Meditek, in Newton Aycliffe, receives more than 500 applications for two production line jobs

6:00am Saturday 23rd March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Steven Hugill

A GLOBAL stairflift company, founded by North-East two men in a garage, has been forced to stop its search for new workers - after receiving more than 500 applications for two jobs.

Meditek, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, had to take down an advertisement just days after bosses put it up, when interest soared for the vacant production line jobs.

The company, which sells thousands of stairlifts every year in the UK, US, Japan and Australia, wants two workers to make tracks and seats at its £1.1m 32,000sq ft factory, on Newton Aycliffe Business Park.

It has not yet filled the posts, but has stopped advertising the jobs until the company has looked at the applications.

Earlier this year, the firm moved from Fishburn, near Sedgefield, to Newton Aycliffe to develop its deluxe and budget stairlift models.

Steve Wilson, Meditek's operations manager, said the company had anticipated adding to its current 43-strong workforce, but did not expect such immediate high levels of interest in its jobs.

He said: “The new products were officially launched in January and we always expected them to be popular and for production to increase.

“But we didn’t think it would be this quick.

“We put the advertisement in the job centre and quickly had well over 500 interested people, so we had to take it down to canvass the existing applicants.

“It is incredibly encouraging to see so many people want to work with us, and it further cements the feeling that we made the right decision to move to Newton Aycliffe, and benefit from the area's reputation for traditional engineering-based manufacturing.”

Formed by directors Derek Nicholson and Kevin Strafford-Price in a Hartlepool garage in 1995, the company also has a US manufacturing base in North Carolina, which is overseen by Mr Strafford-Price.

The firm's new headquarters, which replaced a previous cluster of smaller industrial buildings in Fishburn, were officially opened by Paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, and the company says it hopes to increase turnover to more than £10m.

Phil Rice, MediTek managing director, said: “We have a core base in County Durham and are constantly growing as a business.

“We did look at moving away, but the business has a heritage and a pedigree in the North-East, the core skills and workers are here, and we are very committed about keeping jobs in the region.”

Comments (12)

8:02am Sat 23 Mar 13

Jonn says...

500 people after 2 jobs!
This Government would have you believe we have millions of lazy people scrounging off the dole when it simply isn't true at all.
There are basically no proper jobs and the above stat goes to prove it.
I'm actually amazed by the fact that there was a real proper job advertised in the Job Centre because it's no longer a place for getting help back into work. It's primary role is now sanctioning people and getting them onto work fare to work for corporates for free.
500 people after 2 jobs! This Government would have you believe we have millions of lazy people scrounging off the dole when it simply isn't true at all. There are basically no proper jobs and the above stat goes to prove it. I'm actually amazed by the fact that there was a real proper job advertised in the Job Centre because it's no longer a place for getting help back into work. It's primary role is now sanctioning people and getting them onto work fare to work for corporates for free. Jonn

11:39am Sat 23 Mar 13

Graeme_r says...

A reputable employer should have a closing date for applications, not a cut off number. It's bad business practice too - how do they know they have got the best applicants if anyone from 501 onwards is barred from applying!
A reputable employer should have a closing date for applications, not a cut off number. It's bad business practice too - how do they know they have got the best applicants if anyone from 501 onwards is barred from applying! Graeme_r

3:19pm Sat 23 Mar 13

Homshaw1 says...

Graeme_r wrote:
A reputable employer should have a closing date for applications, not a cut off number. It's bad business practice too - how do they know they have got the best applicants if anyone from 501 onwards is barred from applying!
500 is a lot of applications for 2 jobs. Stopping applications doesn't make them disreputable
[quote][p][bold]Graeme_r[/bold] wrote: A reputable employer should have a closing date for applications, not a cut off number. It's bad business practice too - how do they know they have got the best applicants if anyone from 501 onwards is barred from applying![/p][/quote]500 is a lot of applications for 2 jobs. Stopping applications doesn't make them disreputable Homshaw1

4:38pm Sat 23 Mar 13

Graeme_r says...

