John Botfield, Stefano Ferrandino (both Dreams), Adam Wheeler, Kate Silk (MET Recruitment) and Sima Tuzinaite (Dreams)

One of the West Midlands’ leading recruitment agencies is helping bed manufacturer Dreams ramp-up production and distribution across its four Black Country sites.

MET Recruitment has overcome a national shortage of skilled staff to recruit more than 100 people for the UK’s leading bed specialist in the last few months, with 50 of them recently progressing to become permanent workers.

The companies are celebrating a 10-year partnership that has seen them work together to find general production operatives, fork-lift truck drivers, warehouse staff, seamstresses, tape edges and drivers’ mates.

Since the beginning of 2021, 110 individuals have progressed into permanent positions, having successfully completed a twelve-week trial.

John Botfield, production manager at Dreams said: “MET Recruitment really get what we do and, over the last decade, have built a strong partnership with us. At any one stage we could need up to 100 temporary workers across different areas of the business and we know MET has the candidate pool and understanding of the roles to find the right people.

“Importantly, they also put their own consultant on site at the start of shifts, so that is one thing less for us to think about. We have been very busy since lockdown and will shortly be embarking on another recruitment drive.”

MET Recruitment, which provides industrial and commercial staff to companies across the UK, started working with Dreams in 2012, providing extra labour support in the despatch department after an existing supplier was struggling to find workers.

The relationship has developed rapidly and now stretches across production and distribution at the bed manufacturer’s sites in Oldbury, Smethwick, Tividale and Wednesbury, with up to 100 temporary workers recruited and supplied during peak times.

Bespoke vetting process
Three experienced consultants work on the account and have built a clear understanding of the type of individuals Dreams require and have a bespoke vetting process in place that means a high number of temporary workers become permanent staff.

They are also present on site twice a day — at 6am and 3pm — to ensure the right number of people arrive and all new starters are briefed on job roles and health and safety guidelines.

Matthew Hunter, MET Recruitment industrial director, said: “We have almost become an extension of the HR team, and this has delivered some fantastic staffing results during what has been an extremely difficult environment.

“In addition to our core advertising, face-to-face interviews and job matching services, we also complete induction, site walk arounds and dual advertising to try to raise as much interest as possible. This has been critical in ensuring levels of supply do not drop, even when there are a lot less candidates out there.”

MET Recruitment, which is on course to hit £9 million turnover this year, was originally set up to supply staff to the mechanical and electrical trades and has gone from three people in a small office on the Pensnett Trading Estate to an 18-strong agency operating from a dedicated head office in Dudley.

The company’s growth has been led by managing director Robin Tong and assisted by two key appointments, with Matthew Hunter joining in 2011 to head up the industrial division and Nella Share arriving three years later to create the commercial recruitment arm of the business.

Investment in its 360deg recruitment solution for clients and an industry-best support infrastructure for candidates has helped it secure a strong client base across engineering, manufacturing, professional services and the services sector.