COMPUTER specialist OGL has taken on five new employees after a novel recruitment process.

The Stourport on Severn company launched an initiative based on The Apprentice television show. Called the STAR Programme, standing for Sales Training and Reward, it was designed to attract people with little or no sales experience, but who had a flair for good communication and excellent people skills.

One hundred and eleven people from across Worcestershire and Birmingham applied to take part in the recruitment process which included two days at the Worcester Warriors’ Sixways Stadium. The candidates were required to present to two of OGL’s directors and a senior manager about a subject of their choice, role play with other candidates, take part in an interview and participate in a debate.

Sam Byrne, sales director at OGL Computer, said: “The applicants for this process came from all walks of life with varying levels of sales experience and IT knowledge. Although these things were a slight advantage it was candidates’ personalities we were really looking at, and their ability to adapt to scenarios, communicate effectively and get on well with people.”

Following the process five applicants were offered places on the STAR programme: James Cook, aged 21, who lives in Stourport; David Cole (19) of Worcester, Michelle Wilson (29) of Kidderminster; Chris Harris (28) from Cradley Heath and Michael Mann (29) from Worcester.

The successful STAR candidates joined the company, which has offices in Stourport-on-Severn and Kidderminster, in April and are currently at the beginning of a training programme which will teach them all about OGL, the IT industry, OGL’s products and services as well as skills such as customer service and sales techniques.

Mr Byrne, continued: “We have exciting plans for the company as it enters its 40th year in 2016 and need fresh, talented staff to allow those plans to be realised. By carrying out a non-standard recruitment process which allowed candidates to show off their personalities and their interests we found some excellent people with great skills who, I’m sure, will do very well here at OGL. It’s not always formal qualifications that we are looking for.”

The recruitment of the STAR team pushed OGL’s employee numbers above the 250 mark for the first time in its 39 year history.