Award winning recruitment firm, has received a visit from Jobcentre Plus (JCP) Scotland District Managers to discuss effective diversity strategies at SkyBlue Rail Duddeston branch.

The event which happened recently at Birmingham Rail Depot, Pitney Street was part of JCP Integrated and Employment Skills initiative.

SkyBlue, the recruitment arm of Carillion plc, was visited by Dave Cowie and Jim McGongle, Jobcentre Plus (JCP) District Managers for Scotland, who discussed SkyBlue’s effective diversity strategy within the local community.

Marjory Logue, Head of National Operations Scottish Skills Agency, Danny Logue Director of Careers Scottish Skills Agency, UK Commissioners for Employment and Skills and West Midlands JCP representatives also attended the event.

During their afternoon visit, they met the SkyBlue Management Team, Train'd Up delegates and temporary rail workers from the local region.


"SkyBlue is at the forefront of the recruitment industry in terms of promoting diversity in the workplace as a benefit to business and the local community," said SkyBlue Branch Manager in Scotland, Tonia Quarrell-Small.

"Our commitment to a truly diverse workforce extends to all of our clients in Scotland, such as Carillion Civil Engineering, Carillion Building and Carillion Rail. It was really useful to speak to experts on the senior management team of Jobcentre Plus and today we have found support on our strategies through the LEP."

The LEP initiative is the driving force with which the Government and local businesses aim to improve the difficulties that people are faced with when looking for employment.

Dave Cowie, Jobcentre Plus District Manager for Forth Valley, Fife & Tayside Scotland said: "We all were very impressed by the way in which unemployed people were prepared for opportunities in major infrastructure projects and by the success rates achieved by SkyBlue."

This is not the first time that Duddeston Depot has hosted a diversity meeting, as Stephen Timms, former Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform and David Lammy, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills visited the branch in September to see how the diversity strategy is implemented by SkyBlue in the workplace.

SkyBlue is the national recruitment arm of support services and construction company Carillion. It has offices all over the UK including Birmingham, London, Glasgow and Southampton.

(GK/JM)