Recruitment grant for employers

A new recruitment grant may give people out of work a better chance of finding a job, a Guernsey businessman has said.

Social Security will give up to £2,500 to businesses who employ the long-term sick and out of work.

Lance Vaudin, from Vaudinstone welcomed the initiative which he said would make the candidates more attractive.

Julia Le Tissier from the Chamber of Commerce said some companies were worried staff would not show long-term commitment to the job.

They do need to fully understand what their roles and responsibilities are going to be and make sure that is within their capability. Julia Le Tissier

Mr Vaudin said: "In all honesty £2,500 for a business, it sounds a lot of money but when you actually employ somebody you've got all the overheads you've got all the induction, you've got all the bedding in process.

"That £2,500 will go in just no time, but it will put that candidate on a slightly better footing than other candidates."

Stephen Forrester, the head of HR for Sandpiper CI, agreed it was a great incentive.

He said: "It's not a huge amount of money at all but it just allows employers to put that extra resource into some training, some extra induction, some extra coaching and support."

Mr Forrester said that would help someone who has been off work get back into full -time employment.

Ms Le Tissier said: "The feedback I've had from employers that have taken people from this kind of background is the motivation and ensuring that they really are ready to come back to work and they are not coming back too early.

"The candidate does need to be job ready and they do need to fully understand what their roles and responsibilities are going to be and make sure that is within their capability."