OUR FIRST SUCCESS STORY!
 
The vision of the Waterloo Region Social Purchasing Portal (SPP) to provide sustainable employment for people in the Region, who face employment challenges, began to materialize with its first hire that preceded its official launch. Read the full story of Colene Allen below:
"Long term unemployment just plain sucks. There’s no easy or nice way to say that. The consequences of being unemployed for over a year were really drastic. Unable to find work, wondering where I had gone so wrong in my career choices, and having to go through a real beating on my self-confidence, I ended up homeless and feeling both helpless and hopeless. I certainly don’t recommend unemployment as a choice for anyone.
I had heard about the Social Purchasing Portal (SPP), but was told it wouldn’t be available for hiring and employment purposes for many months yet. But one day in early October, my employment counsellor at The Working Centre showed me a posting from a web development company, through the Waterloo Region SPP. The posting was for a Sales position – which was not my area, being the technician that I am – but it was an opportunity of a lifetime to me. I applied for the job that day. Less than 36 hours later, I got a call for an interview. Two interviews and some nail-biting later, I was offered the job.
I still have a hard time believing those words were finally said to me – “We’d like to make you an offer of employment.” The pedestrians in Downtown Kitchener must have thought I was nuts, because I was jumping up and down and silently screaming “YES!” with my fists pumping.
 This opportunity with Lewis Media through the Waterloo Region SPP means many things to me. First, it’s a chance to repair the damage done to my life in the last year. I have a home now, a means to take care of myself, and a chance to feel really good about my work and my days again. Second, I can make this job into whatever I want it to be. I will be successful at Lewis Media because I am determined to be. I don’t want Lewis Media to feel their faith in me has been misplaced. They have given me a chance, and I refuse to disappoint them. Finally, it’s a new career. I’ve never worked in Sales before. I was always the Customer Satisfaction and Technical expert.
Those who have watched me struggle for the last year will tell you that they’ve never seen me happier than I am now.
At the launch of the Waterloo Region SPP, someone called me “living proof that the Social Purchasing Portal works.” I suppose that I am, but I prefer to think of myself as the first in a long list of people who will be able to rebuild or build better lives for themselves as a result of the Social Purchasing Portal and its values. And that – more than anything else – makes the Portal and it’s mission worth all the support the Kitchener-Waterloo Community can throw behind it."
Colene Allen, 2006
Jamieson & spp … Another Success story
We are happy to announce that our second successful candidate was hired this month by Jamieson Car & Truck Rentals.
Glenn Bridge, General Manager at Jamieson says:
Hiring through the SPP was a great experience! The SPP staff are wonderful to work with. Here at Jamieson, we strongly believe in contributing to the community and working with the SPP is a perfect way to do just that. This is a mutually beneficial relationship. As manager of a busy rental company, I don’t have a lot of time to look for employees. The SPP did the work for me. Thanks SPP!
The SPP is always looking for new job postings from our partner Suppliers. Please contact the SPP if you need staff.
3rd HIRE THROUGH SPP
Happily, we are announcing our third hire! JTO Courier hired Asha Rajput to fulfill the position of Dispatcher and Customer Service. JTO will meet all your delivery needs—anywhere, anytime and fast too!
Teresa Osborne, VP at JTO Courier, has this to say: “I had planned on using a temp agency to find a dispatcher because I felt that I didn't have the time to go through a stack of resumes.also wasn't sure that I could identify how competentapplicant would be and knew that I did not have time to train someone on the basics.with the SPP to select an employee has been a very positive experience.
 The Employment Service Providers (ESPs) did a great job screening candidates to ensure that their skills matched the requirements in my job description.ESPs test their clients and, unlike a temp agency, they provide training to upgrade their skills to ensure they are job ready.
A major benefit of hiring through the SPP is that both my new employee and my business receive ongoing support to ensure that we have a successful hire. I recommend using the Social Purchasing Portal for any business.”
Another SPP Hire
We are extremely pleased to announce that L’Eau Vivante Inc has become
our next employer by hiring through the Portal. L’Eau Vivante has this
to say about the hiring experience:
 We
recently had the opportunity to use the Waterloo Region Social
Purchasing Portal (SPP) to hire a full-time administrative assistant for
our business.
At L’Eau Vivante, we provide comprehensive financial
planning to individuals in all stages of life. This creates a work
environment which requires commitment, hard work and dedication.
We
found the hiring process with the SPP to be a positive and enjoyable
experience. Along with their partners, the SPP provides pre- and post-
job training, showing their commitment to the program and the community.
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