Snow 'cost employers about £318 million'

Brits missed 51.4 million working hours in the last week as a result of the bad weather, with 19 per cent of respondents to a survey admitting that they were too afraid to drive in the wintry conditions.

The research by Vision Critical for Green Flag has shown that despite the fact that insurance companies have noted a spike in call-outs and emergencies caused by the bad weather, the adverse conditions meant that 18 per cent of British adults were unable to work their necessary hours. This in turn is said to have cost employers roughly £318 million - a figure which assumes all workers to be on the minimum wage.

Many adults took to public transport as an alternative in order to make it to work while avoiding the necessity to drive themselves in the bad conditions.

Miranda Schunke, spokesperson for Green Flag, said: "It is not only the roads that have been frozen in the last week. For millions, work commitments have [also] been put on ice." 

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Posted by Nikki Barrister

Source: The Sales Executive News

29% of SMEs 'see expansion as main priority'

A new survey has revealed that close to a third of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Britain have said that expansion of their business is their chief goal for 2013.

The latest quarterly SME Risk Index from global insurer Zurich showed that, while 16 per cent said they felt that financial pressure would put them at high risk of going out of business this year, many SMEs had taken valuable steps to ensure that this does not happen.

Retailers, IT and telecoms and construction appeared to be the sectors that are provoking the most concern.

Implementing tighter financial and operational governance controls was the most popular strategy used to ensure an increase in turnover, with almost a third of SMEs admitting to have used this tactic.

Hiring skilled staff to manage operational challenges and reviewing insurance coverage were named as further measures that were taken.

Director of SME at Zurich Richard Coleman said: "A key factor in surviving and achieving growth is being able to strike a careful balance between taking necessary risks on the one hand and then overcoming and preparing for risks on the other."

Aaron Wallis offers Business Development jobs across a wide range of industry sectors. If you are looking to hire a BDM discover unique Sales recruitment services backed by a 12 month rebate scheme.

Posted by Wayne Bly

Source: The Sales Director News

29% of SMEs 'see expansion as main priority'

A new survey has revealed that close to a third of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Britain have said that expansion of their business is their chief goal for 2013.

The latest quarterly SME Risk Index from global insurer Zurich showed that, while 16 per cent said they felt that financial pressure would put them at high risk of going out of business this year, many SMEs had taken valuable steps to ensure that this does not happen.

Retailers, IT and telecoms and construction appeared to be the sectors that are provoking the most concern.

Implementing tighter financial and operational governance controls was the most popular strategy used to ensure an increase in turnover, with almost a third of SMEs admitting to have used this tactic.

Hiring skilled staff to manage operational challenges and reviewing insurance coverage were named as further measures that were taken.

Director of SME at Zurich Richard Coleman said: "A key factor in surviving and achieving growth is being able to strike a careful balance between taking necessary risks on the one hand and then overcoming and preparing for risks on the other."

Aaron Wallis offers Business Development jobs across a wide range of industry sectors. If you are looking to hire a BDM discover unique Sales recruitment services backed by a 12 month rebate scheme.

Posted by Wayne Bly

Source: The Sales Executive News

Recession 'doesn't mean all doom and gloom in the workplace'

According to the latest Workplace Employment Relations Study released today (January 23rd), while the recession has indeed had a negative impact on many aspects of the economy and the job market, there are still signs of improvement within the workplace.

While the survey revealed that in 90 per cent of workplaces, the senior manager responsible for personnel maintained that the crunch had some sort of negative impact on their place of work, it also reported that levels of job satisfaction have actually increased since the survey was last conducted in 2004.

Furthermore, the report showed that since then managing bodies are communicating more with their employees, there is more training available and staff have more autonomy at work.

TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady commented on the report, saying: "In such difficult times it is even more important that people have a voice at work," adding that it is good to see that there has been no decline in the number of employee representatives in workplaces.

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Posted by Nikki Barrister

Hat Tip To: Salespeak News

Unemployment rates fall

Released this month by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), figures for September to November 2012 have revealed that the unemployment rate was 7.7 per cent of the economically active population. This figure is down 0.1 per cent on that from June to August 2012 and down 0.7 per cent on the equivalent period in the previous year.

This means that 37,000 fewer people were unemployed than during the previous three months.

The number of people seeking Jobseekers' Allowance also fell by 12,100 between November and December, dropping to 1.56 million.

In terms of the younger generation, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 was 71.4 per cent - up 0.1 per cent on the previous three months and 1.1 per cent on a year earlier.

While it is still recognised that pay rises are not matching the steady 2.7 per cent rate of inflation, the findings by the ONS have shown that total pay (including bonuses) rose by 1.5 per cent compared with the equivalent period in 2011, while regular pay excluding bonuses rose by 1.4 per cent.

Aaron Wallis are a Milton Keynes recruitment business that specialises in Sales Recruitment. For Milton Keynes sales jobs visit www.aaronwallis.co.uk.

