Melinda Cookson the proud CEO of Futurelink, a national staffing solutions company, is unwaveringly passionate about the diverse industry in which she works.

Melinda entered the staffing industry in 1995 as a business development manager for a reputable national staffing company. Five years later and armed with fantastic training and work experience, she took a huge leap of faith and started her own recruitment agency.

“For me it was a huge risk, I started with no capital and operated out of a small office in Westville. However, I was driven by a strong desire to make a difference in the staffing industry and was determined to make my business a success.”

Futurelink now offers temporary and permanent staffing solutions as well as value-added services for a wide range of operational requirements. Their clients are diverse and come from various industries; including manufacturing, warehousing and logistics, retail and the corporate sector.

The company has also expanded and has staff located in most of the major regions in South Africa.

One of the highlights of starting her own company was winning a massive contract up against giants in the industry. She says, “The client could see that we wanted the contract more, had the right people, and that we could offer more value and passion than many of the other brands.”

Melinda recognises that her company’s success can also be attributed to the great team with whom she has surrounded herself. “A business is only as good as the people it employs. Over time I have built an atmosphere of mutual respect amongst my staff, all of whom operate in an environment of honesty and integrity.

I manage people upwards and really encourage my staff to take ownership of their responsibilities, get involved and make the right decisions. Continued training and team building remain a priority.”

“We operate at a level of excellence that sets us apart in the marketplace. I am steadfast when it comes to following procedures and ‘doing things properly’, and nothing is too much trouble for our clients. The staffing industry is highly competitive, and you need to out-perform your competitors at every opportunity. We have done this time and time again.”

The company prides itself on offering customised solutions to ensure that each client receives the service that is right for their operational needs.

Staffing Solutions
The complete human resource function is handled; from sourcing, hiring and payroll through to performance management. Planned or unplanned, temporary or longterm staffing solutions are available.

All staff are screened, referenced and ‘ready to go’. This service ensures minimum interruption or downtime for an organisation. “We view ourselves as the experts in our field. We work alongside our clients, to ensure their staffing requirements are met and that the client has the flexibility to employ contract workers through Futurelink, to complement the peaks and troughs of their operation and business needs,” says Melinda.

Permanent Recruitment
A large database and years of experience have uniquely positioned Futurelink to help place permanent staff that help their clients’ organisations grow. Driven by a passion to see both the individual and the organisation succeed, Futurelink ensures that the right people are selected for a business. The personalised service ensures that the client’s requirements and detailed job specifications are matched against relevant candidates. The service includes:

• Complete sourcing and response handling; from advertising to database searches andnetworking etc.
• Screening, shortlisting, reference checks, criminal checks, credit checks and education checks
• Three-month guarantee post placement, with regular followups (both client and candidate) to ‘cement’ the placement

Outsourced Projects Division
The Outsourced Projects Division specialises in customised solutions for processes such as manufacturing, warehousing, logistics etc.

Futurelink takes a holistic, outcomes-based responsibility for entire projects or processes including: administrative, payroll, industrial relations and workforce element, as well as overall supervision and management. This ensures that each client’s quantitative and qualitative objectives are met. The service offering includes ongoing feedback and communication to meet key accountabilities.

Outsourced Cleaning Services
The Outsourced Cleaning service provides comprehensive cleaning and hygiene services to commercial and industrial premises. Futurelink’s professional, and supervised staff work hard to provide a spotless working environment for employees and customers.

World-class cleaning equipment, sanitation chemicals and hygiene products allow Futurelink to service both the commercial and industrial industries at a service level tailored to the client’s requirements.

Industrial Relations
Futurelink provides costeffective industrial relations management to help avoid the risks and administrative burden that comes with a workplace dispute or change and facilitates a harmonious working environment. The Industrial Relations offering covers the following:

• Labour audit of existing policies and contracts
• Drafting of policies and procedures and updating contracts of employment
• Disciplinary, grievance, CCMA, and Labour Court dispute handling
• Representation of clients at Bargaining Councils, and Department of Labour
• Wage, trade union or employee negotiations
• Strike, and lockout handling negotiations
• Advising, assisting and management of retrenchments or redundancies

Outsourced Payroll Solutions
Futurelink manages the full payroll process for both small and large businesses, with temporary and permanent staff, tailored to each organisation’s needs.

Community
Melinda believes that it is essential for businesses to get involved and give back to communities. She is an active member of the Ukuthula Trust committee, which is an NPO based in Chesterville near Durban.

The Trust’s vision is to offer a broad spectrum of employment and empowerment skills, counselling to victims of child abuse, rape and domestic violence, and offers a restorative justice programme. 

T: +27 (0)31 266 3290
E: melinda@futurelink.co.za
W: www.futurelink.co.za