Rachel Wilson
Recruitment Co-ordinator
Shared Services Centre (SSC), Swindon
“I feel I’m making a real contribution to the amazing work that the Research Councils do,” says recruitment specialist Rachel, “though don’t think I’ll personally be winning a Nobel prize anytime soon!”
Rachel works at the heart of the operation – ensuring the Research Councils recruit people with the skills and expertise they need. She’s been closely involved in moving recruitment services from the individual research councils to the SSC in Swindon.
“I joined the SSC in November 2007 on secondment from my role at the Medical Research Council,” recalls Rachel. “The development of the SSC was already well underway by then, but the People Enabling Team (covering recruitment, learning and development and rewards) was just being established.”
“It’s a new organisation so we all rely on each other for information. You have to be flexible and pitch in where your help is needed as priorities are changing all the time. There’s real passion and dedication here, but we also have a lot of fun!”
Rachel is part of team working on the development and implementation of the recruitment brand – the offer that Research Councils make to employees and the way that they deliver it. “You need an awareness of what is happening in the employment market and how we can differentiate ourselves from competitors. It means working with many different people: liaising with colleagues, dealing with suppliers and attending local job fairs and other events. ”
She is enthusiastic about the benefits of the shared service approach: “Having a dedicated team focused on robust, fair and consistent recruitment processes benefits everyone.”
“It’s been great to see everyone’s efforts coming together as we got closer to the ‘go live’ date and seeing the results of all that hard work.”
Sam Gough
HR Administrator
Shared Services Centre (SSC), Swindon
"When I first joined the Shared Services Centre at RCUK there were only a handful of us. There are 10 of us now. So we’re definitely growing."
"I was in Resourcing then. When the job matching process started I got involved in that. And I haven’t looked back since!" Sam provides vital admin support, by sitting in on job-matching panels, preparing assessment forms and arranging selection interviews, as well as generating mail merges and updating spreadsheets. It’s certainly a varied role.
"Basically I provide all the admin support the job matching process needs." It means that Sam works closely with other members of the team, as well as colleagues in different functions of the SSC, such as Training, Finance and Procurement.
"You feel like you’re helping people because you’re showing them which jobs they’re best suited to, and which ones they’re not so well suited to. You’re playing an important part in helping them find the right job."
Sam says the ability to manage and prioritise varied workloads is key to this role, as are good interpersonal skills.
"What I like most about the job is it’s unpredictable. I know it sounds like a cliché but no days are ever the same here." What she also likes is being part of a new organisation – and knowing she’s making a real contribution to its development.
"It really is an inspiring place to work," Sam says. And with excellent benefits and a clear commitment to investing in its staff, RCUK SSC Ltd looks set to continue as an employer of choice.