Screwfix supports store growth with e-recruitment

Screwfix, a division of the Kingfisher group, has said the success of moving to new online recruitment systems last year has been instrumental in helping to realise its retail growth ambitions.

Recognised as being "where the trade buys," Screwfix is the UK's largest supplier of building, maintenance and refurbishment materials. In recent years it has grown its online business and expanded its network of Screwfix Direct trade counters to 90.

Screwfix is looking to extend the benefits of Logical Innovations' TalentTracker online recruitment system it implemented in February 2007 to support further openings planned throughout the UK, by recruiting staff that can deliver high levels of customer service.

Emma Bateman, Screwfix talent manager said that, going through its recent period of expansion, the company could not have employed successful recruitment processes without the new system.

"It's been absolutely critical to our success," she said. "The system is simple and easy to use both for our candidates and my recruiters and helps us to manage high volumes of applications efficiently."

The system provides the company with a customised Jobs Board to let candidates search and apply directly online. A detailed screening and selection process was developed to meet Screwfix's specific needs and ensure a high volume of candidates could be filtered while accurately assessing key skills.

Benefits reported include reductions in application costs per candidate of 50 per cent and recruitment administration time of 20 per cent. The retailer has also cut the time taken to recruit each new staff member by at least one week and has seen an increase in the number of suitable candidates in line with an improved level of service to potential recruits.

"Taking our recruitment online has been, and continues to be, a key enabler of improving our branding and improving the suitability and screening of candidates, and a key driver in the reduction of time to recruit and ongoing costs," added Bateman.