Category Archives: Recruitment

Jobs, Recruitment

New partnerships and innovative services from recruiter marking 40th and ‘most challenging’ year

A RECRUITMENT company marking its 40th anniversary forged key partnerships and unveiled new services during lockdown.

Based in Colwyn Bay and Bangor, Supertemps has launched a suite of platforms to complement its award-winning temporary and permanent full recruitment offering.

These include multi-channel job advertising and their ‘Recruiter Rescue’ service – where a qualified member of the team will act as an extra pair of hands for internal HR teams swamped with applications – plus additional support including online skills testing and psychometric and personality profiling.

Managing Director Sarah Ellwood said these models maximise exposure of the employer brand in the job marketplace and have been well-received by customers and partners across the region.

However, with staff working a mixture of home and office based due to the Covid-19 pandemic, she admits this has been the most challenging period in Supertemps’ history.

“Like all companies, we have worked hard to navigate our way through the last few months and are trying to be as flexible and adaptable as possible,” she said.

“We have continued to operate and are beginning to see some green shoots, so hopefully that will continue.

“There are, of course, still going to be difficult times ahead but we have shown we can continue to deliver services online and communicate with clients and candidates via video conferencing until we are able to meet face to face.”

She added: “Our staff have been brilliant; I’m heartened by the way they have embraced online systems and met these challenges head-on.

“We have partially re-opened our offices but continue to work as normal whether that be from the offices or not.

“It’s still very difficult out there for all businesses and jobseekers and we’re here to lend a helping hand as much as we can.”

As well as leading Supertemps into its fifth decade, Sarah has joined the board of directors at Menai Science Park (M-SParc) on Anglesey.

And the group’s executive, IT and engineering arm S2 Recruitment has been working with North Wales Economic Ambition Board to fill vital roles in the Programme Office delivering the £1bn North Wales Growth Deal.

“To be working alongside two such fantastic institutions which have such a major impact on the region and its economy is fantastic for Supertemps and S2 Recruitment,” said Sarah.

“As we begin to see momentum build following a challenging period it is more important than ever that we come together in the spirit of support and collaboration.”

She added: “On a personal note, I have always been an admirer of M-SParc and the incredible work they do for the environment, energy, and in the world of science and technology.

“To have this inspirational space and community propagating ideas, developing solutions and bringing people together to deliver the STEM solutions of tomorrow is exciting – I’m thrilled to be involved.”

During lockdown, the team has been hosting free advice and guidance sessions online, including what to do if you’re furloughed and facing redundancy. Watch on their YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyDDc48hfPJTMq_4pyI3ZAQ

For more on Supertemps, call 01248 671477 or 01492 517602. Alternatively, visit the website: www.supertemps.co.uk.

For more on S2 Recruitment, visit www.s2recruitment.co.uk or call 03333 234 371.

HR News, News, Recruitment

The Rise of Specialist Recruitment Agencies

Special recruitment agencies are necessary to fulfil the job requirements. They have been more in demand for some time as they have helped companies and businesses to grow better by providing them with suitable candidates.

Especially after the COVID outbreak, when everything went online, these agencies have risen more efficiently than ever. Despite being highly affected by COVID, the UK has successfully managed to recruit better with special Recruitment agencies.

COVID

The majority of the people are dealing with the hardships caused due to unemployment during COVID. Although some companies were offering jobs, their selection criteria got hampered due to lockdowns. This is when the recruitment agencies actively came into the function to ease up the recruitment process for needful companies.

The special recruitment firms have saved many people from the threat of being jobless during and post COVID for a long time. Since everything went online, the special recruitment agencies shifted the hiring process to platforms like LinkedIn, AngelList, and Stack Overflow.

Indeed, the agencies have been a lot more efficient in recruiting candidates than the company itself during the pandemic. During the difficult times, it was only special recruitment agencies which came together to respond to the urgent need for jobs for people in London.

Why Specialists are Better?

No matter what sort of business you have, only a specialist can accurately display the company culture and its roles. Not only does the recruitment agency know everything about the company, but it also knows how to test the potential of a candidate for a particular role. A good example is a butler recruitment agency will have the knowledge of exactly what experience a butler needs and where to source the best candidates. A private household might go for the butler that looks professional and that they think is nicer but that might not be the best butler for the job and ultimately won’t lead to candidate retention. Something that loses businesses money every day.

