Subway - a healthy diet, a healthy contribution to the community and a very healthy business
Local businessmen Avtar Sandhar and Shangara Singh Choongh who, through their chain of Subway outlets, are providing fantastic job opportunities to local residents. Another example of successful partnership with North West City Jobs.
The partnership with North West City Jobs began early in 2006 when Avtar and Shangara were planning to launch an outlet in Soho Road, Handsworth. "Avtar gave us sole ownership of the process, which was great because it gave us a blank canvas," explains Kyle Stott, Community Involvement & Training Co-ordinator, North West City Jobs. "We used our proven sifting process and worked with major organisations that engage at a grassroots level with people looking for employment. This included both voluntary groups and organisations like Jobcentre Plus."
The team identified 200 interested people as a first cut, phoned each one in turn and arrived at a list of 80 potential candidates. "After face-to-face interviews," says Kyle, "We invited 30 to take part in a training session, customised to Subway's special needs."
"The quality of people at that stage was very high," Shangara comments. "So much so that, although we were looking for 15 people, we took on 18, using three in other branches. The immediate business benefits were obvious. No advertising costs, no phoning 300 people, no filtering and so on. That is an incredible reduction in hassle. NWCJ also provided the pre-selection training at no charge. The on-going benefit is also significant. We have loyal, motivated staff that fit in wonderfully with our team."
So successful was the project that Avtar has used North West City Jobs for recruitment in other locations, including his latest outlet, to be launched in three weeks time at the International Airport rail terminus. As might be expected, word has travelled around other franchisees, such that NWCJ has now helped with placements in 18 outlets, including Acocks Green, Dudley, Kings Norton, Hockley and in the city centre at the Pallasades and Pavilions shopping malls.
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