Ridgeons, an idependent timber and builders’ merchants, has launched a major recruitment drive to highlight the wide range of new roles and career opportunities it is offering as the business invests in further development and growth.

Under the banner ‘Big Changes, Better Choices’ it will be holding two informal ‘get to know us’ Recruitment Open Days on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th November in Cambridge, when anyone interested is invited to ‘stop for a cuppa and a chat’ and see the range of jobs being offered by different parts of the Ridgeons’ business.

The events will take place at the Holiday Inn on Norman Way on Friday 10th November from 3pm – 7pm and at the Ridgeons Cromwell Road branch on Saturday 11th November from 8am 12 noon. At least 12 new roles are being recruited for in Cambridge, Newmarket, Saffron Walden, St Ives and St Neots, including Customer Service Assistants, Kitchen and Bathroom Showroom Supervisors, Salespersons and Customer Service Managers. Ridgeons also has an Apprenticeship training programme with excellent career development opportunities.

The recruitment drive also features the launch of a new Driver Academy for people interested in training to become either full time or relief HGV Delivery Drivers. Ridgeons will provide all the necessary job training to become fully qualified CAT C HGV, Crane and Fork Lift drivers. The Ridgeons Nuffield Road branch in Cambridge, which is currently undergoing extensive refurbishment and redevelopment, will employ 22 Delivery Drivers from 2018. Drivers are also being recruited for other branches.

Branches of Ridgeons, PlumbStock (the dedicated plumbing and heating trade counter), Anglia Tool Centre (ATC) and The Ridgeon Group head office, will all be represented at the Recruitment Days, with Branch Managers and colleagues from each area of the business on hand to say hello, introduce the roles, give demonstrations and explain the attractive benefits and career opportunities Ridgeons can offer. Free refreshments will be provided.

Ian Northen, CEO of Ridgeon Group, said: “We are looking for great people to join all areas of our business and the two Recruitment Days are going to be very informal. We are very different from what people might traditionally think a builders’ merchants is like and we encourage anyone interested to pop in and say hello.”

Ridgeons is one of the largest independently owned builders’ merchants in the UK and trades from 26 merchant branches in the East of England. Ridgeon Group also includes PlumbStock, Anglia Tool Centre, Ridgeons Forest Products and CRS Wholesale. Turnover stands at £160 million per annum and Ridgeons Group employs around 900 people.