News at Chefs Jobs UK

Football legends

The CMR team takes part in the Legends charity football event 2008 ...

On Friday 9th May the Cummins Mellor Football Team took part in a charity event at the JJB Soccer Dome in Blackburn. The event included legends from Liverpool FC as well as Peter Reid from Everton. You get the chance to play with a legend as well.

We were placed in a group of 5 and we were the second match on. The nerves were far too visible but we kicked off. They scored within the first 2 minutes and you would have thought that we would crumble, but the team came together and our resident goal scorer, Simon “Woodsy” Woods slotted in an equaliser and we then went all out to win the game but the whistle came too soon. There was still time for Woodsy to tackle John Barnes though!. The game ended 1-1 and we were then starting to dream about what could be!!!

The second game ended 0-0 with Peter Reid and I at the back with Lee pulling off some excellent saves but we did loose Nigel in this game due to an ankle injury that was more like a football inside his ankle. We also had two “loud” supporters on the sidelines spurring us on.

We were sitting 3rd in the group and needed a win to go through but we game up against a dodgy referee who gave 2 goals to our opposition.

The final game was a local Derby against a team from Accrington. They had won every game and we didn’t want to go out with a humiliation. I had several run ins with their striker and I felt at one stage we were both going to be sent off!. In the end they beat us 2-0 and the tournament was over for our team.

After the tournament there was evening entertainment at Ewood park with guest speaker Matt Le Tissier. Many beers were had by all but a big thank you for everyone back at base for your support and help throughout the day. ROLL ON NEXT YEAR.

Business is Booming!  May 2008

Six New Recruits for Cummins Mellor Recruitment

Despite the current economic climate it is good news to hear that an East Lancs. based Independent Recruitment Company is experiencing an unprecedented growth curve and has just filled six internal vacancies. Established in 1990 as National Specialists in the Hotel and Catering Industry, the company is now a successful multi disciplined recruitment agency providing recruitment services in areas such as Accountancy, Admin., Customer Service, Sales & Marketing, HR, Industrial, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Engineering and Supply Chain. The company is also finding increased demand for CRB checks and as a registered umbrella body for the Criminal Records Bureau is fully qualified to provide this service.

“Business is booming, we have had a phenomenal start to the financial year and we are delighted to welcome six new members of staff on board, with a further two due to start within the next couple of weeks. We are now reaping the rewards of establishing strong long term relationships with National and Local employers and focusing on excellent customer service. We look forward to continued growth and forging ahead with further new clients and candidates.”

                             (Richard Mellor, Managing Director)     

Hats off to St George …

It was business (not quite) as usual for the Accrington based Recruitment Consultancy. The CMR sales team have fun at work with a light hearted, patriotic hat competition to mark the National Day.

Investment in People Pays Off ... April 2008

Six successful Cummins Mellor Recruitment Consultants pass the professional exam in Recruitment Practice. This now brings the total to 17 consultants qualifying in the last three years.

June Crossley (who gained distinction) explained that “the qualification is important so that the client can be assured that they are dealing with a professional consultant who only gives ethical and quality advice.”

The exam success comes just as the Accrington based independent recruitment agency receives a glowing assessment, as they successfully retain their Investors in People accreditation.
     “... a caring and nurturing environment. The potential of staff was recognised and people encouraged to develop their careers... strong company values... a strong team spirit.”
                                                                Source Carol Davidson Assessor on behalf of the Centre for Assessment & Recognition (NW) Ltd.

     “Cummins Mellor Recruitment is a business we are all very proud of. It revolves around a collection of highly talented, dedicated

     individuals who have come together to provide exemplary recruitment services to both candidates and clients alike. Cummins Mellor is

     committed to Best Practice and follows REC regulations. We provide the opportunity, for our staff to train and study for the body

     qualifications and encourage them to fulfil their potential “

                                                                                                   Richard Mellor (Managing director)       

Time for change if employers want the best chefs’ say recruitment experts

The conundrum of finding and keeping quality chefs can be an unenviable task for employers, but hospitality recruitment specialists, Cummins Mellor, who themselves employ 26 members of staff, say this need not be the case.

Having worked first-hand in the hospitality industry before launching their award-winning, multi-disciplined recruitment firm in 1990, husband and wife duo, Michelle and Richard Mellor believe that by listening to new ideas from chefs and allowing them the freedom to source their own suppliers and write menus, employers will gain positive results.

When considering what shift patterns to employ, Michelle Mellor, director of Cummins Mellor, says straight rather than split shifts, two consecutive days off and the prospect of more regular hours, will make job offers more attractive when competing for the best chefs.

She says: “Work/life balance is high on the personnel agenda in all industries and there is no reason why the hospitality sector should be any different. Like other professionals, chefs work incredibly long hours in a stressful and highly pressured environment – the best chefs are attracted to decent working hours.”

