THE head of an IT company is urging other employers to consider employment schemes after the success of his kickstart staff.
Don Iro, CEO of Rochester-based IT firm Allteks is encouraging others to think about taking on staff through the various government employment schemes.
He took on a member of staff on a part-time basis through the popular Kickstart Scheme, which allows employers to get funding for six months towards an employee aged 16-24 who was previously claiming Universal Credit.
Ope Dosumu joined as an account manager and has been working hard within operations, marketing and customer service.
He said that since joining in September, Ope has become an asset to the company and has been key in improving in several areas of the business.
Don said that as a result of Ope joining the team, there has been an improvement in issue resolution, better triage of tickets and an improved response to enquiries, including renewals and updates.
He said: ‘Although Ope joined with a specific role, he has showed a huge passion for learning and we have been able to coach him in several areas of the business, upskilling him for a future career path. He has shown improved confidence and technical skills. Although the Kickstart scheme is now ended, we are looking at possible opportunities within other schemes and considering taking Ope on in a full-time role.
‘The recruitment market is tough for a lot of companies at the moment and hiring can be difficult, but there are lots of people out there willing and eager to learn and upskill. Taking someone on under an employment scheme isn’t always an employer’s first port of call, but it can be hugely beneficial to both the company and the individual.’
Ope said: ‘Since joining Allteks I’ve been able to build upon previous experience. I learnt a lot about the technical side of things and how to work with customers from a business-to-consumer level but here at Allteks I’ve been able see how things play out in business-to-business interactions.
‘I’ve also been able to build on my interpersonal skills as I learnt to generate business and manage relationships. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of having to think of my feet while I adapted to the new status quo.
‘I would like to thank the minds behind the kickstarter scheme and also Allteks for providing me this opportunity and I look forward to seeing where my journey at Allteks takes me.’
Although the Kickstart Scheme ended on December 17 last year, there are still schemes available, such as apprenticeships, traineeships and placements for students.
