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True Aussie spirit shown by local franchisee

Being a small business owner has its ups and downs. According to small business owner, Bob Walden of Testel SEQ in Lawnton, Queensland, flexibility is the key. 

‘You never know what life is going to throw at you and it’s the same in small business,’ said Bob.

Bob’s TESTEL franchise in Lawnton currently employs five people. TESTEL is a specialist testing company that delivers professional electrical safety testing, including emergency lighting, safety switches, microwave leakage, test and tag and thermal imaging.

‘The work volume goes up and down, so I need flexible staff. I’ve found I can find people who also need flexible hours through CRS Australia,’ said Bob.

Bob first came across CRS Australia via a phone call from a job seeker with a back injury responding to a job advertisment in the newspaper. What resulted was Bob’s first experience providing an opportunity for a CRS Australia job seeker, including working with the job seeker’s rehabilitation consultant to match the job tasks to the job seeker’s abilities.

‘He had a bad back but had the skills I needed and I had the flexibility to accommodate him,’ said Bob.

Over the last four years, Bob has willingly taken on job seekers to ‘give them a go’ and provide them an opportunity to train. Bob has helped many individuals on the path back to employment and is fully committed to helping people reach their employment goals.

‘I’ve had excellent placements from CRS Australia,’ said Bob.

‘It’s definitely worthwhile taking on job seekers with a disability or health condition as it’s a doorway of opportunity for everyone – it rewards the job seeker by giving them a chance to learn the business, it’s good for the community, it’s good for the business and it’s also good for other employees who get to see job seekers progressing.’

Bob’s positive attitude and encouragement has been a key driver for other TESTEL franchisees nationally to consider the benefits of employing people through CRS Australia.

‘We had a CRS presentation at our national franchise meeting in South Australia in 2010 and this planted the seed for others to think about it,’ said Bob.

It’s been a true partnership, as Bob attested: ‘CRS has been as good for us as our company has been for job seekers. I can assure you that the most successful job seekers from CRS Australia gave back just as much if not more. For my business, CRS Australia’s candidates have been a source of immense skill and quality for me to tap into.’