To safeguard employers, Michelle suggests waiting three to six months before presenting share options to chefs and would ask if the employer is paying enough? Salaries awarded to Head Chefs are diverse and can range from £30,000- £100,000 plus depending on location and price bracket and free or subsidised accommodation as well as a relocation package may well clinch the deal.

Michelle summarises: “By simply bringing the working lives of chefs into the twenty first century, employers will be able to get the best from their staff and as a result businesses are more likely to prosper.”

November 2007

REWARDING WORK

CUMMINS MELLOR RECRUITMENT celebrates another very successful year.

26 staff gathered at the 9th Annual Company Review (2006-2007) held at Fraser Eagle’s head office in Altham where the people in the people business were rewarded for their outstanding contribution to the Accrington based Recruitment Company.

Four lucky consultants were presented with ‘mini breaks’ in the UK and Europe in recognition of their hard work, whilst others received specially engraved glass awards.

The pictured prize winners (photo attached) are from L to R Kate Monk, Katie Sholicar (Going the Extra Mile), June Crossley (Consultant of the Year), Angela Thomas (Most Improved), Vicky Lomas (Best Newcomer), and the Hospitality Division (Division of the Year) including Hayley Kilcoyne (Performance), Sharon Skinner and Michelle Mellor.

June Crossley (photo attached) is pictured receiving her ‘2 night trip to Europe’ prize from the Directors.

Managing Director Richard Mellor said “I have a fantastic team of staff who work brilliantly together. It is a pleasure to come to work in the morning”.

The Cummins Mellor team aim to provide a standard of excellence to candidates and clients, providing tailor-made temporary and permanent recruitment solutions at a local level in most disciplines. Further details can be found at www.cummins-mellor.co.uk.

Top marks for local recruiters

19th March 2007

Cummins Mellor Recruitment is celebrating a scholarly victory after four of its staff passed the Certificate in Recruitment Practice exam with flying colours.

The business brians of Angela Thomas, Steve McDermott, UK Print Industry Recruitment Consultant, Andrew McCracken and Mark Stevenson, both Industrial Recruitment Consultants were put to the test in February when they took the exam, overseen by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.

  The eagerly awaited results were delivered to them yesterday

  following much anticipation and celebrations began immediately after

  they discovered they had all passed. 

  Angela Thomas said: “ I can’t believe I have passed! None of us were

  expecting such a result  - the exam questions were not the ones any of

  us were expecting and amazingly we have all got through!”

  The REC, which is the trade association for the UK’s £24.8 billion private

  recruitment and employment industries, says this is a significant

  achievement within an agency that they see growing at a rapid rate.

     pictured - Steve, Mark, Angela and Steve - "Celebrate their success!"

    Judith Armatage, the REC’s Director of Professional Development, said:

   “Cummins Mellor Recruitment pride themselves on having trained recruitment  consultants so I am delighted that their latest group of four consultants have passed this important industry qualification covering legislation, ethics, sales and interviewing skills.  Not only does this success demonstrate commitment to their clients and candidates but it shows that the management of the company realise just how important it is to offer career development opportunities to their team"  

Michelle Mellor, director of Cummins Mellor said that not all credit should go to Cummins Mellor:

  "We have always shown commitment to best practice and quality standards but this result is testament to the individuals hard work and perseverance as well as to the company."

Local recruiters inspired by celebrity chef

22nd February 2007

Local recruiters will continue their drive for home grown staff following an inspirational speech from celebrity chef, Paul Heathcote.

Accrington/Rochdale recruitment company, Cummins Mellor, who specialise in employment in the hospitality industry, have long been committed to finding staff in the local area and believe there is a wealth of talent on the doorstep.

Founder of Heathcotes, Paul Heathcote, who himself worked as a chef with the likes of Raymond Blanc, says his Michelin-star, award-winning chain of restaurants are largely thanks to his home grown staff and that his plans for expansion do not involve moving out of the North West.

After selling his house to get a bank loan, to set up the now legendary, Longridge Restaurant, in Preston, in 1990, Heathcotes has become the highest rated restaurant company for training in the UK.

He says: “ I wanted to get the ‘wow’ factor into the restaurants which has meant making sure I employ the right people.”

Michelle Mellor, Director of Cummins Mellor, whose business also began in 1990, believes that Paul’s example should positively reinforce local people wanting to work in the catering industry.

She says: “ We are passionate about recruiting hospitality staff in the local area and Paul has helped confirm what we already knew about home grown talent.”

24th Januray 2007

Service Please..?

