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- Tasks: Engage with customers, provide advice, and complete inspections for plant imports and exports.
- Company: Brook Street is a leading UK recruitment agency connecting people with meaningful job opportunities.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive team environment, training, and potential remote work options after initial onboarding.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on animal and plant health while developing essential communication and problem-solving skills.
- Qualifications: Good IT and organization skills; ability to communicate effectively with diverse customers.
- Other info: Guaranteed interviews for veterans and candidates with disabilities who meet essential criteria.
Customer Service Agent – Animal Plant Health Agency Location: York, YO1 7PR Pay: 12.33 per hour Job Type: Temporary Sector: Public Sector Hours: 37-40 hours a week, you will need be available between 06:00am – Midnight (Monday-Sunday) You will work on a shift pattern for this role A Little Bit About Us: Brook Street have grown into one of the UK’s leading recruitment agencies – matching thousands of people with meaningful job opportunities at more than 4,500 companies every year. Delivering a quality service to suit the needs of clients and candidates alike was important to our founder Margery Hurst and it remains important to us today. Recruitment is about so much more than just filling job vacancies. It’s about giving people the chance to unleash their full potential, through their perfect new role. About the Client: We work to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy. The Centre for International Trade is part of APHA’s Customer Service Centre Network across the UK and is responsible for a wide variety of work areas to allow the import and export of live animals, plants, animal products and plant products to the EU and third countries. What Will Be Your Day to Day Responsibilities? You will be working in a friendly and supportive team in a fast paced, reactive and varied role. You will need to have good IT and organisation skills and the flexibility to turn your hand to different tasks as the situation demands. The position is customer facing and will suit those who have an ability to communicate well to a diverse group of customers. You will be engaging with a broad range of partners and forming relationships with colleagues. The Centre for International Trade are responsible for completing inspections in relation to the import of controlled plant materials coming into England and Wales. We also issue export certificates for a number of materials including plant products, seeds, and potatoes and ensure they are free from pests and disease to allow our customers to export their products, protecting the food chain. Examples of the type of work you will be doing: Producing Export Certificates for plants and plant products Completing document checks on consignments of plant imports Providing advice to customers who want to import or export plants or plant products, so they remain compliant with the UK’s biosecurity standards Coordinating physical inspections of goods for import and export Answering telephone and email queries and following up enquiries which cannot be immediately resolved. Assisting stakeholders with billing enquiries and resolving invoicing errors Provide classification of potatoes produced and marketed in England and Wales assuring that seed potatoes meet specified minimum health and quality standards. Register and authorise professional operators to produce UK plant passports for the purpose of tracing the movement of plants within the UK Authorising the import, movement and storage of prohibited material for specific purposes such as scientific research and educational purposes. Please note: During the first four weeks you will be asked to attend site for 100% of your time and will standard 9-5 hours for this. After that point you will move onto your shift pattern. Some shift patterns may be eligible for a 12.5% shift allowance. When joining us, we will discuss your working hours with you. If your shifts are outside the core office hours, you will be working from home. What’s in this for you? During their first week, all successful candidates will attend an induction course at one of our offices, to gain an understanding in working at APHA, as well as an extensive programme of training and support. Applying for a customer service role with the Animal and Plant Health Agency offers a unique opportunity to contribute to safeguarding both animal and plant health, crucial for environmental sustainability and public health. Engaging with diverse stakeholders, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring compliance with regulations, providing guidance, and fostering positive relationships. With a focus on service excellence, this role enables you to make a tangible difference while developing invaluable communication and problem-solving skills in a dynamic and meaningful context. Diversity in the workplace: Brook Street are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, we guarantee to interview all candidates who are veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel, and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. As a Disability Confident Leader, and holder of the Gold Award status from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, Brook Street, as a supplier to the Public Sector Resourcing Framework (PSR), will offer you a guaranteed interview with a PSR Sourcer. Should you identify as a candidate with a disability and/or as a veteran or spouse/partner of military personnel and meet all the essential criteria for the role, we encourage you to reach out to us via the Brook Street website. Here you will find a link to register your interest and state the role that you are interested in. We are committed to engaging with you. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates/military spouses/partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, Brook Street will interview the best candidates from within that group. Brook Street is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, we guarantee to interview all candidates who are veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel, and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. As a Disability Confident Leader, and holder of the Gold Award status from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, Brook Street, as a supplier to the Public Sector Resourcing Framework (PSR), will offer you a guaranteed interview with a PSR Sourcer. Should you identify as a candidate with a disability and/or as a veteran or spouse/partner of military personnel and meet all the essential criteria for the role, we encourage you to reach out to us via the Brook Street website. Here you will find a link to register your interest and state the role that you are interested in. We are committed to engaging with you. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates/military spouses/partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, Brook Street will interview the best candidates from within that group. JBRP1_UKTJ
Brook Street UK | Customer Service Agent - Public Sector employer: Brook Street UK
Contact Detail:
Brook Street UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Brook Street UK | Customer Service Agent - Public Sector
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the specific regulations and compliance standards related to animal and plant health. Understanding these guidelines will not only help you in your role but also demonstrate your commitment to the agency's mission during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any previous customer service experience, especially in fast-paced environments. Be ready to share examples of how you've effectively communicated with diverse groups and resolved issues, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your flexibility and adaptability by discussing your availability for various shift patterns. Since the role requires working between 06:00 am and midnight, being open to different schedules can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your IT and organizational skills. The role involves document checks and coordinating inspections, so being able to articulate your proficiency with relevant software and your ability to manage multiple tasks will be beneficial.
We think you need these skills to ace Brook Street UK | Customer Service Agent - Public Sector
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description carefully to understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Customer Service Agent position. Tailor your application to highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the role.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since this role involves engaging with a diverse group of customers, emphasize your communication skills in your CV and cover letter. Provide examples of how you've successfully interacted with clients or resolved customer issues in the past.
Showcase IT and Organizational Skills: Mention any relevant IT skills and organizational abilities you possess. This could include experience with specific software, managing multiple tasks, or maintaining accurate records, which are crucial for this position.
Express Your Commitment to Public Service: Demonstrate your understanding of the importance of safeguarding animal and plant health. Share any previous experiences or motivations that show your commitment to public service and environmental sustainability.
How to prepare for a job interview at Brook Street UK
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a clear understanding of the responsibilities of a Customer Service Agent at the Animal Plant Health Agency. Familiarize yourself with the types of tasks you'll be handling, such as producing export certificates and providing advice on compliance with biosecurity standards.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since this role involves engaging with a diverse group of customers, be prepared to demonstrate your communication skills. Think of examples from your past experiences where you successfully resolved customer queries or built relationships with stakeholders.
✨Highlight Your IT and Organizational Skills
The job requires good IT and organizational skills. Be ready to discuss your proficiency with relevant software and how you manage your time and tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment.
✨Be Flexible and Adaptable
This position demands flexibility due to varying shift patterns and tasks. Share examples that illustrate your ability to adapt to changing situations and handle multiple responsibilities efficiently.