Posted by Richard Esquilant

Credit: Salespeak News

Careers advice 'should be built into education'

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is urging the government to incorporate information and guidance about the working world into education programmes, citing skills mismatches, generalised careers advice and young people unprepared for the job market as reasons for doing so.

During their formative years, students who do not have enough information made available to them regarding different job sectors may find themselves studying inappropriate or inadequate subjects.

By improving links between various job sectors and educational institutions, the CIPD believes that students will be able to hear more about the various career paths available to them - and how to pursue them - from the employers directly.

The Learning to Work report issued by the organisation found that 61 per cent of employers expressed an interest in becoming more involved with students in this way, but that they needed opportunities to be created for this collaboration to come about.

Despite having revealed that businesses indeed recognise the importance of tackling unemployment among young generations, the survey also found that a quarter have in fact not employed anyone aged 16 to 24 in the last year.

Aaron Wallis is a Milton Keynes Sales recruitment agency with a unique service offering that includes 12 months rebate. Psychometric profiling and online skills testing are also included within a fixed recruitment price.

Posted by John Oak

Hat Tip To: Salespeak News

High employment combined with a weak economy 'to blame for wage stagnation'

Following a report issued yesterday (January 23rd) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) regarding labour market figures, promising levels of employment against a backdrop of a weak economy have been partially blamed for wages not keeping up with inflation.

Nida Ali, economic advisor to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club, said: "Weak earnings growth continues to be the trade-off for higher employment," as companies hold onto employees in the hope of an upturn in economic prospects.

In light of the ONS figures having shown that unemployment levels have fallen by 37,000, Ms Ali added that improving the economy is now essential to enable companies not only to boost earnings but also to support more full-time employment.

This will in turn have a further positive knock-on effect on the UK economy.

Bernard Brown, partner and head of business services at KPMG, believes that investment in the capabilities of employees is key for UK plc to "keep moving in the right direction".

Aaron Wallis is a Milton Keynes Sales recruitment agency with a unique service offering that includes 12 months rebate. Psychometric profiling and online skills testing are also included within a fixed recruitment price.

Posted by Richard Esquilant

Source: The Sales Director News

High employment combined with a weak economy 'to blame for wage stagnation'

Following a report issued yesterday (January 23rd) by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) regarding labour market figures, promising levels of employment against a backdrop of a weak economy have been partially blamed for wages not keeping up with inflation.

Nida Ali, economic advisor to the Ernst & Young ITEM Club, said: "Weak earnings growth continues to be the trade-off for higher employment," as companies hold onto employees in the hope of an upturn in economic prospects.

In light of the ONS figures having shown that unemployment levels have fallen by 37,000, Ms Ali added that improving the economy is now essential to enable companies not only to boost earnings but also to support more full-time employment.

This will in turn have a further positive knock-on effect on the UK economy.

Bernard Brown, partner and head of business services at KPMG, believes that investment in the capabilities of employees is key for UK plc to "keep moving in the right direction".

Aaron Wallis is a Milton Keynes Sales recruitment agency with a unique service offering that includes 12 months rebate. Psychometric profiling and online skills testing are also included within a fixed recruitment price.

Posted by Richard Esquilant

Source: The Sales Executive News

Business 'needs to adjust to ageing workforce'

Employers are not paying enough attention to the skills that older employees can bring to their organisations, new research suggests.

A survey published by e-learning solution provider Skillsoft has revealed that 92 per cent of UK business leaders admit that they will not invest in training for the over-60s.

Kevin Young, general manager at Skillsoft, stated that two billion people will be 60 or older by 2050 and with financial pressures and better healthcare many of them will remain in employment for longer.

He believes that businesses across they UK will need to re-think their business and employment plans to accommodate this ageing workforce.

Mr Young added: "With nearly 85 per cent of British bosses not considering training the over-60s as a priority, the problem appears more deep rooted than just a short-term cost-cutting exercise." 

The survey took data from more than 500 UK CEOs of firms with more than 250 employees.

Aaron Wallis are a Milton Keynes Sales recruitment agency with a unique service offering that includes 12 months rebate. Psychometric profiling and online skills testing are also included within a fixed recruitment price.

Posted by Wayne Bly

Source: Salespeak News

Government urges businesses to give young people a chance

The government has said that there is funding available for businesses looking to grow by employing young people this year.

According to the Department of Work and Pensions, a new campaign called Youth Contract: Works for me will aim to raise awareness of the £1 billion kitty that is available to businesses offering support to help 18 to 24 year-olds into work.

Minister for employment Mark Hoban is particularly keen to highlight the fact that there are 160,000 wage incentives that are part of the package, which will give firms up to £2,275 when they employ a young person who has been out of work for six months or more.

"There really is no better time to change a young person's life and invest in the future of your business at the same time, so snap up the money before someone else beats you to it," he added.

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Posted by Nikki Barrister

Origin: Salespeak News

North Sea industry could create 50,000 more jobs

Many onlookers and surveys have already predicted that the first half of 2013 will see a big boost in the number of jobs available to people and now an industry expert is suggesting that those with manufacturing skills could soon be in demand.

