JIFFL – transforming part-time recruitment for jobseekers and employers

JIFFL is a platform specifically designed for the part-time and flexible job market, addressing the needs of both employers and employees in a way that no other platform currently does.

Thanks to support from the Foundational Economy Innovation Fund, the Greater Manchester start-up’s platform is providing an innovative solution for part-time recruitment that simplifies the entire process for both jobseekers and employers.

The challenge: bridging the gap in part-time recruitment

Co-founders Usman Aziz and Asad Qureshi identified an opportunity to revolutionise the outdated and inefficient part-time job search process.

Despite advancements in technology, they found that jobseekers still rely on traditional CV handouts, while many employers in foundational sectors continue to use window ads for vacancies. As Usman explains, “In today’s age, small businesses, especially in sectors like hospitality, still use traditional methods to hire, and that’s neither efficient nor scalable.”

With their engineering and entrepreneurial backgrounds, Usman and Asad were determined to create a platform that caters specifically to the fast-moving part-time job market, where simplicity, speed and accessibility are crucial.

How the Foundational Economy Innovation Fund made it possible

The Foundational Economy Innovation Fund provided JIFFL with nearly £64,000 across two phases, enabling the team to overcome the significant financial hurdles that often hamper young businesses.

Usman says, “It was really difficult for us to get investment. When you’re at an early stage like we are, you’re seen as high risk. These days, the expectation is that you should have your product in the market with some traction, and only then are investors likely to come on board.

“Thankfully, the Fund gave us the help we needed to develop the app, build a brand identity, and take us towards market entry.”

The funds were used to:

• Develop the JIFFL platform and mobile app
• Create a robust marketing strategy and rebrand the company
• Handle legal essentials such as terms and conditions
• Upskill the founders with the help of a business coach

Without this crucial support, JIFFL’s journey would have been considerably slower.

“GMCA has been invaluable,” says Asad. “The Fund essentially halved the time it took for us to bring our product to market. Without it, we’d still be a long way from commercialisation.”

Innovation at its core: a one-click apply system

JIFFL addresses the needs of both employers and employees in a way that no other platform currently does, Usman says: “There are so many job sites out there, but they tend to provide jobseekers with unattractive options that aren’t catered to their skills or interests.”

The new platform is designed to make part-time recruitment seamless and user-friendly, enabling jobseekers to apply to a position with just one click. This eliminates the back-and-forth typical of traditional recruitment platforms, making the process faster and more efficient.

Using AI to match the right vacancy to the right person, JIFFL includes virtual interviews and video bios. “We've used cutting-edge tech to take a process that people understand and make it simple, as well as presenting it in a fun way,” says Asad.

“The core concept is to get jobseekers part-time jobs as soon as possible and as easily as possible. When you apply on JIFFL, it’s a one-time process – jobseekers don’t have to go through multiple rounds of applications. And you get feedback soon, whether it’s a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

For employers, JIFFL offers a cost-effective and time-saving alternative to traditional hiring methods. Instead of sifting through a stack of CVs, employers can receive short video responses from candidates answering predefined questions, making it easier to identify the right fit without dedicating hours to interviews.

Usman says, “One of the things we're trying to do is to encourage SMEs to try an online service where previously they would have just relied on the old school way of doing things. So far, the feedback we’ve received has been incredibly positive, with 100% of users during the testing stage saying they’d recommend the product.”

Looking to the future

JIFFL launches in November 2024 and its founders have ambitious plans for growth, including scaling operations, attracting new investment, and expanding beyond Greater Manchester.

“Our goal is to be the platform that every job seeker and employer thinks of when it comes to part-time work,” Asad says. And, adds Usman, “JIFFL should be synonymous with quick, easy and reliable recruitment.”

Their progress illustrates the transformative effect that investment from the Foundational Economy Innovation Fund can bring to emerging businesses.

JIFFL is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store and the JIFFL website. For more information or to sign up, visit jiffl.co.uk, or connect with JIFFL on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.