Leading recruitment and training provider Acorn, was delighted to welcome Stephen Crabb MP, Secretary of State for Wales, to its Newport-based Head Office this week.
Mr Crabb, who has been the MP for Preseli, Pembrokeshire since 2005, was keen to visit Acorn, Wales’ largest recruitment and training agency to hear their views on growth in the economy and the current labour market.
As well as having a tour of the company’s Head Office facilities, Mr Crabb met with Dan Langford, Acorn’s Marketing Director, Andrew Tugwell, Acorn’s Group Operations Director and Roger Moore, Acorn’s Finance Director.
Matt Southall, founder and Group Managing Director of Acorn said: “It is a huge honour for us to welcome the Minister to Acorn and to introduce him to some of the great people who work here.
“Mr Crabb’s visit is recognition of Acorn’s central role in the employment market and how it can support productivity across the economy generally. This reputation has been hard-earned and reflects the tremendous expertise Acorn offers not only to government, but also to the thousands of job-seekers and employers we support year-round.
“It was also a great opportunity for us to update the Minister on how Acorn has developed over recent years, and how we are providing much-needed specialist resource to employers and those looking for work in important sectors such as IT and digital; construction, technical and engineering; logistics, apprenticeships and through the work of our senior executive search division, across the UK and internationally.
“We were also able to showcase how we are actively combating skills shortages with developments like our high-profile IT Bootcamps initiative, a six-week training course that develops the scarce software coding and programming skills employers are increasingly searching for.”
Stephen Crabb, Secretary of State for Wales said: “Acorn is a company displaying the drive and ambition needed to propel the Welsh economy to a strong recovery.
“Over its 23 year history, the business has constantly evolved to ensure it can help people to move into, and move on, in the labour market. They are also responding to the needs of employers by providing job seekers with opportunities to enhance their skill sets.
“If the Welsh economy is to continue to prosper then we must ensure employers, people and governments work together and invest in the right skills for success. Only that way can we ensure that we are creating a workforce which is eager and better prepared for the world of work.”
With more than 23 years in the business, Acorn is the largest recruitment and training firm in Wales and in the leading 1% of all agencies across the UK. Acorn operates from 39 branches across Wales, the South West, North West and South East of England, as well as three Acorn Global offices in Australia.
Each week Acorn places up to 6,500 people into work with around 1,200 different clients. The group also makes 1,700 permanent placements and delivers training to more than 1,000 individuals every year.