Recruitment for the first 2000 jobs at the Dome

Applications can now be made at any Manpower office in the UK

The recruitment for 2000 of the 5000 jobs available at the Dome for the year 2000 begins today, the New Millennium Experience Company has announced. The 2000 people that NMEC will employ directly are to be recruited by the employment services company, , which sponsors the Dome’s Work zone.

Manpower’s 180 offices across the UK have already begun registering interest from potential candidates. Adverts for the jobs at the Dome will appear in the next few weeks inviting people to contact their local Manpower office who are powered up to begin the interview and selection process.

The two largest general trade unions in the UK, the T & G and GMB have signed an historic agreement covering those of the 2000 NMEC employees at the Dome who wish to join a union. The deal between the unions and the New Millennium Experience Company heralds a new era in union/management partnership and secures agreement on the terms and conditions for the staff employed by NMEC at the Dome during the year of operation of the Millennium Experience. NMEC will employ Hosts and Senior Hosts at the Dome in customer focused jobs whose purpose is to ensure that the anticipated 12 million visitors to the Dome will have a great day out. Visitors will enjoy the highest levels of customer service.

Hosts and Senior Hosts will be the public face of NMEC, which aims to recruit people who are self confident, outgoing, have excellent communications skills and combine a smart appearance with a flexible attitude to the changing world of work. Hosts will greet and welcome visitors, give directions and information and encourage all age groups to participate in the Experience. Staff employed as Hosts and Senior Hosts will enjoy a highly competitive remuneration and benefits package. Annual salaries for Hosts and Senior Hosts will be £13,700 and £17,100 respectively.

In addition all 2000 staff will be entitled to a retention and performance bonus paid in two installments to a value of 10% of their salaries. The Hosts and Senior Hosts will work an 88 hour shift over a two week cycle with four days off in every 14 days worked. All staff will be entitled to 20 days paid holiday plus bank holidays. Staff working bank holidays and New Year’s Eve 1999 will receive double time for working. Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "These 2000 jobs at the Dome are a further example of the positive benefits of the Millennium Experience." Commenting on the agreement with the two trade unions he added: "We want to see more partnership agreements like this one between the T& G and GMB and the New Millennium Experience Company.

Partnership is about new practices – new working arrangements, new ways of doing things to secure success. Partnership is about quality and focusing on the development of people and products to achieve the best." Raj Pragasam, Human Resources Director, NMEC said: "The terms and conditions for these jobs at the Dome make them highly competitive. The jobs will also enable those working to be in the most exciting place to work during the year 2000. "The experience will be a career-enhancing one. Employees will be trained and developed to deliver the highest possible levels of customer service. They will also learn new skills from the experience. "The agreement between NMEC and the trades unions forms the foundation upon which mutual trust, openness and true partnership will be built. "Our partner and official employment service provider, Manpower, will play a major role in recruitment for NMEC staff for the Dome." Sarah Henwood, Marketing Director, Manpower said: "Manpower is proud to make possible the recruitment of 2,000 people to what must be among the most unique and exciting jobs in the country. With over 180 offices nation-wide, Manpower brings the chance to work in the Dome to people as far afield as Aberdeen and Plymouth.

With over 50 years’ experience recruiting large numbers of quality staff – most recently 5,000 for the World Cup Finals in France – teams in our offices across the UK will be putting our processes and experience to good use over the coming months. So, if people want to take their place in history, call into any Manpower branch today." John Edmonds, GMB General Secretary said: "We regard this partnership arrangement as a significant step forward not only for the Dome project itself, but also as a portent for the new millennium and the new spirit of co-operation which is emerging within both sides of industry." Bill Morris, T&G General Secretary said: "I am delighted to see that the innovation in construction and design of the Dome has been followed through in the partnership between the unions and NMEC. This agreement has broken the mould for industrial partnerships and will set the standard for all industries into the next century. "Everyone will have something to celebrate at the turn of the century."

• More details at the New Millennium Experience Company