Every business starts with an idea. Unique goods and/or services, a realistic and reliable business plan and dependable means of delivery come next. But that’s just the beginning. Without manpower, even the best idea is destined to lie fallow.

Reviewing past issues of The Greater Lansing Business Monthly, you’ll note one constant. Success, according to almost everyone interviewed, depends on “a great staff,” “the wonderful people who work here,” “the commitment and dedication of our employees.” Again and again, employers cite the importance of their personnel in driving achievement.

That’s where staffing agencies like Manpower come into the picture. Whether for temporary or permanent staff, Manpower consistently delivers a highly skilled and motivated workforce, ready to contribute to their employers’ ultimate success.

Established in 1948 in Milwaukee, Manpower has been a presence in Lansing since 1962 when Jerry Borgen purchased the franchise. He and sons David and Erik remain owners of this franchise, which has grown to include not just the Lansing office but 20 other locations throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio.

Worldwide, the Manpower network operates 4,400 offices in 73 countries and territories and employs over 30,000. In 2006, Manpower placed 4.4 million people in permanent, temporary and contract positions. The 2006 revenues exceeded $17 billion.

Locally, the Manpower office is comprised of two divisions. Manpower Staffing Services specializes in placing employees in the areas of administration and clerical support, industrial, warehouse, general labor, contact center and healthcare support. The other division, Manpower Professional Services, headed up by Michael Guthrie, focuses on information technology, engineering, scientific, finance and executive placements.

Although many think of staffing agencies like Manpower as supplying temporary help to employers, Debra Clem, executive vice president for the franchise, explained, “About 15 percent of our business remains in the traditional model of temporary short-term assignments. But the primary design of our business services today is to develop unique solutions for our clients relative to the design and support of effective recruiting, selection and retention processes.

“Like all businesses, we are challenged to create more value in our services. Our clients today not only hold us accountable for creating success in the workplace, they utilize our resources to drive continuous improvement of the processes relative to their business objectives.”

Guthrie added, “It makes sense to, so to speak, ‘outsource’ hiring to an agency like Manpower. For the employer, working with Manpower is time- and cost-effective. They know we will find the best employee for the job, and they are spared all the difficulties inherent in the search.”

An important part of the Manpower mission is the education and training component. Direct Training, featuring Manpower’s Training and Development Center (TDC), is a performance support tool bringing training opportunities to the Internet. Nearly 4,000 world-class e-learning courses and 5,000 hours of e-learning in end-user applications are free to Manpower associates. Constant updating and addition of new courses keep offerings current with changing technology and skill requirements. Employers appreciate Manpower’s commitment to improving the knowledge of workers, and employees value this investment in their own careers. Courses are offered in the areas of business skills (including such topics as communication, marketing and human resources); IT skills (including Internet security, Web design, technical support and many others); and end-user skills (such as Lotus®, Microsoft® and Adobe Photoshop®). The TDC permits learning to earn industry-recognized credits for mastering many of the programs offered. A complete listing of training opportunities is available from Manpower.

According to Guthrie, “Manpower also offers human resources consulting. We provide services designed to help the employer determine their needs, pinpoint problems and work with the company strategically to make the best human resource decisions. We offer training and development, employee handbook creation/review, Web-based payroll solutions and many other specialized services.

“Manpower Professional also provides services as recruiters for specific employer requirements. Our specialized recruiters find talented candidates for professional jobs in all types of industries. From recruiting to screening, testing and interviewing, Manpower offers a full range of HR services.”

Quarterly, Manpower releases an employment outlook survey for the United States. Often cited in business publications, the survey reports on employment trends in the upcoming quarter. According to the most recent edition, released in September of 2007, U.S. employers plan to “maintain a stable, yet cautious approach toward hiring.” Of the 14,000 representative employers surveyed, 27 percent expect to increase their workforces during the fourth quarter of 2007, while 9 percent plan to trim their payrolls. Fifty-eight percent expect no change, and 6 percent are undecided.

Locally, Lansing-area employers expect to hire at a moderate pace. According to Clem, “Twenty percent of companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 17 percent plan to reduce their payrolls. Fifty-six percent expect to maintain current staff levels, and 7 percent are not certain of their plans.”

The complete reports of the most current employment outlook survey can be found at the press room of the Manpower website: www.manpower.com

Despite challenging economic times, Manpower has continued to grow. Clem pointed out that this growth has been “natural and organic. In other words, we haven’t grown through mergers and acquisitions but rather through establishing and maintaining the kind of reputation that continues to draw both employers and employees to our services.”

Manpower certainly understands the importance of good employees, and this extends to their own staff as well. The people who work in the Lansing office have been hand-picked to provide not only excellent service but also to share a common dedication to the core mission of the organization: enabling their clients, both employers and employees, to win in the changing world of work.