Human Resource Management Report: Squire's Garden Centres Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices at Squire's Garden Centres. It begins with an introduction to the importance and functions of HRM within an organization, specifically focusing on recruitment and selection processes, orientation programs, maintaining good working conditions, managing employee relations, and training and development. The report then evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of the current recruitment and selection methods used by Squire's, comparing them to alternative approaches. Furthermore, it includes the creation of a job description and personal specification for a customer service assistant role, alongside a sample advertisement for the company's website. The report also explores the benefits of apprenticeships and other development opportunities for employees, as well as the range of benefits and rewards available. Finally, the report examines the significance of employee engagement and suggests effective strategies for fostering it within Squire's Garden Centres, culminating in a conclusion summarizing key findings and recommendations. This assignment demonstrates the application of HRM principles in a practical business context.

Human Resource
Management

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
a) Function and importance of HR in an organisation................................................................1
b) Advantages and disadvantages of current recruitment and selection method of a company
and its comparison with other methods .....................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
a) Prepare job description and a personal specification for a customer service assistant at
Squire's Garden Centres..............................................................................................................4
b) Prepare an advert for the customer service assistant for Squire's website..............................7
c) Recommend at least one medium which may be appropriate for this vacancy and justify the
recommendation..........................................................................................................................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
a) Benefits of Squires providing Apprenticeship to both organisation as well as apprentice ...8
b) Development opportunities to employees...............................................................................9
c) Range of benefits and rewards available to staff..................................................................10
TASK 4 .........................................................................................................................................10
a) Employee engagement and its importance to employee relations........................................10
b) Recommend workers of engaging effectively within Squire's Garden Centres...................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................15

