How to Find a Job in Leeds UK
While the cities of northern England have suffered more in the recession than London and other cities in the south, pockets of prosperity still exist, among them the vibrant, youthful city of Leeds. Work-wise Leeds has several major advantages: the demographic make up of the area, its geographical position and its relative cheapness in comparison with cities further south.
Leeds is a student city with several institutes of higher education as well as a number of specialist colleges which bring a lot of money into the city and students in Leeds have plenty of opportunity to find a part time job to help fund their living costs while studying. Students should be able to find at least a few hours a weekend working in retail or hospitality: the city is a popular weekend destination, especially for party people and shoppers, and this brings a lot of money into the city. The universities may receive news of vacancies that are suitable for students but job seekers may find it just as easy to walk round the various shopping areas and entertainment complexes armed with a pile of up-to-date resumes. According to online jobs expertMonster, Leeds boasts 3.5 million sq ft of retail floor space and five miles of shopping streets.
Leeds is also a popular location for major conferences so it may be worth registering with events agencies so that you can be called when staff are needed for ad hoc work assisting delegates or working in catering or other areas of hospitality. Students may also be able to find work in hospitality or as a steward at sporting events such as rugby league games, football at Leeds United or county and international cricket which is played throughout the summer at the Headingley ground.
Leeds, according toLocate in Leedsis the second largest financial centre in the UK with over 120,000 people employed in the sector: this includes specialist workers as well as secretaries, receptionists and other support staff. In the region more broadly the number increases to a staggering 276,000 employed in the sector and the outlook appears good with projected growth of 18 per cent over the next ten years. Leeds is home to major banking institutions such as First Direct and Yorkshire Bank while the award winning Yorkshire Building is based not too far away in Huddersfield.
Alternatively the city is also closely connected with accountancy and legal services with all the big names, such as KPMG and Eversheds having a presence in the city. These companies tend to have large Human Resources departments and manage their own recruitment but job seekers requiring temporary work may find it useful to contact the human resources departments to ask which agencies they use to fill part time temporary positions.
Those seeking work in engineering or manufacturing will find Leeds to be a thriving city with many exciting employers. Siemens has recently opened a new base in the region while more generally the city is home to companies making products as diverse as surgical instruments and producing newspapers and other printed publications. Leeds City College is renowned as a respected provider of training to the print industry and graduates of its courses will find opportunities for employment with more than four hundred local companies.
Many people are employed within the media and this encompasses radio and television, graphic design agencies, IT consultancies and advertising agencies. New technologies are drawn to a city that has lots of young people and in turn graduates of the city’s two universities are keen to stay in the city after completing their studies.Leeds Media, an off shoot of the city’s Chamber of Commerce, has been created to represent and promote business in the city within the digital, creative and communications industries, both traditional and new media. They are a good source of information for job seekers looking to break into the industry.
Telecommunications is another major employment sector with O2, BT and Orange all having operational headquarters in the city. Their jobs are often recruited by agencies so job seekers should find out which agencies are supplying staff to companies such as these.
Healthcare products are also strongly represented in the region, especially health technology which includes well known and respected firms such as Surgical Innovations and Brandon Medical. In addition, the University of Leeds is a useful source of information on opportunities within its private sector partnerIP Groupwhich is an umbrella organisation for firms which have emerged as a result of research carried out by the university. Health professionals from doctors to nurses and care assistants are also in demand: the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the largest in the United Kingdom.
Finally the city is home to large companies such as supermarket giantASDA; these huge organisations offer opportunities in a range of job types from telephonists to accounts managers, human resources professionals and food technologists. The company has its own dedicated human resources department.
The Leeds employment scene is varied with work opportunities to suit everyone. Students and part time workers can find call centre, hospitality and retail opportunities while graduates have a growing selection of exciting developing companies looking for staff. London is not for everyone but Leeds is proving to be an excellent alternative for those looking to be closer to the countryside but who still want the benefits that a thriving city can offer with cheaper housing and plenty of cultural and sporting opportunities and who don’t want to be somewhere as busy and crowded as London.
