Recruitment primary focus for Oakland International as HR appointment confirmed
Specialist UK and Ireland supply chain operator, Oakland International, has confirmed the appointment of Laura Watkins as HR Advisor (Resourcing) in a newly created role within the business.
Laura will ensure all candidates have clarity and understanding of Oakland’s approach through recruitment in partnership; a process tailored specifically for prospective employees to explain Oakland’s combined multi temperature food business, prior to any employment commitment, starting at the application stage through to induction and completion of probationary periods. Promoting Oakland as an Employer of Choice, Laura will head up the firm’s recruitment and training campaigns to fill a range of available posts at their Redditch business hub. 
Said Laura: “Oakland is an open and people friendly business. The fact that they are a family business, with a genuine desire to engage with their employees and the local community, are both key factors in why I wanted to join the company.”
With Oakland’s drive to recruit for attitude, train for skill, key in their long-term retention strategy, Laura’s already making a difference by attending local job fairs, including MP Sajid Javid’s Bromsgrove Fair, and by holding regular one-to-one drop-in sessions at a local job centre.
“Taking on this newly created role excites my desire to have a positive influence on the organisation’s recruitment strategy going forward.” said Laura, who added: “I intend to build strong relationships with companies specialising in helping people get back into work, attend local careers events and explore the possibility for Oakland of offering an apprenticeship programme. I also plan to take ownership of the induction process to ensure our applicants and new team members receive exceptional service throughout their entire Oakland journey.”
Laura’s skills and previous experience working within the fostering sector will further aide development of Oakland’s community engagement initiatives and relationship building with applicants in order to build a strong talent pool for the future. Her experience of online recruitment and marketing also supports Oakland’s current recruitment strategy.
Oakland Marketing Director, Sallie Attwell, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Laura into our growing Oakland family. Her wealth of recruitment experience is already proving to be a real asset, providing a solid platform for Oakland’s growth plans for the future.”
A family owned food and consumer goods distribution company, Oakland International operates across the UK, Ireland and Europe, offering ambient, chilled and frozen transportation to all major UK and Irish retail, wholesale, discount and convenience markets from their depots in the Midlands and Ireland.