Special recruiters have helped the companies to save their time and focus on the relevant tasks. They can explain the importance of the job and the candidate’s role. They will ask the right questions and accept answers that are worth considering. Even the candidates consider the specialists to make a proper selection, unlike the traditional hiring methods.

The client and the specialists can discuss and form ideas about the interview and preferences. Besides, the company gets a trustworthy source to decide what salaries to offer and what skills to look for. They tend to seek the right candidate by evaluating and reviewing him in very little time.

The boom in Tech Recruitment

With technology prevailing, there is a crucial need for expert workers. Especially this pandemic has encouraged the companies to build a better technical system. Now that everything is online, there is a high demand for software engineers and electronics experts. Simultaneously, the companies are recruiting electronics engineers for an improved and sustained communication system.

To recruit in the tech industry, specialist electronics recruitment agencies are required who have expert knowledge about the diversity in the area. The recruitment is being done online with a more streamlined approach now. Therefore, due to the rise of specialist recruitment agencies, mass hiring during COVID has become possible in all parts of the world.

Final Words

The need for specialist recruitment is getting stronger day by day. The companies are securing themselves by handing over a great responsibility to someone who has greater knowledge in every aspect. Because the recruitment agencies have an extended reach for candidates who are worthy of consideration and interview, it helps them save a lot of time, money, and stress along the way.

Jobs, Recruitment

NEBOSH begins search for ‘transformational’ Chief Executive

NEBOSH begins search for ‘transformational’ Chief Executive

NEBOSH, one of the world’s leading health, safety and environmental organisations, has begun recruitment for a new Chief Executive.

Over the past 40 years nearly half a million people in over 130 countries have studied for a NEBOSH qualification. It is now searching for a transformational and commercially astute Chief Executive who can continue its legacy in providing recognised, rigorous and respected qualifications that help to save the lives of people in workplaces around the world.

The charity, which employs over 110 people from its base in Leicester, embarked on a new strategy in 2019. Coupled with the challenges and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the new Chief Executive will drive a period of significant transformation that has already begun with the introduction of new technology for the delivery of its examinations.

Bill Nixon, NEBOSH Chair, says: “NEBOSH plays a key role in improving health, safety, wellbeing and the environment in workplaces worldwide. It is a cause very close to the hearts of our employees and our global network of learners, Learning Partners and employers so to join NEBOSH as our new leader will be to join a very passionate and worthwhile community.

“This global community expects the very best from NEBOSH so our Board of Trustees is searching for a very special Chief Executive; someone who has exceptional people skills and commercial acumen but also a drive to make the world a safer and healthier place for workers around the world. It’s a challenging prospect but we’re in the business of saving lives and that is incredibly rewarding indeed.”

Recruitment is being undertaken by Peridot Partners. Please visit https://www.peridotpartners.co.uk/jobs/nebosh-chief-executive/ for further details and to apply.

News, Recruitment

APSCO: Vacancies in the UK down 46.1% year on year in June as Coronavirus stalls hiring

Professional vacancies in the UK were down 46.1% year on year in June as hiring continues to be impacted by Covid-19. That’s according to new research from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo), the trade association for the recruitment sector.

The data, provided by business intelligence specialist Vacancysoft, also revealed that hiring activity was impacted as early as Q1 this year, with professional vacancies down 31.3% in the first quarter, as concerns over the virus started to manifest. As lockdown took effect, volumes in Q2 dropped 69% when compared to the same period last year.

London least impacted

The statistics also indicated that the drop in recruitment has been more marked regionally than in London, which was down 39.8% year on year. In comparison, the East Midlands saw the greatest annual fall in vacancies, with volumes down 57.2%, with the South East also hard hit, with hiring seeing a decrease of 49% year on year.

Demand for IT professionals dominates UK hiring

While hiring across IT is down 37% year on year, it remains the most in demand profession, accounting for 31.5% of the country’s vacancies. This is indicative of the vast number of businesses that are still seeking IT infrastructure support as remote working continues to be implemented.

Despite all professions reporting a drop in hiring activity, demand for banking professionals also remained relatively resilient, with volumes down by just 28% year on year, indicating the continued need for financial expertise across the UK’s businesses as budgets were impacted by Covid-19.

