A love of getting people into jobs has led to a Cwmbran man setting up his own recruitment agency. David Rowlands, aged 38, grew up in Greenmeadow and was a pupil at Fairwater Comprehensive School.
He said: “When I was was in school you had two routes. You either went to college or went off and did an apprenticeship. They were the only options. When I left school the apprentices I knew were more or less the final group of that kind going into the likes of Lucas Girling and Saunders Valves.
“Then there was a huge gap (in the numbers of apprentices being recruited). And now there is a massive call for apprenticeships. When I left school I did IT and Sports Studies at Pontypool College. After that I went to uni and did a combined honours degree.
“Then I had enough of studying and wanted to work.”
His first job after college
“I went into working for an American company doing data quality. Another opportunity came up during the dot.com boom and I started to sell websites to leisure businesses across Wales. I progressed really quickly in the office and went from field sales to ending up project managing the whole place.”
He took a break and went travelling in Australia where he met his now-wife and the pair returned to the UK. He remembered getting a job through an agency before travelling.
“The person who helped me was so kind, helpful and supportive. I thought, that’s what I want to do. So that was the avenue I went down. I’ve worked for some of the big agencies over the year.
“That’s where I learned a different approach to recruitment and really enjoyed it. I got to a point where there was no opportunity for progression. I made a decision last year to go out and find out what I could do for myself. I started Platform Resourcing in April.
“I’ve always thought I would work for myself. I take more of a consultative approach such as salary surveys, current market trends and attractions techniques so businesses can compare themselves to others in the area.”
Booming in Wales
“Manufacturing and precision engineering is booming in Wales. We have the aerospace and automotive sectors. There are companies that make some pretty unbelievable stuff in this area. There are companies making parts for Formula One cars. You wouldn’t even know they are there.
“There is a such a diverse range of things being made in this area. We talk to the candidates coming in and match them up to give them the best chance of getting the job. For me it’s about working in partnership and getting the right people.
“I try and speak to as many people as possible and match them for their job they want to do. It’s a longer process but clients like it.
“I love getting people into jobs!”
Read David’s tips on starting your own business
David gave an interview to Business Wales, who gave him advice on starting a business. Click here to read it.
Contact Platform Resourcing
Click here to visit the Platform Resourcing website.
Click here to see the latest vacancies.
Call David for a chat on 01633 546 320 or email him [email protected]
Visit Platform Resourcing’s Facebook page or follow them on Twitter @platformforjobs
PHOT0S- courtesy of David Rowlands (via Business Wales)