Karen Kennard

Sector: Consulting and Services

Flexible Skills Bank is a versatile recruitment solution, offering small businesses the chance to recruit skilled experienced staff direct, on a part time, freelance or contract basis. You can advertise vacancies free and if you are not interested in any of the candidates that come forward, you are charged nothing.

The first 15 years of my career were spent in various marketing roles, but most recently, whilst working as a marketing consultant to small businesses I realised that one of the difficulties that many small businesses often face is recruiting the right people with the right skills, as they need them, without necessarily having to pay a full time salary or large fees to recruitment agencies.

As a mother of two young children I began to think that there must be some area of mutual interest between those companies who could often use some professional expertise but can't afford to take on full time staff, and the vast pool of talent among mothers who are looking for part time jobs or want to work on a more flexible basis.

Flexible Skills Bank acts as an intermediary, matching potential candidates with companies who have vacancies to fill, but still bearing in mind that small businesses can not afford large introduction fees or ongoing agency commission, so costs are kept to an absolute minimum.

It has meant that I now have a challenging and rewarding career that I can do from home and still be there for my children when they need me..

Sector: Human Resources and recruiting