The National Minimum Wage is the minimum pay per hour almost all workers are entitled to. The National Living Wage is higher than the National Minimum Wage and paid to workers if they’re 23 years or older. This used to be 25, but now the National Living Wage has been extended to 23- and 24-year-olds, coming into effect from the 1st April.

The government have pledged that the National Living Wage, which came into effect on the 1st of April 2016, will reach £9 by 2025.

What this means for employees

For full-time workers aged 25 or over, the 19p increase an hour could equate to almost £400 a year extra – and for 23- and 24-year-olds receiving the National Living Wage for the first time, the additional 71p an hour could mean they pocket almost £1,500 extra over the tax year.

What this means for employers

As an employer, you are legally required to pay workers the above rates from the 1st of April. There are a few rules to these rates – Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either aged 19 or under or aged 19 or over in the first year of their apprenticeship.

Failure to meet the required rates could result in a fine and being featured in the annual “name and shame” list.

If you’re an employer or an employee who needs advice on the latest changes, get in contact with the Bluestones Staffing team now.

The post Minimum wage increase: What you need to know appeared first on Bluestones Staffing.

Here are our full opening hours during the Christmas period. If you are a candidate who would like to register, you can visit us at our Mallusk office during our opening hours.

Monday 23rd December – 8.30 am – 5.30 pm
Tuesday 24th December – 8.30 am – 3.00 pm
Wednesday 25th December – CLOSED
Thursday 26th December – CLOSED
Friday 27th December – 8.30 am – 5.30 pm

Monday 30th December – 8.30 am – 5.30 pm
Tuesday 31st December – 8.30 am – 2.00 pm
Wednesday 1st January – CLOSED

We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The post Seasonal opening hours 2019/20 appeared first on Bluestones Staffing.

But what is it really like for the individuals who stay up through the night?

It is a LOT quieter

While most of the country is tucked up in bed, the dedicated “skeleton staff” are working away in relative quietness. There is not complete silence, but the night-time brings a certain stillness with it that many workers appreciate. The lorry drivers can move along the roads with minimal traffic, quality inspection staff can give their undivided attention to the task at hand and warehouse operatives can work more carefully.

Sometimes the day can be distracting, and the night-time brings the necessary respite some people crave.

The “graveyard shift” is important

In the day, there might be a whole team of people working together, but during the darkness, it may only be a handful or even just one person. When the operation of a business is reliant on a few people, the importance of their role is apparent. Don’t forget how reliant businesses day operations are on the night shift too. Just like the people who work behind the scenes in a theatre, without the night workers shops wouldn’t open in the morning and the public wouldn’t walk into clean premises. Without the night shift, the daytime operation wouldn’t exist.

Working the night shift also comes with a lot of responsibility, as most staff enjoy more autonomy by working in a small team or on their own. By proving that they can handle situations without a lead, shows their employer that they can work independently.

There is independence

As mentioned before, with small teams comes more independence. With that independence comes the opportunity to impress and progress.
Warehouses and factories are always trying to find new ways to improve efficiency and save money, so working alone allows operatives the time to review processes and test out new ways of doing things. By doing so, it shows they are passionate and could lead to career progression opportunities.

There is more money to make working the night shift

Due to the unsocial aspect of the night shift, many companies will reward their night staff in the form of higher pay or allowances. Businesses understand that many people won’t go out of their way to work the night shift if they have never experienced it before, so the monetary incentive is normally enough to encourage people to give it ago.

If you’re interested in finding a job where you can work the night shift, get in touch with our team.

The post Jobs for night owls: What it\’s like working the night shift appeared first on Bluestones Staffing.

But what is it really like for the individuals who stay up through the night?

It is a LOT quieter

While most of the country is tucked up in bed, the dedicated “skeleton staff” are working away in relative quietness. There is not complete silence, but the night-time brings a certain stillness with it that many workers appreciate. The lorry drivers can move along the roads with minimal traffic, quality inspection staff can give their undivided attention to the task at hand and warehouse operatives can work more carefully.

Sometimes the day can be distracting, and the night-time brings the necessary respite some people crave.

The “graveyard shift” is important

In the day, there might be a whole team of people working together, but during the darkness, it may only be a handful or even just one person. When the operation of a business is reliant on a few people, the importance of their role is apparent. Don’t forget how reliant businesses day operations are on the night shift too. Just like the people who work behind the scenes in a theatre, without the night workers shops wouldn’t open in the morning and the public wouldn’t walk into clean premises. Without the night shift, the daytime operation wouldn’t exist.

Working the night shift also comes with a lot of responsibility, as most staff enjoy more autonomy by working in a small team or on their own. By proving that they can handle situations without a lead, shows their employer that they can work independently.