Kevin Forbes, chief executive of Oil and Gas People, said that there could be up top 50,000 new roles created in the North Sea drilling sector.

The jobs bonanza will bring opportunities for engineers, geologists, parts-makers and support-services staff and will mean that the total number employed in the UK portion of the North Sea will be close to half a million.

"The consistently high oil price, tax changes and new technology have made it economically viable to extend the life of exiting projects and start new ones," he stated.

Mr Forbes also flagged up recent research from the Institute of Directors that suggested that a further 35,000 jobs could be created in the nascent shale-gas industry.

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Posted by Wayne Bly

Source: The Sales Engineer News

Small businesses want changes to apprenticeships and education

There is an increasing amount of school leavers who do not have the required skills for employment, according to a new report.

Indeed, The Apprenticeship Journey found that 81 per cent of small business owners are 'not very confident' or 'not at all confident' that 16-year-olds have the right level of employability skills.

The research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) also found that apprenticeships, despite being backed by both industry and government, have an image problem with young people, reports HR Magazine

According to the report, "the government has failed to articulate a clear definition of what constitutes an apprenticeship".

It argues for too long employers have not been consulted as they are "left on the sidelines" because they are not in charge of the funding that is given to the scheme. 

The FSB states that to rectify this ministers should work alongside businesses to produce a standard definition of an apprenticeship.

For some of the best CV advice and tips visit the career tools section of www.aaronwallis.co.uk. Stacked with hints, tips and advice the Aaron Wallis career tools section is the right solution for you.

Posted by Wayne Bly

Credit: Salespeak News

Welfare-to-work firms 'favouring job-ready candidates'

Job-ready candidates are more likely to be given a role than the long-term unemployed, according to an academic.

York University professor Roy Sainsbury said firms that are paid to hire jobseeker claimants under the government's flagship £3 billion welfare-to-work programme are slow at giving jobs to the long-term unemployed.

According to the Guardian, his report states that private firms, which are openly favouring the most job-ready participants opposed to those with more severe barriers to work.

Under the government scheme, firms are paid between £4,000 and £14,000 for every long-term job they give to an unemployed person who is participating in the programme.

Mr Sainsbury said there were also problems with the way that job centre staff were preparing candidates.

"A lot of [applicants] were just being sent along to the work programme provider with little information about what to expect, without knowing what was compulsory and what was not," he explained.

Posted by Richard Equiliant

By: Salespeak News

Recruitment agencies enjoy successful December

The number of UK jobseekers finding positions via recruitment agencies increased again during December, according to the latest industry data.

Official statistics from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) show its seasonally adjusted index of permanent staff placements stood at 53.2 in December, just slightly less than its record high of 56.0 set in November.

"We've now had three months of uninterrupted growth in people finding permanent jobs through recruitment agencies," said REC chief executive Kevin Green.

He added that he expects the overall economic outlook for 2013 to be similar to the situation seen last year, but does think that the labour market will again outperform the economy as a whole.

Despite the fact that the UK was in recession for six months of 2012, a record 29.6 million people were in employment in the third quarter and this bodes well for jobseekers in the coming months, states the REC.

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Posted by John Oak

Source: The Sales Director News

UK employment figures set example to Europe

The UK's strong labour market is not only at odds with the country's overall economic situation, it is also in stark contrast to that seen elsewhere in the eurozone.

Just less than a month after government officials in the UK said that employment in the country could surpass 30 million for the first time, Eurostat has released figures which show that the unemployment in the financial block is at 11.8 per cent.

The group estimates that 26.061 million men and women in the EU27 - of whom 18.820 million live in eurozone countries - were unemployed in November 2012, up by 154,000 in the EU27 and a eurozone increase of 113,000 compared with the previous month.

Figures varied widely across the bloc with the lowest unemployment rates recorded in Austria (4.5 per cent), Luxembourg (5.1 per cent), Germany (5.4 per cent) and the highest seen in Spain (26.6 per cent) and Greece (26.0 per cent).

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Posed by John Oak

Source: Salespeak News

Labour pledges to guarantee jobs for long-term unemployed

The Labour Party has pledged that it will guarantee more vacancies and jobs for the long-term unemployed if it gets re-elected.

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls explained that the proposed scheme will be paid for by restricting the tax relief on pensions for those earning more than £150,000 a year.

This will create a £1 billion fund that will be given to employers to meet the cost of hiring the 130,000 people in the UK who have been out of work for two years or more.

Under the plan, the long-term unemployed would be given 25 hours a week positions, which would be paid at the national minimum wage, with jobs lasting a minimum of six months and people who do not accept the offer of a suitable job may have their benefits cut.

The Treasury criticised the plans and said that Labour is trying to spend the same money twice and the government's own plans have already helped thousands of people get jobs.

Aaron Wallis are a Milton Keynes Sales recruitment agency with a unique service offering that includes 12 months rebate. Psychometric profiling and online skills testing are also included within a fixed recruitment price.

Posted by John Oak

Source: The Sales Director News