INTRODUCTION
Human Resource Management is necessary for both large and small organization. It is a
fundamental activity which is required by a business enterprise. The major role of a Human
resource management is to get right person for a right job. It involves basic practices of
recruiting, hiring, provide training and development to employees and managing workers in a
business enterprise. Main function of HR is to achieve the strategic goals of a business company
and being concerned with internal aspects, to keep up to date with dynamic environment which
may impact on their employees too.
Human resources are a most valuable and specific assets of a business enterprise. It helps
to examine on different HR processes with attracting, managing, motivating and developing
employees for the benefits of a business firm. This report is about Squire's Garden Centres which
is a medium size company founded by D.J Squire in 1936 . It provides plants and garden
products along with gifts and garden furniture. This assignment is divided into four tasks in
which purpose and scope of HRM along with application of human resource management
practices are been discussed. It also includes effectiveness of key elements of HRM and internal
and external factor which affects decision making of human resource management.
TASK 1
a) Function and importance of HR in an organisation
Functions and its importance in an organisation
Every organisation involves people in it, human resource management is obtaining
services from employees and encouraging them to increase their performance level so that they
can work efficiently within a company (Alfes and et. al., 2013). In Squire's Garden Centre, HR
manager plays a very vital role. Its role is to supervise and manage process of hiring to
termination of an employee. Though a personnel manager has many functions which are listed
below.
 Recruitment and selection: It is a method of selecting suitable candidate for a specific
job. It includes various phases like entrancing, observing and hiring which needed for a
job. This process plays a main role in every company(Budhwar and Debrah, 2013). In
Squire's Garden Centres this function helps to encourage candidate which are qualified
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for a specific vacancy and to motivate unsuitable candidates to opt out. Through this
company can do reduction in costs in errors or mistakes like hiring an incompetent,
uncourageous and employees who are under qualified. But doing termination of an under
qualified applicant and recruiting a new candidate will again require a huge cost.
 Orientation: There are many companies who do not conduct orientation programs for
new joiners. It is a basic step which helps new employees to adjust oneself with working
environment and also with employer. An orientation program of an employee should be
conducted so that targets and objectives of a company so be introduce to employees and
they get guidance on ways to achieve those goals and objectives(Chelladurai and Kerwin,
2017). Here in Squire's Garden Centres, this function is important as it helps in
delegating duties and giving clarity about job description, roles and responsibilities of an
employee. This function also helps in maintaining a healthy and harmonious relationship
with other subordinates within an organisation.
 Maintaining Good Working Conditions: One of main function of an HR manager is
provide a healthy and good conditions for working within an organisation. It is a priority
of personnel manager to encourage employees. In Squire's Garden Centres, this function
is important as delivering good working conditions to employees will eventually give job
satisfaction to employees which will benefit organisation in a longer duration. When
employees are given suitable working conditions they will work hard and will deliver
their excel performance for achieving organisational objectives.
 Managing Employee Relations: Employees plays a crucial role in every organisation.
Employee and employer relationship is a vast concept and is an important function of
personnel manager. Moreover, in Squire's Garden Centres this function helps in fostering
better relations between employees. Manager can conduct seminars or programs for
knowing employees at personal as well as professional level. Maintaining healthy
relations between employee and employer will also help organisation to increase profit
and be successful in market place(Huselid and Becker,2011).
 Training and development: It is an indispensable function of a HR. It helps in improving
present as well as future performance of an employee by giving them training to develop
oneself. In Squire's Garden Centres, this function is important as it helps in educating and
enhancing knowledge and skills of a workforce within an organisation.
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Plans to become an employer of choice
Squire's Garden Centres can adopt various methods to become employer of choice and
attract candidates to apply for their company. They can give compensation and extra salary for
working extra for company. Various schemes can be introduced for employees to give them
health and security benefits while working in an organisation.
b) Advantages and disadvantages of current recruitment and selection method of a company and
its comparison with other methods
Squire's Garden Centres advertises in various newspapers and online websites. By which
there get many applicants for a specific vacancy. Then they do interviews to select appropriate
and suitable candidates for a given job post(López-Nicolás and Meroño-Cerdán, 2011). An
interview involves an interaction between an candidate applying for a job and a representative of
a company who takes interview and is conducted to analyse whether an applicant is selected or
not. This method of recruitment and selection has various advantages and disadvantages which
are mentioned below.
Advantages of interview:
 Easy correction of speech: One of main advantage of this process that errors or mistakes
can be improved on the spot. It is because an applicant is present physically in front of
interviewer.
 Selection of suitable candidate: This process can give an organisation a suitable
candidate as through it interviewer can ask different questions from candidate and can
judge them accordingly. It helps in getting a lot of information and knowledge about a
candidate.
Disadvantages of interview Time consuming: This process requires much time which is a major drawback.
Conducting interview, preparing for taking interview and declaration of results requires a
huge time which makes this process a time consuming process.
 No record: As this process is done by physical presence of both interviewer and
interviewee no record as a proof is collected or gathered in case if there is any future
consequences(Messersmith and et. al., 2011). This method does not keep an evidence of
discussion done during the process of interview.
Comparison of interview method with recruitment agency method
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Interview method Recruitment agency method
In this process both interviewer and
interviewee are physically present and direct
selection is done.
In this process an intermediary is involved
between both parties which is an recruitment
agency and selection is done through them.
It is a slow process and requires a much time. This comparatively requires less time than
interview method.
It is a cheaper process than getting candidates
through recruitment agency.
It is a costly process as recruitment agencies
also charge for hiring candidates.
TASK 2
a) Prepare job description and a personal specification for a customer service assistant at Squire's
Garden Centres
HR manager of Squire's Garden centre doing recruitment and selection process for the
vacancy of Customer service assistant for that they prepare job description and personal
specification according to vacant position.
Job Description:- It is a written document that contain description of general tasks or
other related duties and responsibilities of a particular position. Job description specify the
function of position reported, specification such as qualification, location, skills, purpose, salary
range, department and so on(Marchington and et. al., 2016). In short it is the summary of job
analysis. Squire's Garden centre design job description for position of Customer Services
assistant is describe below:-
Company:- Squire's Garden Centre
Job Details:
Job Title:- Customer Services Assistant
Department:- Customer Service
Reporting To:- Head of Customer Service Department
Job Type:- Full Type
Salary:- £22,330 per year
Location:- London
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Job Purpose:
 To ensure full implementation of customer services strategies across business.
 Ensure about accurate processing of customer quotations., orders and order
confirmations within agreed timescales.
 Represent customer services functions as an active members of senior management
team.
 Create and maintain positive team environment and display high levels of motivation
and excellent team spirit.
Responsibilities:
 Respond to customer inquiries.
 Through various channel communicate with customers.
 Maintain positive, empathetic and professional attitude towards customers all the time.
 Keep records of customers interactions, transactions, comments and complaints.
 Ensure about customers satisfaction and provide professional customer support.
 Ensure the cost effective and efficient services by assist in improving and monitoring
process and procedures.
 Mentoring and developing new staff customer service requirement.
Interested candidates kindly send their resume at [e-mail] or contact on given number.
Thanks & Regards,
XYZ,
HR Manager,
Squire's Garden Centre, London
08870754659
Person Specification:- It refers to quality of human required for performing the jobs.
Person specification is the description of persons qualification, skills, experiences, knowledge
and attributes which is required to perform job duties or task. It is derive form job description
and create foundation for recruitment process(Renwick, Redman, and Maguire, 2013).
Respective company create person specification for the given profile is mention below:-
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Personal Specification:
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE:- CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSISTANT
Experience Necessary Demanding
Working experience as a
Customer service Assistant.
2-3 years Minimum of 2 Years
Skills/knowledge/cognition Necessary Demanding
 Product Knowledge
 Documentation Skills
 Phone Skills
 Listing Skills
 Communication Skills
Diploma in relevant sector. A Grade
Qualifications needed in
educational sector
Necessary Demanding
 Bachelor’s degree in a
related field
Minimum working should be
in customer service company
A Grade
Personal skills Necessary Demanding
 Positive and flexible so
that they can adopt
every situation.
 Confident and focused
 Ability to work under
pressure
 Problem Solving skills
of customers
 People Oriented to
interact with customers
Candidate should have know
different communicating
languages so that they can
communicate with the
customers from different
countries.
English(UK),(US) and (AUS),
Spanish and French.
Interested candidates kindly send their resume at [e-mail].

