Stacey Bullock, Berry Recruitment’s manager at the Cardiff branch.
Berry Recruitment in Cardiff has appointed Stacey Bullock as its new manager – and she wants the Severn Bridge toll to be axed immediately.
The experienced recruiter heads a team of four at the branch in Cathedral Road and thinks a free crossing would open up the city to more workers.
Currently there is a candidate shortage across South Wales and Cardiff could attract more people if it were cheaper to get to from the east.
In July, the Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns announced that tolls would be scrapped at the end of 2018, saying it would boost the South Wales economy by around £100m a year.
But such is the need for workers that Stacey wants it removed sooner so candidates from the Bristol conurbation won’t be put off from seeking jobs over the border.
The branch recruits in the office and finance, contact centre and industrial sectors and has plenty of work available.
Stacey, who is from the city, said: “Finding candidates is our biggest challenge and we are being very pro-active in attracting them.
“But one barrier is the bridge and candidates from across the river are put off by the £7 charge.
“This adds up over a week and it’s no wonder that workers from the Bristol area are choosing not to pay it.
“Removing the toll would level the playing field and would help the South Wales economy and give workers more opportunities.
“We have a fantastic team here and we’re employing innovative techniques to identify candidates and sign them up. And of course wages are rising because it is a candidates’ market.
“Having the backing of a large family-owned group gives us a real advantage and we aim to grow the business here and will be looking for new consultants to join us.”
Berry Recruitment Group has 34 branches across England and Wales and this year anticipates a turnover of £70m.
Notes to journalists:
Berry Recruitment is a specialist recruitment group operating in the private and public sectors from 34 locations across the UK.
Employing more than 200 people, and supplying 3,400 workers daily, Berry hopes to achieve turnover of £70m during 2016.
There are eight specialist Berry divisions covering office and finance, technical and IT, industrial, driving, rail, construction, care and catering and hospitality.
With its head office in St Albans, Hertfordshire, Berry was formed by recruitment industry experts including Tony Berry, former head of Blue Arrow and Manpower, and Ian Langley, Chairman of infrastructure recruitment specialist, Airswift Holdings.
Berry’s strapline is ‘combining talent with opportunity’.
Tel: 01727 898650. Email: spencer.berry@berryrecruitment.co.uk
For more information contact Ed Baker, Account Director at Deep South Media on 01202 534487 or 07788392965
