March « 2011 « Go To Recruitment Employment Blog

28/03/2011

NHS trusts start merging

Healthcare recruitment agencies are concerned that 2 NHS trusts are starting a trend by merging. NHS South West Essex and NHS South East Essex are to announce in the next few days that these trusts are to merge to save costs.

The merger could result in 150 job cuts and this is on top of the NHS South West Essex already making 224 redundancies, with losses of more than £50 million means that trusts have to look at different ways of reducing these huge costs and merging is sometimes the solution.

Unison spokesman Nick Bradley said that this merger is extremely worrying and could have a detrimental effect on the health service, we will have a period when 500 or so healthcare workers will be looking to fill but a few jobs and the remainder will be left unemployed.

The Trusts replied by saying it is not there fault and said it is the sanctions imposed on them by the government that has led to this decision. However they will discuss with trade unions how to best implement these changes.

Healthcare recruitment agencies are seeing many frontline services being reduced and having trusts merge means that this can only further reduce staff and this of course is a concern.

Filed under: healthcare recruitment agencies — Goto @ 11:53

21/03/2011

Construction recruitment agencies in the firing line

Construction recruitment agencies where at the centre of a feud yesterday, when the Construction union Ucatt held a meeting about its health and safety body Coniac.

It was at this meeting where they questioned agencies allowing workers to supply there own PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). Stating that this is a growing concern within the construction industry and places many people at risk.

These comments however were disputed by Tom Hardley, the REC’s Director of Policy and Professional Services, who claimed that Ucatt has got its facts wrong and that have misunderstood the ruling with Self-employed construction workers. The point he makes here is that Construction recruitment agencies are under pressure to constantly supply workers, now many of these worker by choice are self employed and by being self employed are responsible for their own PPE and tools.

Tom Hardley went on to say that the REC works closely with Ucatt to make sure that there is an understanding of what goes on with recruitment agencies and also so that the REC can deal with any agency that is acting improper. In this instance it shows perfectly how having a representative at these meetings has a great benefit to both parties.

Filed under: construction recruitment agencies — Goto @ 10:32

14/03/2011

Pubs help the economy

Many hospitality recruitment agencies would be fully aware about the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) releasing a report on the impact these places have on the economy.

The BBPA’s main purpose from this is to try and discourage the government from increasing duty and the report tries to achieve this by regionalising the impact of pubs and brewers on the economy.

This is demonstrated by the capital having 4575 pubs and 35 breweries, employing 100,000 people and puts around £3.2bn into the economy. This is of course a significant amount and if taken nationwide then the figure increases to a contribution of £21bn.

Other stats in this area include the fact that 980,000 people are employed by pubs and breweries and the combined wages of these people is estimated at £13.4bn.

The government is expected to increase duty on Beer by 7% and the BBPA believe this could have a negative effect on the economy and industry. I would suggest that the BBPA do have a point however I’m not sure I totally agree with how detrimental it will be but it is something the government should monitor.

Filed under: Hospitality recruitment agencies — Goto @ 12:36

07/03/2011

Ian Duncan Smith, calls on better recruitment.

Mr Duncan Smith made some sweeping statements about the unemployment figures in this country and called upon recruitment agencies and recruitment in general to start matching jobs to candidates better.

The unemployment figures currently stand at 2.5million, however ‘The work and Pensions Secretary’ explained that there are also around 500,000 vacancies in the economy… so why are they not filled?

The blame of this was put on the labour government, accusing them of failing to help the British unemployed people find and take up jobs. This was also a key reason why many immigrants came over to take up these posts. The Coalition is focused on reversing this trend and concentrate on the key question, if there is people looking for work and there are jobs available then why are they not being married up.

There is of course a realisation that some specialist roles may be difficult to fill and hence there is a need to look elsewhere but these cases are few and far between and in whole there needs to be a better understanding of these candidates. This can also lead to asking questions about the taboo subject of out of work benefits, I’m sure many employment agencies have experienced similar situations of offering people work and then getting the response of it is better to be out of work and claim benefits, a system that is flawed by nature.

Filed under: employment agencies,recruitment agencies — Goto @ 09:56