Modular house builder creating another 500 jobs

Modular housing business, ilke Homes, has confirmed it has joined forces with recruiter Andersen James to realise its ambition of becoming one of Yorkshire’s biggest employers.

The two businesses are partnering to create another 500 jobs at ilke. The venture began earlier this year and has resulted in 126 candidates joining ilke Homes throughout January alone.

As well as ramping up recruitment, the partnership will see the two firms work together to reach ilke Homes’ target for women to account for 20% of its workforce.

The recruitment drive follows two years of growth for the company. North Yorkshire-based ilke Homes recently revealed it has raised £60m from the Government and investors from the private sector, including Asda owners TDR Capital, to support its expansion.

Founded four years ago, the company now has an order book worth over £200m and over 3,000 homes in its pipeline.

Dave Sheridan, executive chairman, said: “We have a responsibility to help people from all backgrounds find employment and for too long, the construction sector has sat on its hands while the skills shortage has hit crisis point.

“Creating local jobs and helping get more women and young people into the sector have to be priorities.

“By training people from all walks of life to manufacture energy-efficient housing in factories, companies such as ourselves can create the skills needed to decarbonise housing, deliver social value via the creation of highly-skilled employment opportunities and open up the industry to groups that have been previously under-represented in house building.”

James Leighton, founder of Andersen James, said: “This partnership is incredibly unique to us as we have complete insight due to internalising the recruitment process, enabling us to provide strategic and in-depth advice whilst also securing exceptional talent.

“We’re also doing our bit to support in solving the UK’s housing crisis, which gives this project a deeper purpose.”

Jo Mansell, executive director of partnerships at ilke Homes, added: “We are really happy to be working with Andersen James, and it is a great time for this partnership to happen due to their track record in the market with similar businesses and initiatives.

“We are already seeing great results and we’re pleased with how impactful their decision-making has been thus far.”

“It seems on-site partnerships are becoming the new norm for fast-growing businesses and consultative recruitment agencies.”