Exhibitor Testimonials - 2008 and 2009

Impressed with the visitors to the stand this year compared to other years. A lot more qualified social workers or about to complete their final year. Our stand was great compared to other years – it felt a lot more spacious. Regret is that I should have bought more freebies and give-aways as we ran out by 1pm. Cordell Lane, Recruitment & Retention Officer, Walsall Council(2008) There were a greater number of delegates than expected and the stand was a very good size with excellent customer services. The event was very useful for making contact with both newly qualified and experienced social work staff. Jessica Moll, HR Adviser, CAFCASS (2008) Lots of interest from qualified social workers – a great opportunity to raise the profile of the county and our services. Tim Normanton, Recruitment Strategy Manager, Staffordshire County Council (2008) The event was very busy this year with more people approaching us rather than us approaching them. I am happy that we will be able to show over the next year vacancies filled by contacts we have met today. Simon Dean, Staff Development Officer, Shropshire County Council(2008) The fair has been excellent for attracting student social workers who are about to qualify. Una Barnes, HR Adviser, Gloucestershire County Council(2008) Very successful day with lots of enthusiastic people showing interest in working for our authority. The event fits into our corporate workforce development programme. Joanna Driver, Workforce Strategy, Wrexham County Borough Council(2008) We have spoken to a lot of people with the aim of increasing membership. Claire Carroll, Membership Development Officer, Social Care Association(2008) Very friendly and helpful staff. In general thank you for your support prior and during the event. Marta Bennett, Event Co-ordinator, Skills for Care(2008) Well organised event, thank you. It was good to see people from a wide geographical area and with a range of experience and qualifications. Alison Hukins, Recruitment & Retention Officer, Children’s Services, & Andrea Borwell, HR Officer (Recruitment) Adults Social Services, Norfolk County Council(2008) Brilliant event – some great interest in our authority and some exciting prospects to follow up on. Will definitely be coming again next year. Gemma Barry, Project Officer, Peterborough City Council(2008) It was a great opportunity to promote Barnardo’s as an employer throughout the UK and also to advertise/promote the voluntary opportunities for people to gain valuable experience. 50% of the enquiries were for outside the Midlands and we were able to point out that Barnardo’s works with children throughout the UK. Eileen Burwood, Voluntary Development Manager, Midlands(2008) We found the event to be successful. A good foot flow of candidates. Feedback from candidates about quality of event was good. Rob Arnold, Business Development Director Semester Recruitment(2008) Good food. Good venue. Liked the position of stand... Well organised. Trevor Boyd, Divisional Director, Bucks County Council(2008) Excellent pitch. Very helpful and friendly staff. Food and drink a welcome freebie. Fran Fuller, Programme Leader, Applied Social Work Degree, University of Derby(2008)				Useful to see other exhibitors. Good networking opportunities. A well organised conference. Adam Barnaby & Catherine John-Baptiste, Admissions Tutors, Nottingham Trent University (2008) Well organised fair, Stand appropriate for needs. Helpful and friendly staff. Free drinks and food a real bonus. Pauline Green, Programme Leader, University of Derby (2008) As always the exhibition I felt was a great success. The quality of jobseekers was good as most of the students are in their final year. Keep up the good work. Zia Uddin, Account Manager, eCarers.com (2008) Very useful day. Made good contacts. Hopefully will have a number of newly qualified social workers in the autumn. Sue Hand, HR Officer, Leicestershire County Council (2008) Excellent location and facilities. Good variety of people attended. Very good location and facilities. Had a great day. Mark Thorn, District Manager, Kent County Council (2008) Very good event for us - Signed up 40 people and sold books. Have seen mainly students today in their final year of social work programmes. Sharon Hodgson, Executive Officer, England, BASW (2008) A good well organised event that allowed us access to a wide range of candidates that were interested in all aspects of social work. Busy and informative workshops for social workers within our team to attend which they found very useful. Rob Morris, HR Assistant, Telford & Wrekin Council (2008) Coming to this jobs fair has given me