There is independence

As mentioned before, with small teams comes more independence. With that independence comes the opportunity to impress and progress.
Warehouses and factories are always trying to find new ways to improve efficiency and save money, so working alone allows operatives the time to review processes and test out new ways of doing things. By doing so, it shows they are passionate and could lead to career progression opportunities.

There is more money to make working the night shift

Due to the unsocial aspect of the night shift, many companies will reward their night staff in the form of higher pay or allowances. Businesses understand that many people won’t go out of their way to work the night shift if they have never experienced it before, so the monetary incentive is normally enough to encourage people to give it ago.

If you’re interested in finding a job where you can work the night shift, get in touch with our team.

The post Jobs for night owls: What it\’s like working the night shift appeared first on Bluestones Staffing.

The levels of National Minimum Wage (NMW) differ dependant on your age and whether you are an apprentice. If you’re aged 25 or over, you’ll be paid the National Living Wage. Almost all workers are entitled to the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage, which is the minimum pay per hour.

The government have pledged that the National Living Wage, which came into effect on the 1st of April 2016, will reach £9 by 2025.

Agricultural Workers

Agricultural workers in Northern Ireland are entitled to the Agricultural Minimum Wage (AMW) rates which differ from the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage. AMW must be paid to Agricultural workers unless the NLW or NMW rate is higher.

What this means for employees

For full-time workers over 25, the extra 38p an hour could equate to almost £800 extra a year. The rates come into effect on the 1st of April immediately and will be reflected in any pay after this date.

If you’re not being paid the National Living Wage or National Minimum Wage and think you should be, you can contact the ACAS Helpline for free advice or make a complaint about your employer.

What this means for employers

As an employer, you are legally required to pay workers the above rates from the 1st of April. There are a few rules to these rates – Apprentices are entitled to the apprentice rate if they’re either aged 19 or under or they are over the age of 19 but in the first year of their apprenticeship.

Failure to meet the required rates could result in a fine and be featured in the annual “name and shame” list.

If you’re an employer or an employee who needs advice on the latest changes, get in contact with the Bluestones Staffing team now.

The post Minimum wage increase 2019 appeared first on Bluestones Staffing.

It’s work that can make a difference

A lot of people think about outbound sales when they think of a call centre, but the reality is call centres operate in a variety of sectors and industries. You can be working in an inbound tech call centre supporting customers with their recent purchases and helping if any issues arise. You could be employed at a local council or housing trust, speaking with tenants daily and ensuring they are receiving the support they need. Or you could be an operator or advisor in the telehealth or telecare sector assisting vulnerable individuals and liaising closely with social workers, primary care teams, carers, emergency services, sheltered housing teams and family members.

It isn’t all about hitting hard targets and constantly smashing the phone lines – it really is a job where you can make a real difference to people’s lives.

You get to communicate with a wide range of people

For every hostile caller, there are many more that are grateful to speak with you and have your assistance. Talking to a diverse range of people every day can be incredibly satisfying – variety is the spice of life after all!

It isn’t only on the phones that you get to talk to a hugely different group of people, call centres themselves are a mixing pot of people from different backgrounds and walks of life. The people working alongside you in a call centre can turn out to be lifelong friends.

It’s a work hard, play hard environment

We won’t lie this is a career where a lot is expected of call centre advisors. The very soul of the job is two people speaking to each other, so it can take a lot of hard work and energy to ensure each call is as good or better than the last. But with the hard work comes a lot of fun. Many call centres are known to provide enviable incentive schemes and social events for staff. The wages are also better than most people expect – salaries across the UK range from £17,000 – £27,000 depending on experience and industry.

So, if you’re happy to put in the hard graft you can be sure you will be rewarded for it.

Your skills are valued

Whether you are bi or multilingual, have expertise of computers and hardware, or have bags of compassion, your employer values it! They know that without you and your skills, they wouldn’t have a business. This emphasis on skills and knowledge also means that many call centres provide training to upskill their staff and make them more confident. This could be objection and complaint handling, how to recognise vulnerable callers or software training.

Not only do they appreciate your skills and put time into staff training, but you’re also boosting your CV.

The post What it\’s like to work in a call centre appeared first on Bluestones Staffing.

Bluestones Staffing NI has partnered with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Henderson Group Training Academy to bring a fully funded training programme to the Antrim and Newtownabbey area, giving individuals seeking an exciting career in logistics the opportunity to train and work as LGV (Large Goods Vehicle) drivers.

The programme, which is funded by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, is an end to end employer-led training solution designed to address the industry shortage of LGV drivers whilst increasing employment opportunities within Antrim and Newtownabbey.

Successful applicants to the programme will take part in exciting driver training, learning all the practical and theoretical skills necessary to start a rewarding career in logistics. The training, which can cost up to £1200 a driver, will provide trainees with a full LGV Licence, Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC), a CILT (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) Level 2 Introduction to Warehousing qualification and guaranteed work with one of Bluestones Staffing’s employment partners.