Ann Swain, CEO of APSCo comments:

“As we entered 2020 most of us in the recruitment profession had our focus fully set on Brexit, but none of us could have predicted the events which would eventually unfold across the UK and the rest of the world as Covid-19 changed our lives completely. We all knew that hiring would take a hit as a result of the lockdown, so to see jobs down overall for June is perhaps no surprise for many staffing company owners.”

“However, every business and every industry are different. Some sectors have remained resilient and are beginning to show signs of positivity as we emerge from lockdown bleary eyed and eager to get back to the grind once again. Other sectors will, however, feel the impact of the pandemic for far longer. As we enter the summer months and more businesses begin to once again open their doors for staff, we certainly hope to see professional recruitment get the much-needed boost it deserves.”

COVID-19, News, Recruitment

‘Four step’ plan to help businesses adapt workforce strategies in a post-Covid world

As Coronavirus continues to impact the world of work as we know it, Guidant Global has developed a four-step guide to help businesses plan ahead in the new normal. According to the leader in talent acquisition and managed workforce solutions, despite the increase in unemployment that’s being reported as a result of Covid-19, skill-short sectors are still struggling to source enough resources to deliver on projects.

With more businesses also facing greater fluidity of workforces – with the reliance on contingent resources continuing to grow and the CIPD predicting long-term remote working practices to be implemented – employers need a much more holistic approach to workforce planning. According to a recent report sponsored by Guidant Global, in order to achieve this, organisations need to follow four key measures:

  1. Ensure business functions work closer together: Breaking down the silos between functions, such as procurement and human resources, to engender a joined-up approach is more important than ever if resources are to be streamlined.
  2. Embrace lean and agile approaches to talent management: including the rapid scaling up and down of teams in line with project demands and utilising technology to cross-pollinate resources.
  3. Use technology to predict skills gaps: The recruitment of new talent can only solve so many problems. It’s critical that effective workforce planning strategies consider existing skills gaps and identify how best to upskill existing employees to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Achieving this in a timely manner will require the right technology and data analytics tools to not only accurately predict where gaps are, but also if there are other resources elsewhere in the business supply chain that can be utilised.
  4. Collaborate with third party experts: Where in-house capabilities need to be developed, collaborating with third party experts can prove more cost-effective.

Simon Blockley, CEO of Guidant Global, comments:

“It’s been a difficult year for everyone and there’s no doubt that the impact Covid-19 has had on the make-up of the workforce will be felt for many years. For employers, now is a pivotal moment to define what your business will look like for the immediate future. However, for those firms that were struggling with the growing complexity of talent pools prior to this crisis, effective workforce planning is certainly going to be more of a struggle now. By exploring and investing in the areas we’ve recommended, organisational workforce planning can and should improve for most businesses. Perhaps more importantly, though, taking these steps now will help companies be future-fit in what can only be described as a highly volatile global economy.”

COVID-19, News, Recruitment

Hiring in the UK has halved in the last year as Covid-19 halts recruitment

Hiring across the UK has almost halved in the last year as Covid-19 impacted recruitment, with the number of new vacancies added in June down 49% when compared to the same time last year. That’s according to the latest real-time statistics from the world’s largest network of job boards, Broadbean Technology.

Hospitality figures show profound impact on hiring

The data also revealed the extent of the impact on hiring across the hospitality sector, with vacancies down 72% year on year in June. This is in line with reports from the UK Hospitality trade association which revealed that revenue in the sector dropped 87% from April through June. However, early indicators suggest hiring is beginning to pick up again as more businesses reopen, with Broadbean Technology’s statistics revealing that the number of jobs posted in the first three weeks of July were already up 7% on June’s figures.

Construction showing promising signs

Construction is beginning to show promising signs once again, with new vacancies up 53% month on month at the end of June – the first monthly increase in hiring since March – as more sites begin operating again. However, while this is the first upward trend reported for construction since lockdown, job numbers are still down 37% from the beginning of the year.

Alex Fourlis, Managing Director at Broadbean Technology commented

“As the UK continues to emerge from lockdown, we’re beginning to really gather some insight as to the longer term impact the pandemic has had on hiring in the UK. We are still seeing pockets of resilience and some sectors are once again recruiting, but the year on year figures certainly indicate that the UK has a long way to go before we fully recover. It’s certainly no surprise to note that the impact on hospitality has been profound, however, it certainly looks like the sector has reached a turning point at last and we hope that the early signs of companies in the sector once again hiring continue throughout the rest of the summer.”

