We highlighted the wide range of career and training opportunities at HPP when we took part in Oldham Jobs Fair last week (26th Sept) In addition to meeting a vast number of interested visitors and - we hope - potential staff, we also met the Mayor and Youth Mayor of Oldham.
The annual jobs fair highlights the variety of careers, apprenticeships and work experience openings with employers in Oldham and across Greater Manchester. It caters for people of all ages who may be looking for their first job, want to boost their skills or are seeking new challenges.
We talked to visitors about the different careers and departments at HPP, which now has over 200 staff and operates across the UK. Typical opportunities cover a variety of roles including furniture panel manufacturing, factory maintenance, warehousing, logistics, financial accounts, IT, website development, sales and marketing.
Carole Hamnett-Sadler, our HR manager, plays a key role in our recruitment, apprenticeships and training activities, and we worked closely with James Ogborn at Oldham Council on the Jobs Fair.
The event ties in nicely with our recent article on the role of apprentices within HPP, working in panel production, maintenance and fittings. In addition, one of our existing employees is embarking on higher-level accounting training through a professional apprenticeship programme.
The Jobs Fair is part of Oldham Council's Get Oldham Working programme to promote employment, skills and training opportunities. Other partner organisations include Jobcentre Plus, the National Careers Service, Ingeus and People Plus.
In excess of 2000 people attended the fair, networking with a range of employers & agencies including home furniture retailer Housing Units, Manchester Airport Academy, Wilmott Dixon, Metrolink, O2, Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service, Guinness Housing, brewer and pub-owner Mitchells & Butlers, Sainsbury's, Debenhams and Primark.