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Cumbria enterprise greater than doubles its headcount regardless of pandemic

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Carlisle’s Just R has grown from six to 13 employees with support from a program at Lancaster University Management School

A Cumbrian company that helps NHS trusts and health organizations attract and retain the best employees more than doubled the size of its team during the pandemic, growing from six to 13 employees.

Since spring 2020, the Carlisle company Just R has taken on a new Director of Communications and Impact, a Creative Director, a Project and Brand Manager, two candidate consultants and a Creative Account Manager. The new hires already enable the company, which works with more than 40 healthcare organizations, to expand its partnerships with providers across the UK.

Says Founder and General Manager Rachael Bradshaw, “We have been fortunate that the appetite for the support we are providing to the NHS and other health care facilities has increased during the pandemic. There has never been a more important time for trusts to find and retain the right people. ”

Rachael was supported in her ambitions to grow the counseling further thanks to her participation in the Cumbria Forum, a four-month online program at Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) designed to help the county’s SMEs achieve sustainable growth.

Developed and delivered by leading business professionals and world-class LUMS academics, the program is part of the Cumbria Growth Hub offering for SMBs in the county. The places are fully financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for eligible companies.

Says Rachael, “I was ready to start a growth strategy for Just R before attending the Cumbria Forum, and it gave me the space and time to get out of the day-to-day business.

“When I stepped down, I realized that I needed to focus more on our team strategy and processes. To get Just R in the best position to move forward, we had to get the right people “on the bus”.

“The program helped me build on my expertise in strategy and business development planning. This knowledge, combined with the peer learning environment where all delegates came together to share experiences and ideas, was really powerful. This allowed me to think clearly about where I want the company to be and how our recruiting strategy contributes to that vision.

“I am so proud of our competent and dedicated team, all of whom are working towards the implementation of the Just R strategy and great service for our partners.”

Rachel’s pursuits for Just R don’t stop there. She says, “We have significant plans for growth. I want to keep growing our fantastic team and offer them great jobs in a great workplace. ”

The Cumbria Forum is currently running online for a period of four months, with a focus on organizations of the future. Delegates address issues such as business resilience, innovation and leadership under the overarching theme of responsible recovery.

The next cohorts will start on June 15 and September 22, 2021.

For more information, eligibility criteria and to apply, send an email to [email protected], call 01524 593709 or visit lancaster.ac.uk/lums/cumbriaforum.