Time of reporting: 9:00 am to 06:00 pm

b) Prepare an advert for the customer service assistant for Squire's website
The advertisement designed by mangers of Squire's Garden Centre to inform about
opining of Customer service assistant to the appropriate candidates, so that they can apply for
specific position(Rubery and Urwin, 2011). It help the respective company to recruit right person
at the right position. Advertisement created by company is given below:-
Squire Garden Centre
Position:- Customer Service Assistant
Squire's Garden Centres is successful family oriented horticulture business which serves local
communities is looking for a Customer Service Assistant to join their existing customer service
team based in North and West London. The Company has friendly and dynamic working
environment. Previously working experience as customer service assistant role is must.
The successful candidate will have:-
 Ability to do conversation in English and local language.
 Professional and friendly with customer services.
 Ability to work under pressure.
 Must have Problem Solving skills.
 Ability to respond to customer inquiries in effective way.
The remuneration package is based on the experience and knowledge up to £22,330 per year.
Working hours will be from 09:00 am to 06:00 pm.
Interested can mail their CV on given mail ID or contact on given number.
HR Manager,
Squire Garden Centre,
Email- [e-mail]
Phone number- 07864896343
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c) Recommend at least one medium which may be appropriate for this vacancy and justify the
recommendation
It can be recommended that the job description and persons specification is more
appropriate for HR managers of Squire's Garden Centre to advertise about their opining of
Customer service assistant for recruitment and selection process. Because through it both
respective company and candidates get proper idea about the vacancy and requirement criteria
such as qualification, skills requires, responsibilities, purpose, location and so on. By help of job
description and persons specification candidates can compare their skills with required skills and
if they find that they can do respective work then only they will apply, which help company to
filter out unrelevant candidates and find the appropriate candidate for the customer service
assistance position in Squire's Garden Centre(Schermerhorn and et. al., 2014). Advertisement is
not much effective because in for the respective organization because it did not give much
clarity about position which is customer service assistant. It is because it didn't contain more
required information, which not give clear picture about the requirement.
TASK 3
a) Benefits of Squires providing Apprenticeship to both organisation as well as apprentice
Squire's Garden Centre's is a medium size horticultural business company that deals with
local community. It was founded by D.J Squire in 1936. This company provide a vast variety of
plants and products of garden along with houseplants, furniture of garden and gifts. Human
resource manager of this company conducts various programs for training and developing
employees within an organisation. Training and development is important in an organisation to
enhance a person knowledge and skill. There are two types of methods in this which are On the
job and off the job method. They follow apprenticeship method under off the job methods for
giving training and development to employees. Apprenticeship training approach was started in
Middle ages and is a method through which employees can become experts in their work by a
combination of on the job training and instruction within classrooms. Benefits of Apprenticeship
for organisation as well as apprentice are been discussed below.
Boosting productivity and competitiveness: It is a proof that hiring apprentices can help
in increasing productivity of an organisation covering both both long and short term profits.
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