The word on the street

16/03/08

Double Act set to get Welsh recruitment back on Trac

A Treforest-based double business venture set up to help Welsh speakers find jobs is firmly on track to business success.

Not only has interactive employment website, Safle Swyddi, just marked its first birthday and record visitor numbers to the site; but sister company, Welsh-speaking recruitment firm, Job Trac Cymru is now regarded by its host of blue-chip clients as the best option for recruiting bilingual candidates whose Welsh skills has been fully vetted.

Managing Director, Tracey Williams, who started both ventures after spotting gaps in the recruitment market, believes the secret of success lies in being able to match the right person to the right job.

She said, “After working as an HR manager for a number of companies across Wales, I quickly realised there was a definite divide between the number of jobs which showed a preference for Welsh language speakers and those candidates who could actually speak and write fluently in Welsh.

“Partly, I think this was the result of candidates simply not being vetted in Welsh correctly or early enough.”

Quick to turn this into a lucrative business opportunity, Mrs Williams who is a fluent Welsh speaker herself founded Job Trac Cymru with the idea of creating a Welsh speaking recruitment firm which would not only recruit, but fully vet Welsh speakers for businesses and public sector organisations across Wales.

Mrs Williams now regularly checks and recruits candidates on behalf of her 50-strong client base which includes Cardiff Wales Airport, S4C, the Care Council for Wales and the Welsh Language Board.

Since setting up the business, Mrs Williams has witnessed a large-scale increase in the number of both businesses and candidates wanting to use their Welsh language skills to their benefit in the workplace.

“Now more than ever before employers are looking for people who can speak and work in both English and Welsh. And, with initiatives such as the Welsh Language Act of 1993 which stipulates that Welsh speakers should be able to have access to all public services in Welsh, these numbers will continue to rise.”

Within three years of setting up Job Trac Cymru the firm was recognised by the RCT Business Awards as the winner in the Bilingual Business of the Year category 2008.

Twelve months ago Mrs Williams also spotted another online business opportunity resulting in the creation of safleswyddi.com.

This functions as an interactive employment website for Welsh speakers and allows candidates to be informed of any vacancies in Welsh and then link up directly with the potential employer via their website.

Since then Safle Swyddi has attracted over 80,000 unique visitors and displayed in excess of 200 vacancies ranging from temporary placements to prestigious vacancies for experienced architects.

Mrs Williams is hopeful that her success will inspire more candidates and businesses to actively promote the use of Welsh both inside and outside of the workplace.

“Studies indicate that those who understand more than one language are able to think more flexibly and creatively and can communicate with a wider variety of people. This can only be a good thing in an increasingly competitive global marketplace and should be actively encouraged.”

Further information contact, M & M Communications on 079 5869 0659 or buzz@mandmcomms.com