The Year in Review

October 2024

The School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) is to be reinstated in recognition of the vital role support staff play in the education workforce.

Legislation to re-establish the SSSNB through the Employment Rights Bill was introduced in Parliament on 10th October. The reintroduction of the body – which was abolished in 2010 by the previous government - was a Labour manifesto commitment and is said to be part of the Education Secretary’s commitment to reset the relationship with the sector.

The SSSNB will play a vital role in helping to ensure that schools can continue to recruit and retain the staff they need to drive high and rising standards. The body will be made up of representatives of employers, unions and an independent chairperson. They will be tasked with making sure support staff are paid fairly and have access to training and career progression opportunities.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said; “Support staff make a huge contribution to children’s education and the smooth running of our schools. By reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) we will make sure they are properly valued and respected as the professionals they are, supporting our work to drive high and rising standards so every child has the best life chances.”
 

August 2024

Job hunters are increasingly turning to Artificial Intelligence to help them apply for roles, according to a recent survey by the Financial Times.

Generative AI technology, such as ChatGPT and Gemini, is being used by up to 50% of candidates to write cover letters, CVs and complete recruitment tests, creating a ‘barrage’ of AI-powered applications. These are often low quality and many larger employers now have a zero-tolerance attitude towards their use. 

Victoria McLean, chief executive of CityCV commented: “CVs need to show the candidate’s personality, their passions, their story, and that is something AI simply can’t do.”  That’s where recruitment consultants, ideally a specialist in your sector, can add value to your application and your further career development.  

July 2024

We are celebrating our 5th birthday today, recognizing five years of service in support of the education sector.

Liz Nevitt established Dedicate Recruitment in 2019, just before the national lockdowns and a very uncertain time for education and the country as a whole. During this time she developed the foundations of the business to be customer-centric. This has ensured a highly personalized service with a true understanding of client and candidate needs. As a result, the business has been recognized as a strategic recruitment partner for a number of MATs and schools across the UK. To underline our success, we have been shortlisted for two industry awards; MATA 'Education Consultant of the Year' Award and Recruiter 'Best Candidate Care' Award 2024.

Thank you to all our clients and candidates who we have partnered with along this hugely satisfying and challenging road. We love what we do and couldn’t do this without you. We look forward to the next five years (and more!) in helping to be part of more success stories!

June 2024

We are excited to announce that Dedicate Recruitment are now Corporate Members of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), the professional body for recruitment companies. 

Recruitment Director Liz Nevitt commented "Having transitioned from a Professional Member status due to our imminent growth plans, we continue to operate under a strict and highly regulated compliance process to ensure future employees adhere to stringent recruitment guidelines and regulations. This accreditation continues to assure our clients of our integrity in how we conduct ourselves."

The REC represents over 3,000 UK recruitment businesses - members are recognised for their professionalism and the value they provide to clients and candidates. If a recruitment agency displays the REC logo, it's a sign of quality. It demonstrates that they have passed a compliance assessment and adhere to the REC Code of Professional Practice.

May 2024

A fantastic expo at The Schools & Academies Show in London on 1st May. We met some lovely old friends and made new ones!

It was a very busy day with great conversations on recruitment and retention, branding and how attracting talent through core values versus remuneration is a leading conversation in schools right now.

Pictured Ops Director Dan Nevitt with Manan Mirza and Bas Basra, directors from Khalsa Academies Trust. 

March 2024

We were fortunate to be asked to contribute to the ‘Soundbites’ feature of the March/April Recruiter Magazine, with its combined media reach of 100,000 subscribers.

The question is ‘What is the bravest step forward your business has made so far in 2024?’.

The year is still yet new and there are many more brave steps to take ahead of us in 2024. Our bravest step is to be more transparent than ever and to shout a little louder about why we are the successful education recruitment partner for you. 

January 2024

Dedicate Recruitment have been shortlisted for the National MAT Awards 2024 as Education Consultant of the Year!

The Awards are hosted by the Multi Academy Trust Association (MATA), to recognize outstanding achievement, support and contribution to MATs. Representing a growing community of over 500 trust leaders, part of MATA’s mission is to celebrate the successes and achievements of the MAT system by rewarding outstanding work with the annual National MAT Awards.

The Awards will be held in London on 7th March – we look forward to meeting and celebrating with the members and award winners!