News, Recruitment

APSCo launches start-up business growth programme

The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) has launched a tailored start-up business growth programme to support recruitment firms in their first 18 months of trading.

LaunchPad will provide new staffing companies – those which have been trading for 18 months or less, with a full programme of support including training, mentoring, expert advice and a full toolkit with resources, templates and model documents covering everything from writing a business plan to building your tech stack, accessing finance and ensuring that you are legally compliant. With access to real life case studies, mentoring sessions with business growth experts and non-executive directors through the AdvisorLink scheme and discounted access to APSCo training courses, the programme will equip new company owners with all the tools they need for success.

Moya Rylands, APSCo’s Membership Director commented:

“Running a recruitment business can be hugely rewarding, but setting up a new staffing company at the best of times can also be lonely. In such a volatile market, those launching a new business now will be facing greater challenges than they would have last year. In order to support those looking to branch out on their own, we’ve pooled our resources, and together with our sponsors Giant Finance, Access Group and new Millennia Payroll, launched a programme that will truly set new firms on the best possible path to success.”

Education, News, Recruitment

Handshake launches in UK to boost diversity and democratise opportunity for graduates

Handshake – the number one place for university students to find jobs and work experience, today announces its launch into the United Kingdom and partnerships with the University of Cambridge, University of York and University of Liverpool. Partnering with universities, Handshake democratises recruitment opportunities for students, making it easier and more efficient for companies of all sizes to connect with early talent.

Following Handshake’s success in the US where students from over 900 colleges and universities use the platform, the company has launched in the UK with three partner universities and six more due to sign by the end of the summer. This launch comes at a time where recent research found that more than a quarter (27%) of businesses are reducing the number of graduates they recruit in 2020.

Handshake UK expects to have hundreds of thousands of student accounts created; already, it has had over 10,000 British students create profiles. Employers including the likes of Clifford Chance LLP and Google are already using Handshake to proactively engage students via messaging and host virtual events.

Founded in 2014 by three graduates of Michigan Tech University – Garrett Lord (CEO), Scott Ringwelski (CTO), and Ben Christensen (Head of People and Talent) – Handshake has democratised student access to job opportunities and has helped employers easily recruit best-fit early talent from a wide range of colleges and universities.

By lowering the barrier to entry, Handshake increases the number of job postings available to students at a university by 300% on average. As a result, students have the support they need to find a great job and kick-off a meaningful career regardless of which institution they attend, what they choose to study, and who they know. In turn, these companies no longer lose out on talent they might otherwise miss.

The company is also bringing on new executives to support the international growth. Dimitar Stanimiroff, who led Stack Overflow’s European expansions, is joining as Head of EMEA. Clare Adams has also joined the team to lead university partnerships and impact, bringing with her years of experience at the University of Westminster and as a member of the AGCAS social mobility task force.

Garrett Lord, CEO at Handshake comments, “Across the UK, young people are facing the most challenging labour market for 75 years. Our mission is to make it as easy as possible for universities to help their students find jobs. By creating a level playing field for all graduates, employers of all sizes across industries will have their pick of the top talent in the UK, breaking down barriers to equal opportunity.”

Emma Moore, Director of Careers & Employability at University of Liverpool adds, “The class of 2020 will have faced severe disruption while completing their degrees, with final assessments altered and uncertainty suddenly the norm. As they look to take their next step, students graduating in 2020 are entering a vastly changed employment market than previous years. The economy is facing a long and uncertain road back to recovery. That’s why we are excited to partner with Handshake and give our students the best opportunities available. The system has been easy to implement and we are excited to help our students as they start their careers.”

For further information, and to sign up, visit https://www.joinhandshake.co.uk

Apps, Jobs, News, Recruitment

Appy-days – Recruit 2 You launches new recruitment app

East-Midlands-based multi-sector recruitment agency, Recruit 2 You, has launched an easy-to-use app to help match job seekers to the right roles in a quick and simple way.

Available on the App Store and Google Play, the five-star rated app allows registered users to receive instant tailored job alerts, that directly match with their chosen criteria.

Based in Heanor, Derbyshire, Recruit 2 You focuses on offering a personable and fresh approach to recruitment, providing tailored solutions for high-profile clients across the region and UK, matching candidates to roles across a variety of sectors.

The app ensures that available roles are accessible to proactive job candidates based upon bespoke user profiles and friends can also be referred for jobs – saving job seekers time, and businesses time and money whilst sourcing the right candidates for roles.

