC, the company that owns and operates The Job Channel, commented:

ìB&Q is a sophisticated recruiter working in a highly competitive market. Their return to the service for the third successive year represents an important endorsement.î

Major recruiters currently using the service include ATS, Marks & Spencer, Job Centre Plus, and Thomas Cook ñ 1026 million having been spent on recruitment advertising in the UK media in 2003 (source Advertising Association).

The B&Q campaign is due to break in February 2005.
To view the range of opportunities at B&Q, subscribers of ntl, telewest, Sky and Yes TV will be able to use their TV remote control to click on the B&Q banner ads displayed on The Job Channel service. They will then be taken through to a five page dedicated B&Q microsite. At the microsite, job seekers will be able to learn more about the companyís ethos, the specific opportunities on offer, as well as answer pre-qualifying questions and register their interest in a given vacancy using their remote control.