Bluestones Staffing NI Director, Kieran Allmark, said, “A career in the logistics and distribution sector can be incredibly rewarding but for some, it is unattainable due to high training costs. By working with local partners, we’re giving individuals the opportunity to gain these qualifications for free and get a foot straight in the door with guaranteed work.”

“Along with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Henderson Group Training Academy, we are aware of the economic needs in Northern Ireland, so this programme is perfect to address the driver shortage and help people gain necessary training and employment.”

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Paul Michael commented, “I am delighted the Council is working in partnership with Bluestones Staffing NI and Henderson Group Training Academy to provide this much-needed training, free of charge. This is a great opportunity to address the shortage of LGV drivers in the industry as well as helping those who are unemployed in our Borough, to get back to work. I would encourage anyone who has a career interest in the logistics and distribution sector, to register their interest now.”

Applicants to the programme must meet the following criteria: applicants must be over 21 and must hold a full car (class B driving licence) with less than 6 points and no previous driving disqualifications Applicants must also be resident in an Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Ward. This can be checked by postcode at https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council.

The post Driver training programme 2019 appeared first on Bluestones Staffing.

The company, based in Mallusk Enterprise Park, Newtownabbey, supplies staffing and training solutions to the logistics, retail and manufacturing industries, including permanent and temporary staffing solutions.

Directors and co-founders, Debbie McDermott and Kieran Allmark, launched Bluestones Staffing in 2018 to provide everyone from job seekers to local businesses and blue-chip companies with bespoke training and outsourced staffing solutions. In their first year of business, they have already placed over 300 temporary workers and developed a specialised transport and manufacturing permanent division and successfully placed HR, Transport Supervisors and Manufacturing Operatives. The specialist company has also run one bespoke training programme per quarter since opening, with a firm focus on training and developing individuals, particularly within entry-level industrial and logistics roles.

As part of their first birthday, Bluestones Staffing has also welcomed Christina Wroot to the team. Christina has joined the business as a Trainee Recruitment Consultant with the aim of her running the company’s industrial desk and assisting individuals from the Belfast area into work.

Co-founder and Director, Debbie said, \”We recognised a gap in Northern Ireland for a company delivering both training and staffing solutions. Over this past year, we have worked with a number of employment partners and have helped the unemployed gain the confidence and skills needed to support them back into work.”

“As part of strategic plans, we also relocated our head office and recruitment services to Mallusk Enterprise Park in Newtownabbey. Originally operating from our base in East Belfast, we planned the move to North Belfast due to company growth and to be closer to our employment partners and candidate base, enabling us to offer a more hands-on service.”

Kieran, Co-founder and Director, said about the one-year anniversary, \”Debbie and I have worked tirelessly this year to ensure we continuously understand what skill shortages are affecting businesses throughout Northern Ireland and then creating bespoke solutions to combat this.”

“By combining training, recruitment and direct employment, we have been able to help our trainees directly into opportunities which match their new skills and supply our employment partners with a relevant, consistent workforce. We are both very excited to see what the next year in business brings us and to continue building our dedicated team.”

The post Bluestones Staffing celebrates first anniversary appeared first on Bluestones Staffing.

Christina has had a varied and expansive career – she has previously owned her own sales company and has over 4 years’ experience in the retail and hospitality industry, having worked as an Assistant Manager in Car Phone Warehouse, Pizza Hut and Game. This varied experience will be very beneficial in her new role and we’re very lucky to be able to draw on her knowledge.

Christina said, “I’m really excited to get stuck into my new job. I love sales so I can’t wait to start accomplishing big things.”

Her experience doesn’t just stop at sales and retail though, Christina also volunteered for Clic Sargent for a year, is a trained hairdresser and models in her spare time. She also did a stint on the Isle of Sark (Google it!).

We’re very excited about the big things Christina is going to achieve and we wish her the very best of luck in her new role.

If you\’d like to find out how we can support your business or help you find a new role, get in touch. 

The post Bluestones Staffing welcomes new consultant appeared first on Bluestones Staffing.

Bluestones Staffing NI is working with Henderson Foodservice to give individuals the chance to undertake two weeks of fully paid training and secure full-time work once the training is completed.

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to gain on the job training and receive a powered pallet truck licence and a food safety qualification accredited by Highfield Qualifications. All candidates who successfully complete the two weeks training will be offered full-time work at Henderson’s Newtownabbey and Larne bases through Bluestones Staffing NI.

Kieran Allmark, Bluestones Staffing NI Director, said, “We’re very pleased to launch our latest training and employment programme in partnership with Henderson Foodservice. This is a rare opportunity for individuals looking to start a career in logistics to gain industry-recognised qualifications for free and start full- time work after.”

“We’re also pleased to announce that candidates will receive payment for their two weeks training once they commence into a full-time role.”

The post Bluestones Staffing partner with Henderson Foodservice appeared first on Bluestones Staffing.