About Us WHO WE ARE 1st Step Solutions was founded in 2004 by experienced recruitment professionals with a passion to deliver a specialist recruitment service in the mechanical and electrical sector, with a strong focus on recruiting and mentoring consultants that understood the marketplace and putting the quality of the service above anything else. It is this business model that has driven us to deliver the same level of expertise across multiple sectors and markets. We have worked to attract, mentor and retain teams and consultants that are specialists in their field, who truly understand their market and are able to utilise their network and knowledge to enhance our customer’s experience. READ MORE Previous TEMPORARY & CONTRACT RECRUITMENT PERMANENT Next OUR STORY 2004 - OPENING Established in 2004, we first opened our doors in Essex supplying the Mechanical and Electrical industry in London and the South East. Founded by experienced recruitment professionals with a passion to offer new and innovative solutions offering a refreshing alternative in an industry that has long been criticised for lacking customer focus. 2005 - TWO NEW OFFICES In 2005 we opened a Midlands presence to further service our M&E customer base, and due to the success of our South-East region also opened an office in Dartford to house our payroll and accounts team. This would later become our head office that now houses two further recruitment teams. Previous 2004 2005 2008 Next Vision To be industry recognised as the recruitment partner of choice Mission To exceed expectations and provide the best possible service by incorporating our values in everything we do Our Values Honesty & Transparency Specialist & Expertise Responsibility Collaboration Ambition Honesty & Transparency | Our business is built on relationships developed through trust. CASE STUDIES Bristol City FC - Stadium Upgrade Bristol City Football Club - Stadium Upgrade Main Contractor: McLaughlin & Harvey Our Customer: Peter Fowler Electrical Ltd Duration: 2015-2016 Work Hours: 25,000 This was one of the very first projects for the new 1st Step Solutions – Bristol Office & Team, who secured the work after opening in February 2015. The project plan for Ashton Gate’s Redevelopment was divided into three phases which included the demolition of the Wedlock Stand and the build of the new South Stand, the upgrade of the Dolman Stand and finally the build of the new Williams Stand. The project has and will incorporate a new sports bar, hospitality services, club museum and club shop and alterations to the concourse. 1st Step Solutions were engaged by Peter Fowler Electrical Limited to provide an Electrical (Electricians, Electrical Improvers and Mates) workforce to assist with the new build of the South Stand; the installation work started in March and practical completion was due in July ready for the new season. Due to the extremely tight deadlines on site the workforce levels had to increase quickly and peaked on 36 Electrical workers. The team had to hit the ground running and work long hours to get all areas over the line, with teams working in retail areas, concourse, extremely high level lighting on scissor lifts and work on the new roof. At completion the Stadium is expected to hold around 27,000 and will incorporate both Bristol City and Bristol Rugby matches. Ralph Preston (Regional Director) 1st Step Solutions Ltd said "as a Bristol City Season Ticket holder I feel proud that we’ve been involved in the project and really must praise the workforce we engaged on the project for their hard work and commitment to completing the work on time." Richard Platt (Engineer) Peter Fowler Electrical said "Peter Fowler (Electrical) Ltd enlisted the services of 1st Step Solutions to assist in successfully delivering the south stand electrical installations at Ashton Gate football ground. 1st Step provided ourselves with an excellent service, not only fulfilling all of our labour needs but also going the extra mile by coming to site and arranging all site inductions and cross checking the time sheets to the site signing in book on a weekly basis taking the load from our site foreman. We can highly recommend 1st Step Solutions." DNRC Project Defence & National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC) Client - SES (Engineering Services) Ltd The DNRC Project is a prestigious scheme that has been under way since June 2009, and for 1st Step Solutions, has been a major part of our business out of the Newark Office. Currently, military rehabilitation is undertaken at Headley Court in Surrey, but the ability to modernize is severely limited due to size limitations at Headley Court, hence the new project in Nottinghamshire, instructed by the Duke of Westminster. 1st Step's Involvment at DNRC Since the conception stage, 1st Step has been acting as a strategic partner to SES, who are the main M&E Sub-Contractor at DNRC, to supply electricians, mates, supervisors, plumbers, pipefitters etc through to logistics operatives including slingers and banksmen and administrators. In order to prepare for the project, 1st Step held a number of open evenings and local recruitment events to advertise for the project, which was a prestigious job capable of attracting the best of our candidates. The level of service to both candidates and clients was regularly commented upon in a positive light, and by Christmas of 2016 we already had a significant number of workers on site. In 2017 this peaked at almost 100 workers on the project, and will continue through to completion in 2018. Challenges This was a prestigious job, and on top of our usual requirements of qualifications to a CSCS recognised standard, all workers were required to hold CITB Site Safety Plus with supervisors requiring SMSTS or SSSTS. 