How are-able Bendigo Worked For Guzman Y Gomez

A busier launch than expected – demanding a 10% bigger workforce than planned – was made easier to handle for Bendigo’s newest food franchise, thanks to expertise and capability of the city’s are-able team.

When Bendigo’s are-able team heard Guzman Y Gomez was establishing a Mexican Tacqueria in Kennington Village, its members quickly set about establishing a relationship that would be mutually beneficial to the employer and local jobseekers.

are-able supplied a number of pre-screened candidates to Guzman Y Gomez for consideration and supported jobseekers through the application and employment process, making it easy for the employer to identify their current skill set and potential for training and development.

are-able Site Manager, Julianne Runnalls, explained it was the organisation’s support of both employer and employee that set it apart from other similar services.

“When we say our service is ‘five star’, that’s not just a figure of speech – the Department of Employment has officially recognised us as a Five Star provider because of the level of service – and high rate of outcomes – that have now become an everyday component of what we do,” Julianne said.

Julianne explained that are-able worked by facilitating wage subsidies for employers of up to $17,860. These subsidies offset the cost of training new employees, and the supervision required to maintain their employment.  “That’s only part of it though,” Julianne added. “We also help  employers with work-related-licencing, on-the-job upskilling, uniform costs and other employment related costs the employer may incur when they welcome someone new.”

are-able have placed a number of local jobseekers into roles with Guzman Y Gomez, helping the new business with wage subsidies, Responsible Service of Alcohol and Food Handlers Certifications, the cost of inductions for these employees and providing regular Post Placement Support to both the employer and employee.

Guzman Y Gomez Franchisee, Andy Hodgson said are-able’s expertise helped reduce the headaches he faced when he realised his early staffing number estimates wouldn’t be enough to meet the huge customer demand.

“Based on our experience, we knew we’d need at least 50 Crew Members however we’ve been so busy we have employed over 60 local jobseekers; it’s a huge – and often hard – part of launching a new business, and that burden was certainly eased by the expertise, knowledge and service are-able provided.”

Like are-able, Andy’s passion is to create opportunities for local youth. “Eighty percent of our Crew Members are 21 or under and we work closely with them to develop their skills,” he said proudly.

Guzman Y Gomez has more than 100 restaurants across Australia, with the the majority of these operating outside Metropolitan CBD’s.  “We work closely with the communities we operate in, and engage in a diverse range of activities in those communities,” Andy explained.

Guzman Y Gomez opened in Kennington Village at the start of the month, and has already served more than 10,000 fresh, innovative, contemporary meals driven by the Kennington Crew Members.

Andy also thanked the community of Bendigo for welcoming Guzman Y Gomez and supporting them in their opening week.

“We look forward to an ongoing relationship with our guests and the businesses that have supported us to open, including are-able.”

are-able encourages employers and jobseekers to make contact with the organisation’s experts on 1800 566 066, or at areable.org.au to discuss how a tailored employment service may be provided to them at no charge.

are-able offices in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Shepparton, Maryborough, Ballarat, Swan Hill, Mildura, Warrnambool, Colac, Hamilton, Ararat, Stawell, Portland and Mt. Gambier are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.