38 | Business Elite 2021 131 | Q1 2021 Feb21506 A Fresh Take on Construction Recruitment In an industry mostly dominated by men, this UK based company led by Kelly Cartwright is taking a new approach to serving its sector. Based in Norwich, Jark Norfolk is an independent brand and construction recruitment agency that provides recruitment services to the building and construction industry. Working in temporary, contract and permanent recruitment solution services, it is an award-winning specialist in its field – its efforts allow the logistical movement of many Trades, Labour and Management Personnel across East Anglia. Furthermore, its Managing Director, Kelly Cartwright, has over 10 years of construction recruitment knowledge behind her. Recruitment is a sector based on fierce competition; factors such as delivery on time, budget, and first impressions on a client are all vitally important for whether an agency can sink or swim. Jark Norfolk finds that it stands out well in all these areas, but specifically that it shines in that ever-crucial first impression. When approaching a pitch with a site manager, it intends to stand out by ‘being disruptive’. For this company, that means not allowing it to be forgotten under any circumstances, something that makes the difference between getting the job and not getting it in an industry wherein a site manager could see many pitches daily. By taking a risk and daring to be different, it pushes the limits and disturbs the ‘very essence of what an entrepreneur should do’. It takes great pride in its ability to be innovative without reinventing the wheel; by keeping things simple and effective, it offers the site manager the right staff with the right specialties, at the right time for their project, who will work to tight deadlines. Although these things are not unique to Jark Norfolk in and of themselves, the way it communicates them is. It takes time to research and fully understand its client and their project before a pitch – everything from the site dynamic to the logistics of what skillsets are required. It also prizes its ability to keep focus on its initial goal and ethos. As a successful woman in a male dominated industry, Kelly Cartwright ensures that this is true across the company. Although she has encountered many challenges, she has used these bumps in the road to bolster herself and her ranks, taking on the criticism she has received and using it to strengthen Jark Norfolk’s operations. In this way, Jark Norfolk has gained respect in its industry – furthermore, it ensures that this is further bolstered by the work ethic of its employees up and down its ranks, everyone pitching in to ensure a job is done with efficiency and excellence. Of course, like many others, Jark Norfolk also faced significant challenges due to the pandemic. When lockdown was announced, the construction industry had to close, and its revenue streams took a significant hit, causing a lot of projects to be closed even as they were just beginning. It responded by rising to the challenge. In the face of reduced profit and tumult, it had Face Fit trained its workers, and so offered the same training on a volunteer basis to the NHS’s front-line staff. It also updated the training of its own workforce, ensuring that they can continue to work to meet the challenges of its industry whilst keeping both themselves and Jark Norfolk’s clients safe. Going forward, this training will continue – Jark Norfolk’s team seeks to make it an imperative that productivity is maximised as well as safety. Not only will this upgrade its competitive edge in its industry, it will pioneer its way into the future of the construction industry with its development and operation of safe construction sites. Among the programmes it has implemented, it has trained all its staff in the CITB safety course and mental health first aid. Moving into the rest of 2021, it has set its sights on further internal growth to reinforce its position in the industry, continuing to weather the storm of the pandemic. Company: Jark Norfolk Ltd Contact: Kelly Cartwright Website: www.jark.co.uk/norfolk
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