Category Archives: construction recruitment agencies

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

21/12/2010

Snow and temps are not a good combination

The reality of the situation for many temping recruitment agencies is that this time of the year, although brings smiles on the faces of many children is quite an annoying period for the industry.

I can only imagine how much income has been lost due to temps not making it into work, this could have detrimental effect on employment agencies that are already running on the bare minimum.

Sectors such as healthcare recruitment agencies and construction agencies would have majority of their business based around temps and these blizzard conditions must be a drain on their resources.

I suppose many temping agencies will wish everyone a Merry Christmas and New Year but would be happier to see the back of these weather conditions.

Filed under: construction recruitment agencies,healthcare recruitment agencies,recruitment agencies — Goto @ 13:36

08/11/2010

3,800 ROK jobs in the balance

Construction recruitment agencies should now be aware of ROK the building and social housing repairs company that has new been placed into administration.

The company that was once valued at £450 million in 2007, has had serious financial difficulties as demonstrated by its half yearly accounts. Which has now resulted in PwC looking for potential buyers for the company, this news is obviously a worry for employees of ROK and potentially can affect 3,800 jobs.

ROK has ended in this situation because of the amount of scaling back many of its clients were doing when the recession hit and of course has drain much of it’s resources. Hopefully though potential suitors will recognise that the inherit value of this company is in its contracts and partnerships that it has built up over the years and this blip will hopefully only be short lived.

Filed under: construction recruitment agencies — Goto @ 17:09

12/05/2010

Recruitment agencies hoping for England 2018 World Cup bid

Recruitment Agencies as well as many other businesses will be hoping that this Friday, England will be submitting a successful bid to FIFA. Inspections are then due in July with the final vote made on the 2^nd of December.

High profile business leaders such as Lord Alan Sugar and British Airways boss Willie Walsh, have both stated how landing the tournament will not only be an honour but will have huge financial benefits.

In much the same way construction recruitment agencies have benefited from the 2012 Olympics then there are of course the businesses that benefit from when the event is taking place.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers have also calculated that if England would win the bid to host the World Cup in 2018, this should have financial rewards of around £3.2 billion. A much needed boost to the economy.

England will be competing against Russia, joint bid from Spain with Portugal and joint bid from Holland with Belgium.

Filed under: construction recruitment agencies,recruitment agencies — Tags: construction recruitment agencies, recruitment agencies — Goto @ 10:37

11/02/2010

Update on the Agency Workers Directive

If you are an employment agency, you have probably had one eye on the outcome of the Agency Workers Directive and how the new regulations will affect your business.

One of the main questions that were awaiting response from the government was if limited company contractors are excluded from the new regulations. The response is rather different than first thought, it states that limited company contractors are not exempt from the new regulations unless they can show that they the individual is running a business and that the contract is between the hirer and the business and not the individual.

This makes for messy administration and more work for say construction recruitment agencies that use limited company contractors all the time. The idea is to eliminate a lot of loose arrangements, agency workers have, by operating as a limited company as a means to increase income and could well have an adverse affect on umbrella companies that set up and run these limited companies for contractors.

Umbrella companies are probably still feeling the affects of changes in policies for contractors having to be directors of their own limited companies rather than a small percentage holder. Also with news recently that JSA Services owing £10.6 million pounds to the HMRC after being audited and leaving many contractors unpaid, will question contractors’ belief in these payroll companies.

I can only add that, whilst recruitment agencies and to a certain extent umbrella companies have had an easy ride say 10 years ago, there are now so many regulations and red tape that the amount of work that agencies need to do to understand all the legislation will almost allow no time for recruitment itself….

Filed under: construction recruitment agencies,employment agency — admin @ 17:42

28/10/2009

Recruitment Agencies suffer a £40m price-fixing fine

The Office of Fair Trading has issued a fine to Construction Recruitment Agencies Hays, CDI AndersElite, Eden Brown, Fusion People, Henry Recruitment and A Warwick Associates. The total amount of the fine was £40m with Hays receiving the brunt of this fine with £30.36m.

In 2004 these agencies and BBT and Hill McGlynn “the whistle-blowers”, formed a cartel. They agreed to boycott Parc UK, a company which aimed to act as an intermediary between construction companies and recruitment agencies. Not only did they break the Competition Act 1998 by doing this but they then agreed to price fixing, something the OFT seriously frowns upon.

Senior Director of the OFT, Ms Clayton, would not breakdown the exact way the figures for the fines were decided but did mention that they were generally in proportion to the size of the company.

Chief Executive of Hays, Alistair Cox, said that the fine was disproportionate to the activities it relates to and to the way OFT has dealt with similar circumstances in the past. Other agencies such as Eden Brown, which is now owned by James Caan from Dragons Den, spoke to construction news and said he believed the fines were unfair and they may appeal the decision.

The OFT have made no apology for the level of their fines being issued and discounted the argument of their being a recession as a reason to be more lenient. Ms Clayton in fact went on to say that in these times it is more appropriate to enforce and uphold fair competition practices.

Filed under: construction recruitment agencies,recruitment agencies — admin @ 18:22