UK speaks the language of recruitment, says Sitel
4 December 2013
International contact centre outsourcer Sitel has found the UK to be a good talent pool for languages, an HR director at the firm tells recruiter.co.uk.
Thu, 5 Nov 2013International contact centre outsourcer Sitel has found the UK to be a good talent pool for languages, an HR director at the firm tells recruiter.co.uk.
Despite an alleged dearth of language skills in the UK, the country’s multicultural make-up provides a good source of talent, according to UK and Ireland HR director Joanne Regan-Iles. The firm have recruited over 450 staff in November and December this year in both temporary and permanent positions, with foreign languages a key skill for many of these.
But despite a report from cultural agency the British Council last month showing an “alarming shortage” of people speaking the languages most important to future UK prosperity, Regan-Iles says that the company’s office in Kingston-upon-Thames has 300 staff speaking 23 languages.
This suburban London location is ideal, she comments: “We don’t need to advertise in, say, Germany for example because there are so many people over here with that language.
“We’ll have people recommending friends and family,” she says, and adds that 25% of team members’ appointments come through such referrals, which she highlights as a particularly useful tool when recruiting for language skills.
Regan-Iles says Sitel strongly emphasises the role individual staff can play in recruitment. “We communicate all the time with our teams, and run things like saying the more people you recommend, you go into a draw and can win an iPad – things like that,” she says.
Despite an alleged dearth of language skills in the UK, the country’s multicultural make-up provides a good source of talent, according to UK and Ireland HR director Joanne Regan-Iles. The firm have recruited over 450 staff in November and December this year in both temporary and permanent positions, with foreign languages a key skill for many of these.
But despite a report from cultural agency the British Council last month showing an “alarming shortage” of people speaking the languages most important to future UK prosperity, Regan-Iles says that the company’s office in Kingston-upon-Thames has 300 staff speaking 23 languages.
This suburban London location is ideal, she comments: “We don’t need to advertise in, say, Germany for example because there are so many people over here with that language.
“We’ll have people recommending friends and family,” she says, and adds that 25% of team members’ appointments come through such referrals, which she highlights as a particularly useful tool when recruiting for language skills.
Regan-Iles says Sitel strongly emphasises the role individual staff can play in recruitment. “We communicate all the time with our teams, and run things like saying the more people you recommend, you go into a draw and can win an iPad – things like that,” she says.
