Dudley Council has launched Connect2Dudley, developed by the authority in conjunction with Commercial Services Group, to recruit temporary and casual roles across the council.

Connect2Dudley is now a financially sustainable and self-sufficient business and are embracing the opportunity to work with the education and public sector organisations at a time when recruitment is one of the greatest challenges facing the sectors.

The agency works with around 270 temporary staff at any one time and provides candidates with an easy-to-follow application process.

The council typically spends around £12.5million a year on temporary staff and by managing the process directly has been able to deliver savings. The new branding, Connect2TalentSolutions is excited to work with education settings and other local authorities across the West Midlands with their temporary and permanent recruitment needs.

Helping these organisations to reduce costs whilst accessing fully compliant, quality recruitment services. Councillor Phil Atkins, cabinet member for corporate strategy, said:

"We are pleased to be working with our partners in Kent once again to launch Connect2TalentSolutions, which will see us expand our recruitment services to schools and other local authorities.

"Quality is at the heart of everything we do, and we are working to provide innovative and ethical support to our public sector partners and clients as they navigate the challenges of recruitment.

"By operating these agencies from within the local authority, we are putting money that would otherwise go external back into the council coffers, which benefits council taxpayers."

Matt Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of CSG, added: "We are delighted to announce the launch of Connect2TalentSolutions which is built on the great success of our Connect2Dudley joint venture already delivering quality sustainable recruitment solutions for Dudley Council.

"The extension of these recruitment services to local schools and other local authorities across the West Midlands spreads the social value of our joint venture further into the public sector.

"When recruitment is so challenging for all organisations, it takes new approaches to break the mould and offer something different and this is what Connect2TalentSolutions will do."