Luton Council and Commercial Services Group launch new recruitment venture for temporary agency staff.

A new and innovative joint venture has been announced by Luton Council to recruit temporary agency and interim staff into a wide range of roles across the authority to meet the growing demand for services, particularly in social care.

Joining forces, Luton Council and Commercial Services Group have created a new agency to enable Luton to better manage and control the sourcing and retention of skilled, high quality temporary agency staff.

Chief Executive of Luton Council, Robin Porter said: ‘The joint venture has been set up to align to Luton’s long-term strategy to achieve social value through engagement with our communities, provide local jobs for local people and deliver a better service to our customers.  This all supports our vision that by 2040 no-one in Luton will have to live in poverty.

‘By effectively creating our own in-house agency, drawing on the expertise of our partners in Kent who created a similar set-up themselves and have successfully delivered the system to other councils, our aim is to attract and retain good temporary staff over a longer period.  In doing so we hope that many will take the opportunity to convert to permanent employment with us, which we would welcome.

This control will allow us not only to successfully manage expenditure but also reduce costs and provide support to other organisations within the borough.’

‘Both teams in Luton and Kent have come together to work as one under the difficult circumstances we all face with the pandemic.  I have been impressed with their dedication and agility to ensure the successful mobilisation of the new venture has been delivered on time’.

Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Services Group, John Burr, added ‘We are delighted to be supporting Luton in their aim to attract and retain good quality temporary staff.  This joint endeavour is very much building on the good work that the team at Commercial Services Group have delivered with both Kent and Hampshire County Councils over recent years and combining that with Luton’s local supporting agencies, who will have a significant role to play going forwards.  This is an innovative solution that will deliver significant benefits to the residents of Luton.

‘The commitment and openness to working in partnership from both parties is something to be extremely proud of and will stand the joint venture in good stead to deliver its goals’.

While the agency will be responsible for the recruitment of temporary agency staff to roles across the council, from specialist housing and planning staff to catering and environmental support, there will be a particular focus on recruiting into social care, where demand for additional staff to plug gaps on a temporary basis is most evident.