I recently travelled to Durham with my husband and daughter to attend the university open day. The journey took just over3 hours. We arrived ready for a bite to eat before embarking on the 3 hour show round of the wonderful city and colleges. We choose a good quality hotel and sat on beautiful comfortable sofas in the lounge area after deciding on a light bar snack to keep us going until dinner. Waiting for a member of staff to serve a much needed drink and offer the delights of the bar menu, we waited and waited eventually having to go and locate the waitress by asking the chef on duty from the kitchen entrance if anyone was serving. Eventually a young man came with very short trousers in a rather stained waistcoat and took our order. He returned shortly afterwards placing his fingers around the rim of each glass whilst placing them on the table. He then took our order of sandwiches and a portion of chips which on arrival looked beautiful, rare roast beef served on the softest rye bread with peppery rocket, creamy horseradish and the crispest chips imaginable.

“Could we have some salt, oh and vinegar would be great”. The vinegar arrived 5 minutes later in an egg cup with a teaspoon to sprinkle over what was by this time luke warm chips. We skipped coffee and paid, reluctant to leave a tip.

On the return journey home we stumbled on a wonderfully situated country pub. Opening the doors to a roaring log fire, home brewed beer and blackboard specials we had found a real gem. Sitting at the table having got our drinks from the bar our mouths watered as we read the imaginative menu and specials available to us sourced from the best local produce and freshest ingredients.

I was told to place the order at the food counter and duly took my place behind a man already ordering. I stood for 5 minutes listening to the manager behind the counter take a booking for a Christmas party. I stood for a further 5 minutes listening to wine choices, room set ups and how many balloons would be on the table at the party. No acknowledgement from the man behind the counter was made to me and he could clearly see I was waiting to place my food order. Many staff were walking round the place not very busy and one girl was standing behind the bar picking her nails, talking to a colleague. At last, some response from the manager from behind the food counters. “I won’t be a minute”. My stomach thinking my throat had been cut, I returned to our table, no food ordered thinking he would come to me when he had finished with his Xmas booking. He then disappeared into the office to print out a receipt for the customer. 5 more minutes passed and we were beginning to feel a little faint. Eventually food was ordered and it arrived looking absolutely delicious, hot and very appetising. Asking the waitress for another drink to go with my supper,” Order at the bar please” was the reply so again, I waited in another queue to gain a couple of soft drinks and a glass of wine by which time sitting back down for my long awaited meal was eaten cold. For the second time that day sweets and coffee were not worth the hassle and we left.

How bitterly disappointed I was and how very often this is now the case when I go out to eat. How can establishments get the food so right and yet get the service so wrong? Too much emphasis is now on the produce, the food, the whole back of house operation. How Chefs can let their excellent produce and creations leave the pass to be so poorly served to the customer? Why is it so difficult to buy further drinks, wine, coffees etc.? Why aren’t staff trained to sell when customers clearly want to buy?

It’s about time the Industry started focusing on excellent service, we go out to eat this beautiful produce and want it to be served well. The Industry needs a Gordon Ramsey in food service, someone who can echo his uncompromising standards and take them to the front of operation to complete total customer satisfaction

20th December 2006

Leading Lancashire Recruiter flies top Hospitality Consultant to Monaco

One of the North West’s leading Recruitment Consultancy’s, Cummins Mellor Recruitment, based in Lancashire held their Annual Staff Awards earlier this month at Red Rose Court in Clayton-le-Moors. Employees from both the Accrington and Rochdale branches gathered to recognise their achievements throughout the year and celebrate their colleague being awarded a trip to Monaco.

Hospitality specialist June Crossley was crowned Consultant of the Year sending her and her husband off on a fabulous expenses paid trip to Monaco. June is an experienced Consultant in the Hospitality Sector and has been working for the company for the last 14 years. She was ecstatic at the generous prize saying, “I am so happy to have received this award and the trip to Monaco is fantastic. While I am really pleased to win Consultant of the year it is really a reflection of the high standards and support shown throughout the whole of the Hospitality department”

It is no surprise then that Division of the Year was won by the companies’ Hospitality department which is continuing to grow year on year thanks to its dedicated and experienced team of specially trained consultants. Sharon Skinner also from the Hospitality department won the most Improved Performance. All winners were commended with a host of prizes and celebrated throughout the night with food and drink.

Managing Director and host for the evening Richard Mellor commented, “These were our 8th Staff Awards and I feel very proud of everyone at Cummins Mellor. All our staff have worked so hard throughout the year and these awards coupled with other incentives go some way to keep motivation and morale high for us all. The company is growing as a whole with specialist consultants in a range of fields but our long standing Hospitality Division has performed outstandingly and their achievements deserve recognition.”

Cummins Mellor Recruitment is a multi-disciplined recruitment group, which prides itself on providing tailor-made, high quality, temporary and permanent recruitment solutions at a local and national level.