1st Step's training division was an integral part in delivering this. Another issue that workers had to overcome was, due to the nature and location of the project, they had to be able to get to the project in private transport, ideally driving themselves. With changes in the way construction workers were able to be paid in 2016, this was a very challenging job to recruit for, but one that the 1st Step Midlands office were equal to. Success Stories Four of our workers recruited at the onset of the project were subsequently promoted whilst on the project, resulting in pay increases. Over 70,000 hours were worked on the project by the end of 2017. Project Illumina Array Project: Illumina Array - Cambridge Client: TClarke (Midlands) Ltd During 2017 to 2018, 1st Step Solutions were engaged by TClarke (Midlands) Ltd to assist in the recruitment and engagement of M&E workers for the Illumina Array European HQ at Granta Park in the Midlands. The plan was to put people and ecosystems at the heart of its innovative landscape plan. Project Challenges The main challenge presented to the project was supplying high qualifty labour in an area such as Cambridge, where construction employment is booming in terms of infrastructure, new build projects and extensions to existing buildings such as Addenbrookes and Papworth Hospital. Success Despite the challenges of the local employment situation in Cambridge, the team in our Newark office were able to successfully resource labour and deliver on our promises to our clients on this prestigious project. READ MORE MANAGEMENT TEAM Previous Next SEE MORE 1ST STEP RECRUITMENT INSIGHTS Previous WRITTEN BY - COURTNEY ROYE EU SETTLEMENT SCHEME What is the EU Settlement Scheme? Initially announced in March 2019, it is now nearing the deadline of 30th June for all EU, EEA or Swiss citizens to apply for the EU Settlement Scheme, holding either pre-settled or settled status. As of the 1st July, all Employers must hold evidence of their employees’ right to work in the UK in the form of their settled or pre-settled status. We have been in conversation with both working and registered candidates for the last year, advising those affected of the need to be registered under the scheme verbally upon registration and sending out regular email alerts to all candidates. Due to our preparation, almost all of our current workforce has already provided evidence of their settlement status. Of those we have spoken to, there were a small percentage who wrongly believed they would not have to register for the scheme. However due to our early conversations, we have been able to give them relevant advice and contacts to ensure that they registered in time. The work that our compliance team and consultants have put in will ensure that there is no disruption or surprises when the deadline for ensuring that we hold evidence of settlement status at the end of the month comes into effect. All contractors on site can continue to work, thus not interrupting the projects in what is traditionally a very busy period. What checks are being done to ensure affected workers are eligible for work in UK? Until 30th June, we have a legal obligation not to discriminate against EU, EEA, or Swiss Citizens currently living/working in the UK and therefore we are unable to insist on them proving their status until after it comes into effect, however our consultants and compliance team have been speaking with all EU/EEA candidates that are working with us now and those that present themselves for future work, encouraging them either provide their settlement status share code or to ensure they are registered by the deadline. Our dedicated compliance team verifies all contractors requiring a settlement/pre-resettlement status using the home office tool - https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work It is worth noting that the letters provided to applicants notifying them of their application status clearly states that it is not proof of settlement. As of the 1st July 2021, all individuals must share their status with employers using the online tool provided and the employer must hold a record of the online check in order for it to be considered statutory excuse. As we are a provider of a temporary workforce, this is obviously an ongoing task with new contractors every week, and therefore our procedures have been updated, all recruitment personnel have received training, and account managers will ensure that all clients are kept informed of any issues that may arise with their labour in the next three weeks, but we are confident that all operatives will be compliant in time for the 30th June deadline. 1 OF 59 READ MORE TAKE YOUR 1ST STEP TO A NEW CAREER Find out more about joining the 1st Step team... FIND OUT MORE © 2018 1st Step Recruitment. All rights reserved. Recruitment website by Volcanic