A special careers guide to Kirklees’ Top 100 Companies has been officially launched for local schools and colleges to help raise awareness of the wide range of careers opportunities available across the region.
The first ever Kirklees Top 100 Companies Careers Edition launch event took place on Wednesday December 7 at the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC) with representatives from the initiative’s partners, businesses from the Top 100 list and careers advisers from schools and colleges across the region in attendance.
The purpose of the Careers Edition is to inspire future talent to recognise their local area as a place to grow, thrive and fulfil their career aspirations, by highlighting opportunities available at the most successful companies in the region.
Discussions at the launch event highlighted how to attract and retain talent within Kirklees, predicted future skills gaps and provided advice around post-16 recruitment and how to prepare young people for the world of work.
The Kirklees Top 100 Companies initiative aims to raise the profile of the local business community and build stronger links around topics of shared interest between the companies on the list and its founding partners, the University of Huddersfield, Kirklees Council, the Huddersfield Examiner and the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre.
The Kirklees Top 100 Companies list is determined by a set of consistent metrics, using a combination of turnover, profit, employee numbers and growth, all derived from published company accounts of locally registered firms drawn from the FAME database.
The third Top 100 list was announced in early October revealing which businesses made it to the top 100, top 10 and the top 3. Buy It Direct, based in Deighton, Huddersfield, made it to the top of this year’s list following its success during the pandemic.
Clr Graham Turner, Cabinet member for regeneration and growth at Kirklees Council, said: “Kirklees Council is delighted to support the Kirklees Top 100 Careers Edition initiative, and to have been involved with this event, in order to promote Kirklees as a fantastic place to live, learn and build a rewarding career.
“The Employment and Skills plan for the district is called ‘Aspire, Achieve and Include’, which highlights the importance of ensuring local employment opportunities are widely promoted to, and understood by, local people in order for them to benefit.
“This event was a great opportunity to bring together businesses and careers advisers, so we can collectively begin the process of promoting the amazing opportunities available right here in the heart of Kirklees.”
Lauren Wallman, learning and development manager at Linthwaite-based Thornton & Ross, said: “We’re delighted to see the Careers Edition being launched within the Kirklees area. It’s a great way for us to showcase the diverse range of pharmaceutical opportunities available at Thornton & Ross, alongside other Kirklees Top 100 companies, to talent from across the region.”
Andy Mead, head of analytical development & insight at Dewsbury-based UK Greetings, said: “An event like this is so important for us to be able to share the opportunities available in the Kirklees area and at UK Greetings, ranging from Creative, Manufacturing, Marketing to Analytics, Merchandising and Customer Service.”
Steve Moore, area manager at CityFibre, this year’s Careers Edition sponsor, said: “We have some fantastic businesses across Kirklees and a wealth of home-grown talent that will be the next generation of pioneers and innovators. The Kirklees Top 100 Careers Edition is brilliant way to bring those two together and CityFibre is proud to be a part of that.”
Since the initiative’s launch in 2020, the Kirklees business community has been brought together to connect, inspire and transfer knowledge through exclusive events. A dynamic Talent Group consisting of HR professionals meets regularly to share best practice around talent recruitment, retention, and development.
The Careers Edition of the brochure can be downloaded here.
For more information about the Kirklees Top 100 Companies, click here, follow @KirkleesTop100 on Twitter and Kirklees Top 100 on LinkedIn.
