People Portal Secures Vital Funding

A completely unique and straight-forward video CV service pioneered by Shropshire Chamber of Commerce has successfully gained funding to officially launch across the county, it was announced today.

Shropshire Chamber of Commerce is celebrating success after it recently secured vital funding from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to roll-out People Portal – its innovative video-based CV service which gives job seekers across Shropshire the opportunity to undertake two intensive business-led training courses – culminating in a professionally-produced video CV.

The funding will see 236 candidates exclusively supported through the extensive programme, and job seekers across the region are being urged to be part of the newly-launched service.

Chris Jones, Business Development Manager at Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, explained: “We’re thrilled to have gained backing by the Department for Work and Pensions for our People Portal service. The early trial we undertook in Shropshire was really well-received and many employers were able to find their perfect candidates as a result of using People Portal.

“Individuals can gain the necessary skills that employers are looking for, and have the opportunity to give themselves a unique selling point – at no cost. And, it enables employers to get a valuable glimpse into the personality of the candidate before the interview stage, literally lifting them off the page of a flat CV.”

The service proved invaluable for Len Cook from Telford, who took part in the People Portal trial last year and successfully gained a role within the Penkridge Group after two long years of looking for work.

“We understand that finding the right candidate with the right skills and attitude can be a time-consuming process for employers, and it can cost businesses up to £4,500 if they employ the wrong person and have to re-recruit, so it’s crucial that it’s done right and efficiently the first time. Traditionally, CVs are used to evidence experience, previous roles and skills, whilst encompassing personality and hobbies, but it’s really hard to get to know someone purely from a piece of paper.

“People Portal can allow businesses to tap into an influx of talent which they may have previously overlooked based on paper. Take the older generation of workers as an example. A recent study by Business in the Community suggested that over 50s have a higher chance of becoming permanently jobless, compared to younger people. A video CV service such as this may just be the answer to speeding up the process and matching the right candidate with the right role and employer. This is why People Portal really has the potential to revolutionise the market across the UK, and we’re extremely proud to have launched it here in Shropshire,” explained Chris.

For further information about Shropshire Chamber of Commerce’s People Portal, please visit www.scocpeopleportal.com.

A true champion of Shropshire businesses at local, regional and national level, the Chamber of Commerce offers a competitive sliding scale of membership fees based on business size.