Agency secures council contract.

Middlesbrough-based Pearsons has won the recruitment, public notices and digital advertising contract for Rotherham Council following a three-stage tender process and against stiff national competition.

The three-year contract valued at about pounds 3m has been developed to drive forward the ambitious plans the council has for modernising its recruitment processes, which will focus on the implementation of integrated digital solutions for both front and back office functions.

The council currently advertises more than 1,000 vacancies each year and needs to develop a strategic, candidate centred approach that harnesses new channels, reduces costs and achieves efficiencies in the process.

In addition to its traditional advertising agency service offer, Pearsons was selected for its capability to support the clients' objectives with the broadest range of digital services; from e-recruitment systems to meet back office requirements, online application, screening and assessment to streamline the selection process and in-depth data capture systems to support analysis and future strategy.

Rotherham senior HR officer Debby Robinson said: "Pearsons clearly demonstrated their understanding of our immediate needs and an ability to practically apply our vision for the future."

Pearsons is one of the UK's largest independent recruitment advertising agencies. With its base in Middlesbrough and additional offices in Newcastle and Leeds, the company employs 85 people and has a turnover of pounds 20m. The agency is unique in hosting and managing its own public sector jobs website www.sector1.net.

Recruitment and digital managing director Lilian Hughes said: "This win, which comes on top of other recent account gains, is a key part of our growth strategy and further extends our footprint within Yorkshire."