Work Rural

Hugh Fell and Rachel Fisher of Work Rural

Those looking for work in the rural sector could avoid the cost of a recruiter with a new jobs board that pitches itself as “more direct and affordable”.

Work Rural describes itself as the “first of its kind” to tackle interlinking industries across the rural sector, and a cheaper alternative to existing jobs and recruitment services.

The online service was created by rural businessman Hugh Fell, who said that his greatest challenge has been finding good people. He also said he was frustrated at the lack of a jobs board that focuses on why people want to work in the rural sector.

“As an employer, all I want to do is find excellent people that want to find a great job. The concept is simple but there is a gap at the moment in the rural sector. The sector is vast and comprises a number of interlinking industries - making recruitment a minefield,” he said.

Rachel Fisher, who will direct the day-to-day management of the site, said Work Rural will offer something that the entire rural sector - from farming, forestry and agriculture to professional, scientific and technical industries - is “desperately” lacking.

“Based on our collective team experience of working with rural businesses and people, we know that it’s extremely difficult to find high-quality people quickly, efficiently and at an affordable rate,” she said.

“Our in-depth research has shown that the existing options out there are often too expensive to use regularly or, at the other end of the scale, low cost and not properly developed to meet the required need.

“Work Rural provides the missing link between employers and employees that just isn’t there at the moment - a vacuum that creates serious issues for the rural economy.”