Stepping Stone Award

Fernando Rodrigues

Nominated by Barker Ross, Milton Keynes

 Milton Keynes engineering worker Fernando Rodrigues has been declared one of the UK’s top temporary workers.

He has won the highly commended prize in the Stepping Stone category of the One in a Million Award, which is given to the UK’s top temporary worker. The Stepping Stone prize is given to the person who has made the most successful transition from a temporary to a permanent role.

Fernando from Portugal was initially placed as a general worker with Taylor Kerr Engineering by Milton Keynes recruitment agency Barker Ross.

And such was his attitude to work and his aptitude for the job that within 13 weeks of starting his placement he was offered a full time position as a supervisor with Taylor Kerr.

Dave Bryant, production manager of Taylor Kerr Engineering  which manufactures pipe couplings for every kind of pipe application throughout the world, said Fernando’s contribution had been and continued to be invaluable.

He said: “The decision to employ him full time was made very early on in his placement.

“Fernando came to us at time when we had a big backlog of work and through his efforts he has helped us to catch up with orders generally.

“His grasp of the products and methods used has been phenomenal as has his willingness to be involved in any task and work long hours to combat the backlog.

“He has a good relationship with his fellow employees and is a popular member of the workforce – and however busy we are I know I can rely on Fernando to do a thorough and professional job every time.”

And such is Fernando’s commitment to hard work that he recently approached Barker Ross to see if temporary night shift work was available.

In addition to his full time job he is now putting in an extra 30 hours a week at Puratos Ingredients in Milton Keynes.

Paul Sandilands, industrial accounts manager at Barker Ross added: “Despite what seem to be gruelling hours Fernando still arrives at work 15 minutes early at both companies to start his shifts.

“For him to be doing these 70 hours a week is outstanding. Commendably, the reason he is working so hard is to build a better life for his family who are still in Portugal but plan to join him and settle here in the future.”

 Helen Reynolds, the REC’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, said:  “Fernando is the perfect example of how through hard work and dedication, a temporary worker can make such a significant difference to a company, that they offer him a permanent job very early on in his assignment.”