Homshaw1 wrote:
Graeme_r wrote:
A reputable employer should have a closing date for applications, not a cut off number. It's bad business practice too - how do they know they have got the best applicants if anyone from 501 onwards is barred from applying!
500 is a lot of applications for 2 jobs. Stopping applications doesn't make them disreputable
Well I disagree, everyone who wants too should have the opportunity to apply and not be denied it simply because they weren't in the first 500 to apply. How could potential applicants know that in advance?
[quote][p][bold]Homshaw1[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Graeme_r[/bold] wrote: A reputable employer should have a closing date for applications, not a cut off number. It's bad business practice too - how do they know they have got the best applicants if anyone from 501 onwards is barred from applying![/p][/quote]500 is a lot of applications for 2 jobs. Stopping applications doesn't make them disreputable[/p][/quote]Well I disagree, everyone who wants too should have the opportunity to apply and not be denied it simply because they weren't in the first 500 to apply. How could potential applicants know that in advance? Graeme_r

6:44pm Sat 23 Mar 13

Ponymad says...

My company advertised for a job and we got hundreds of applications. Very few, we found, actually wanted the job. Some that we contacted said they didn't want a job but had to apply to get their job seekers allowance! Some of them didn't even answer their phone or reply to letters when we tried to contact them!
My company advertised for a job and we got hundreds of applications. Very few, we found, actually wanted the job. Some that we contacted said they didn't want a job but had to apply to get their job seekers allowance! Some of them didn't even answer their phone or reply to letters when we tried to contact them! Ponymad

10:21pm Sat 23 Mar 13

Homshaw1 says...

It takes time and costs money to deal with. They could get thousads of applications. You have to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are suggesting being polite is more important than not going bankrupt and putting everyone out of work

I would suggest you don't open your own business. You would not last long

To suggest the business is disreputable is wrong

Simply to reply to 500 leters would cost £300 for stamps. The total cost in time and stationery doesnt bear thinking about
It takes time and costs money to deal with. They could get thousads of applications. You have to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are suggesting being polite is more important than not going bankrupt and putting everyone out of work I would suggest you don't open your own business. You would not last long To suggest the business is disreputable is wrong Simply to reply to 500 leters would cost £300 for stamps. The total cost in time and stationery doesnt bear thinking about Homshaw1

12:14pm Sun 24 Mar 13

Graeme_r says...

Homshaw1 wrote:
It takes time and costs money to deal with. They could get thousads of applications. You have to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are suggesting being polite is more important than not going bankrupt and putting everyone out of work

I would suggest you don't open your own business. You would not last long

To suggest the business is disreputable is wrong

Simply to reply to 500 leters would cost £300 for stamps. The total cost in time and stationery doesnt bear thinking about
If I was running my own business I would preface the vacancy information with a statement "Only those selected for interview will be contacted" and and avoid most of the postage costs. I am suggesting that everyone should be given a chance to apply to a time deadline, not just the first 500 to make sure I got the best person for the job. I have had experience of short-listing applicants for interview and it's not that onerous to identify the applications that don't meet the spec. If you were unemployed and saw the vacancy and knew you could do the job, how would you feel if you were eliminated because 500 people, most of who were unsuitable, had got their inferior badly presented applications in before you?
[quote][p][bold]Homshaw1[/bold] wrote: It takes time and costs money to deal with. They could get thousads of applications. You have to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are suggesting being polite is more important than not going bankrupt and putting everyone out of work I would suggest you don't open your own business. You would not last long To suggest the business is disreputable is wrong Simply to reply to 500 leters would cost £300 for stamps. The total cost in time and stationery doesnt bear thinking about[/p][/quote]If I was running my own business I would preface the vacancy information with a statement "Only those selected for interview will be contacted" and and avoid most of the postage costs. I am suggesting that everyone should be given a chance to apply to a time deadline, not just the first 500 to make sure I got the best person for the job. I have had experience of short-listing applicants for interview and it's not that onerous to identify the applications that don't meet the spec. If you were unemployed and saw the vacancy and knew you could do the job, how would you feel if you were eliminated because 500 people, most of who were unsuitable, had got their inferior badly presented applications in before you? Graeme_r

4:53pm Sun 24 Mar 13

Jonn says...

