News

I took great pleasure in recently surprising Margaret Boyfield on-site in her temporary role. After 7 years of being a valuable member of our temp team Margaret has decided to retire to enjoy looking after her two grandchildren, amongst other things. I met Margaret back in 2006 when she registered with us through recommendation via another of our temporary workers. Following early retirement after 34 years from her permanent job with 3M Margaret was working part-time before registering with us. With her wealth of
knowledge and through further recommendations we were able to assist in her return to a scientific environment.

I am sorry to lose Margaret from our technical temp team; it was always nice to visit site and have a catch up, and I'm certain she will be missed by the team she worked with. They were all more than willing to join her for a photo! We all wish her well for a fun filled retirement – and hopes she makes time to put her feet up too!

Melanie Haswell Rees, Technical Recruitment Consultant

Our General Manager Caroline Nash attended the Loughborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce Presidents Ball on 6^th April, in her newly appointed role of Vice President. Pictured from left to right are Caroline, Tara Taylor (President) and Nicky Morgan, Member of Parliament for Loughborough. The evening was well attended and great fun, and funds were raised during the evening for the Nottingham Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

I interviewed Marilyn Wardle when she registered with us back in 1998. She wanted part-time hours to fit around her busy life and though she was flexible and open minded about the type of work she might do, she was very clear on one thing “Don’t expect me to use a computer!” Marilyn undertook a few ad hoc roles for us but for virtually the entire time she has been registered with us she has worked for one of our major clients on a part-time basis. As a valued member of their reception team, she has operated a state of the art switchboard and wait for it – used a computer – on a daily basis! Marilyn has chosen to retire so she has the time to indulge her passion for travel and adventure. We are sorry to lose her from our Temp Team, but sent her off with our very best wishes for a long and eventful retirement ahead.

Instead of sending out expensive greetings cards for Christmas 2012 we made a donation to Rainbows Hospice.

Rainbows is the East Midlands hospice for children and young people. It's a place where every new day is appreciated as an opportunity to celebrate life. At the hospice you will see smiles and hear laughter. They support the whole family, providing a stimulating and caring 'home from home' environment where children and young people, facing extraordinary challenges, can receive vital specialist care, respite and when needed, end of life support.

For more information visit www.rainbows.co.uk

We’re supporting a new Charity – Medical Detection Dogs

Since 1989 we have happily acted as a local “depot” for used stamps, which then get converted into cash for charity. We have recently learned about the work of a fairly new but cutting edge organisation who we feel deserves our support.

The Charity, Medical Detection Dogs, works in partnership with researchers, NHS Trusts and Universities and aims to train specialist dogs to detect human disease.

Dogs are renowned for their sense of smell and for centuries doctors have known that diseases have characteristic odours that dogs may be able to detect. For example, cancer cells release small amounts of volatile substances and Cancer Detection Dogs are being trained to detect these. The charity hopes their work and research will enable scientists to develop an early cancer screening system.

In addition their Medical Alert Dogs are trained to assist individuals who manage complex medical conditions on a day to day basis. The dogs are trained to identify the odour changes associated with certain medical events such as diabetes and hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar). Once trained the dogs will often recognise symptoms even before their owners do, and will bring any necessary medical supplies and raise the alarm if necessary!

One of the charities “puppy socialisers” lives locally, and we are always delighted to meet the latest puppy recruits when Wendy brings them to visit our office!

You can find out more about the organisation at www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk

If you would also like to help this organisation continue its amazing work, just collect any used stamps at home or work, pop them in a bag or envelope and bring them to our office in Frederick Street.

Due to us now supporting the Medical Detection Dogs Charity, Wendy kindly brought in Barton to meet us. Barton is currently in training and will soon become a valuable part of someones life. We wish him the best of luck and hope Wendy will bring in her next recruit.

We know it’s our job, but over the many years of successfully placing people into new jobs whether they are both temporary or permanent, and the success stories we hear from these placements, we are always very touched by the many acknowledgements and notes of gratitude that come our way. So to all those that have expressed their thanks, thank you!!

For many years Gill Cooke Personnel supported the Loughborough University Student Business Plan Competition, awarding a cash prize to our chosen "budding" entrepenuer. The most recent recipient of our prize is Emma Britton, Decorative Glass Designer.

Emma has created a range of exclusive decorative and functional glass panels for use in both domestic and commercial projects. Find out more about Emma on her website www.emmabritton.net

We have previously supported new local businesses involved in Health and Fitness, the Arts and recreational activities.

We hope you are still finding our website "user-friendly"! It has been designed by a dozen eggs, a company we first met as finalists in Loughborough University's Business Planning Competition, in a Dragon's Den style pitch. Always keen to support local business, and to promote bright talent, we approached Fran Collins and Jo Lloyd, and following their response to our brief, asked them to re-design our website. They have created a site that is both easy to negotiate and straight forward for us to administer. The team were a pleasure to work with and we wish Fran and Jo continued success with their branding and advertising design partnership.

Find out more at www.adozeneggs.co.uk