With the current COVID-19 crisis, business models are evolving and the demand for recruitment is higher than ever. As a direct result of this, Recruit 2 You has re-evaluated its offering and is keen to ensure that its services are as easily accessible as possible, to reach out to those seeking employment or recruitment advice.

Partnering with ex recruitment and digital specialists, MyRecruitApp, for the construction of the app – the design provides unparalleled user friendliness – and following a quick registration of details, interests and availability, it will keep users up to date with all the latest business and industry news, ensuring job opportunities are never missed and candidates are contacted promptly when a suitable position becomes available.

‘Placing people first’ has always been at the heart of the company’s ethos and the team works to deliver impactful results for clients and candidates seeking temporary, permanent or interim roles across a variety of industries.

With a primary focus on the engineering, industrial, manufacturing and logistics and warehouse sectors, Recruit 2 You also work to recruit candidates across the procurement and supply chain, office and secretarial, construction and property, accounting and financial, and customer service and administration industries.

Anita Jackson, managing director of Recruit 2 You, said: “We pride ourselves on having the dedication, resources and experience to provide a first class service to job seekers, and to businesses that are looking to source the right candidates – and so the launch of our digital app is the next natural step in catering for our clients and customers.

“The COVID-19 crisis has indeed hit the economy hard and business models are having to change considerably, which has had a direct effect on the need for recruitment and it is the highest it has ever been. We understood that we needed to change our offering to suit the rapidly changing needs of the industry and we were keen to ensure our services are easily accessible as possible for those that need it.

“Working with MyRecruitApp, we were always looking to design a cutting-edge app that would fit into our ethos of ‘placing people first’ and with its clean, simple and user-friendly format, the app is just what we were looking to provide to our customers in this increasingly digital age. It will allow us to do what we do best, but more quickly and efficiently, now and for the future.”

Recruit 2 You has just celebrated its second anniversary and the company is going for growth nationally – targeting specific sectors to support existing clients, expand its offering, and open up opportunities for sector specific skilled candidates.

The Recruit 2 You app is available for download here:

Apple

Google Play Store

News, Recruitment

Skills divide evident as white-collar job openings rise

Despite recent job cuts announcements from John Lewis, Boots Rolls Royce, job opportunities for the professional sector were up month on month in June highlighting the major skills divide in the labour market. Permanent and contract vacancies increased 38% and 31% respectively, marking the first positive signs for professional recruitment since the crisis began. That’s according to the latest monthly Recruitment Trends Snapshot report from The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo).

Gap in year on year hiring closing

The data, provided by growth analytics platform, cube19, also revealed that while year on year hiring is down 46% across permanent and 36% in contract, these figures represent a smaller annual decrease when compared to May when these figures stood at -66% and -56% respectively. The same trend has been noted in placement numbers which although down 59% for perm and 50% in contract year on year, are far better than figures reported in May, suggesting the UK jobs market is taking small steps towards recovery as lockdown measures ease.

Daily tracking shows an increase in interviews

This uptick in positivity can also be seen in the daily tracking data which revealed that by the end of June, interviews were up 63% compared with the beginning of the month, which is indicative of more employers seeking extra resources to meet a growing demand as businesses continue to reopen.
Apprenticeship Levy – more flexibility needed

Ann Swain, CEO of APSCo comments:

“The monthly increases across vacancies, placements and interviews are certainly encouraging for white collar workers as we finally begin to see glimmers of positivity in the UK market. However, it also highlights the major skills gap that the labour market faces. We were disappointed that the Chancellor, in his Summer Statement, did not introduce more flexibility around the Apprenticeship Levy – we believe that the way in which levy funds can be used should be broadened to help re-skilling opportunities and facilitate the ‘skills pivot’ we will need to get people back to work. Currently the scheme can only be used to upskill employees on formal apprenticeship programmes so agency workers are excluded and the levy can’t be used for shorter term training, which would have been so useful during furlough.”

Joe McGuire of cube19 comments:

“We can see some positive signs that the recovery is in motion. Vacancies, jobs and sales are all up from May, and it is encouraging to see that average perm salaries are continuing to increase. With more industries opening back up and lockdown easing, we hope to see this upward trend continue on the same trajectory. It will take some time to get back to pre-COVID levels, but there is a big opportunity for the recruitment industry during these times.”