Graeme_r wrote:
Homshaw1 wrote:
It takes time and costs money to deal with. They could get thousads of applications. You have to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are suggesting being polite is more important than not going bankrupt and putting everyone out of work

I would suggest you don't open your own business. You would not last long

To suggest the business is disreputable is wrong

Simply to reply to 500 leters would cost £300 for stamps. The total cost in time and stationery doesnt bear thinking about
If I was running my own business I would preface the vacancy information with a statement "Only those selected for interview will be contacted" and and avoid most of the postage costs. I am suggesting that everyone should be given a chance to apply to a time deadline, not just the first 500 to make sure I got the best person for the job. I have had experience of short-listing applicants for interview and it's not that onerous to identify the applications that don't meet the spec. If you were unemployed and saw the vacancy and knew you could do the job, how would you feel if you were eliminated because 500 people, most of who were unsuitable, had got their inferior badly presented applications in before you?
It might be worth mentioning that most job applications are done online via email nowadays. I don't think posting and the cost of stamps will be an issue unless you are still living in the last century.
Most large companies now use software which actually does the work of sifting through applications and finding the most suitable candidates without a human being involved at all. Even then, you are lucky to get an automated rejection.
[quote][p][bold]Graeme_r[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Homshaw1[/bold] wrote: It takes time and costs money to deal with. They could get thousads of applications. You have to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are suggesting being polite is more important than not going bankrupt and putting everyone out of work I would suggest you don't open your own business. You would not last long To suggest the business is disreputable is wrong Simply to reply to 500 leters would cost £300 for stamps. The total cost in time and stationery doesnt bear thinking about[/p][/quote]If I was running my own business I would preface the vacancy information with a statement "Only those selected for interview will be contacted" and and avoid most of the postage costs. I am suggesting that everyone should be given a chance to apply to a time deadline, not just the first 500 to make sure I got the best person for the job. I have had experience of short-listing applicants for interview and it's not that onerous to identify the applications that don't meet the spec. If you were unemployed and saw the vacancy and knew you could do the job, how would you feel if you were eliminated because 500 people, most of who were unsuitable, had got their inferior badly presented applications in before you?[/p][/quote]It might be worth mentioning that most job applications are done online via email nowadays. I don't think posting and the cost of stamps will be an issue unless you are still living in the last century. Most large companies now use software which actually does the work of sifting through applications and finding the most suitable candidates without a human being involved at all. Even then, you are lucky to get an automated rejection. Jonn

6:55pm Sun 24 Mar 13

Homshaw1 says...

Jonn wrote:
Graeme_r wrote:
Homshaw1 wrote:
It takes time and costs money to deal with. They could get thousads of applications. You have to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are suggesting being polite is more important than not going bankrupt and putting everyone out of work

I would suggest you don't open your own business. You would not last long

To suggest the business is disreputable is wrong

Simply to reply to 500 leters would cost £300 for stamps. The total cost in time and stationery doesnt bear thinking about
If I was running my own business I would preface the vacancy information with a statement "Only those selected for interview will be contacted" and and avoid most of the postage costs. I am suggesting that everyone should be given a chance to apply to a time deadline, not just the first 500 to make sure I got the best person for the job. I have had experience of short-listing applicants for interview and it's not that onerous to identify the applications that don't meet the spec. If you were unemployed and saw the vacancy and knew you could do the job, how would you feel if you were eliminated because 500 people, most of who were unsuitable, had got their inferior badly presented applications in before you?
It might be worth mentioning that most job applications are done online via email nowadays. I don't think posting and the cost of stamps will be an issue unless you are still living in the last century.
Most large companies now use software which actually does the work of sifting through applications and finding the most suitable candidates without a human being involved at all. Even then, you are lucky to get an automated rejection.
What software reads cvs and shortlists candidates?
[quote][p][bold]Jonn[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Graeme_r[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Homshaw1[/bold] wrote: It takes time and costs money to deal with. They could get thousads of applications. You have to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are suggesting being polite is more important than not going bankrupt and putting everyone out of work I would suggest you don't open your own business. You would not last long To suggest the business is disreputable is wrong Simply to reply to 500 leters would cost £300 for stamps. The total cost in time and stationery doesnt bear thinking about[/p][/quote]If I was running my own business I would preface the vacancy information with a statement "Only those selected for interview will be contacted" and and avoid most of the postage costs. I am suggesting that everyone should be given a chance to apply to a time deadline, not just the first 500 to make sure I got the best person for the job. I have had experience of short-listing applicants for interview and it's not that onerous to identify the applications that don't meet the spec. If you were unemployed and saw the vacancy and knew you could do the job, how would you feel if you were eliminated because 500 people, most of who were unsuitable, had got their inferior badly presented applications in before you?[/p][/quote]It might be worth mentioning that most job applications are done online via email nowadays. I don't think posting and the cost of stamps will be an issue unless you are still living in the last century. Most large companies now use software which actually does the work of sifting through applications and finding the most suitable candidates without a human being involved at all. Even then, you are lucky to get an automated rejection.[/p][/quote]What software reads cvs and shortlists candidates? Homshaw1

10:31pm Sun 24 Mar 13

Jonn says...