the opportunity to meet a good number of potential candidates and to build our name and reputation in the Midlands. Sarah Goodwin, HR Manager, St Christopher’s (2008) The Compass team have made us feel very at ease and have been most welcoming. Nothing has been too much trouble and we have been well looked after. I look forward to enjoying the experience once more. Wayne Molsher, Team Leader, Academy Social Care (2008) The Jobs Fair was very good. We found the standard of candidates registering very good. The staff at Compass helpful. We look forward to coming back. Mr Laz Weeresinghe, Sales Manager, Academy People (2008) I had misgivings about the level of staff that we could reach, but the calibre and volume of potential applicants was tremendous. We even ran out of application forms at one point. Steve Fleming, Project Manager, Midland Heart Housing Group (2008) I have not previously been an exhibitor at a Jobs Fair and was a little apprehensive on arrival but could not have been made more welcome. I have found all the Compass staff to be extremely helpful – nothing has been too much trouble for them. It’s been a most enjoyable event and we have had many opportunities to raise awareness about out organisation and to “network’. Great lunch too! Evelyn Smylie, Treasurer, Social Work Christian Fellowship (2008) This Compass fair has been very well attended. We have had more space to interview potential candidates. Stephanie Pritchard, Team Manager, Dudley Council (2008) Compass staff very helpful. Made lots of contacts. Lunch very good. Facilities very good. Venue very good. A. Austin, School Governor, Swalcliffe Park School(2008)
Very well organised, would be interested in attending similar events. Paula Maguire, HR Manager Progress Children’s Services (2009) It was much busier than London. Really helpful Compass staff – helped with missing furniture! Thanks. Good support at start of event with temps assistance – relieves the pressure! Julie Barnard, Workforce Development Manager Peterborough City Council Good events, decent volume, most importantly high quality of candidates – many social workers and student social workers. Jonathan Coxon, Director Liquid Personnel This is the first time I have attended this event – it has been very well attended and we gained over 100 contacts. We had a lot of interest and queries from newly qualified social workers and we gave away most of our literature and freebies. It was good to network with other exhibitors. Joanne Oliver, HR Projects Officer Telford & Wrekin Council We have been happy with today’s turnout. It was a very professional set up and we have had many referrals. Everybody has enjoyed it and found it very worthwhile. Also lunch was lovely. Hollie O’Loughlin Engagement Consultant Workinglinks The event was a resounding success. Again, we realised what a pool of talented and committed social workers are available to our school in the Midlands. Thanks for a great event. Thomas Green Swalcliffe Park School Well co-ordinated event. Have re-booked for next year. Sam MacDonald, Operational Manager Walsall MBC Good position in the room near front door – resulted in a lot of interest. Venue facilities good – however would have appreciated a water dispenser. Deborah MacIntyre & Helen Reyners, Social Workers Leicestershire County Council Excellent event. Lots of positive feedback from candidates. Well done the Compass team. Rob Arnold, Director Semester Recruitment We had a good day with plenty of interest. Mark Thorn, District Manager Kent County Council Felt that we were slightly out of the main busy area and if we were to come again we would ideally like to be based closer to the front area. Mark Woodall, Outreach Team Pertemps/Train 2 Gain				Good attendance, hopefully we will have interest from the many people we have spoken to. Easy to reach location, adequate parking clearly signposted. The food was attractively laid out/presented. Next time we would like a more central location. Jane Middleton, Social Worker Leicester City Council Good layout, well organised. Helpful staff. We retained a good recruitment response. Carol Smith, Workforce Development Facility Manager Stoke-on-Trent City Council A well organised day. The position of stand good. Felt it was a little quieter than last year but still plenty of interest especially in relation to MA study. A good PR exercise for the University and a great opportunity to network. Pauline Green/Fran Fuller, Programme Leaders University of Derby An excellent event, with hundreds of qualified candidates looking for work. Would benefit from drinks for exhibitors! Tim Normanton, Recruitment Strategy Manager Staffordshire County Council