Homshaw1 wrote:
Jonn wrote:
Graeme_r wrote:
Homshaw1 wrote:
It takes time and costs money to deal with. They could get thousads of applications. You have to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are suggesting being polite is more important than not going bankrupt and putting everyone out of work

I would suggest you don't open your own business. You would not last long

To suggest the business is disreputable is wrong

Simply to reply to 500 leters would cost £300 for stamps. The total cost in time and stationery doesnt bear thinking about
If I was running my own business I would preface the vacancy information with a statement "Only those selected for interview will be contacted" and and avoid most of the postage costs. I am suggesting that everyone should be given a chance to apply to a time deadline, not just the first 500 to make sure I got the best person for the job. I have had experience of short-listing applicants for interview and it's not that onerous to identify the applications that don't meet the spec. If you were unemployed and saw the vacancy and knew you could do the job, how would you feel if you were eliminated because 500 people, most of who were unsuitable, had got their inferior badly presented applications in before you?
It might be worth mentioning that most job applications are done online via email nowadays. I don't think posting and the cost of stamps will be an issue unless you are still living in the last century.
Most large companies now use software which actually does the work of sifting through applications and finding the most suitable candidates without a human being involved at all. Even then, you are lucky to get an automated rejection.
What software reads cvs and shortlists candidates?
Software that filters cv's is not rocket science. It picks out keywords like certain degrees, qualifications and phrases to narrow down the field.
[quote][p][bold]Homshaw1[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Jonn[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Graeme_r[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Homshaw1[/bold] wrote: It takes time and costs money to deal with. They could get thousads of applications. You have to draw the line somewhere. Unless you are suggesting being polite is more important than not going bankrupt and putting everyone out of work I would suggest you don't open your own business. You would not last long To suggest the business is disreputable is wrong Simply to reply to 500 leters would cost £300 for stamps. The total cost in time and stationery doesnt bear thinking about[/p][/quote]If I was running my own business I would preface the vacancy information with a statement "Only those selected for interview will be contacted" and and avoid most of the postage costs. I am suggesting that everyone should be given a chance to apply to a time deadline, not just the first 500 to make sure I got the best person for the job. I have had experience of short-listing applicants for interview and it's not that onerous to identify the applications that don't meet the spec. If you were unemployed and saw the vacancy and knew you could do the job, how would you feel if you were eliminated because 500 people, most of who were unsuitable, had got their inferior badly presented applications in before you?[/p][/quote]It might be worth mentioning that most job applications are done online via email nowadays. I don't think posting and the cost of stamps will be an issue unless you are still living in the last century. Most large companies now use software which actually does the work of sifting through applications and finding the most suitable candidates without a human being involved at all. Even then, you are lucky to get an automated rejection.[/p][/quote]What software reads cvs and shortlists candidates?[/p][/quote]Software that filters cv's is not rocket science. It picks out keywords like certain degrees, qualifications and phrases to narrow down the field. Jonn

1:53pm Mon 25 Mar 13

Homshaw1 says...

Could you name this software? I would be interested in using it

I use ixbrl files but candidates don't usually submit them in that format

Presumably you just scan in letters if submitted in that format
Could you name this software? I would be interested in using it I use ixbrl files but candidates don't usually submit them in that format Presumably you just scan in letters if submitted in that format Homshaw1

7:36pm Mon 25 Mar 13

Jonn says...

Homshaw1 wrote:
Could you name this software? I would be interested in using it

I use ixbrl files but candidates don't usually submit them in that format

Presumably you just scan in letters if submitted in that format
http://www.bbc.co.uk
/news/business-20255
387
[quote][p][bold]Homshaw1[/bold] wrote: Could you name this software? I would be interested in using it I use ixbrl files but candidates don't usually submit them in that format Presumably you just scan in letters if submitted in that format[/p][/quote]http://www.bbc.co.uk /news/business-20255 387 Jonn

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