Concerns over city’s unemployed

While our recent pay trends mini survey revealed some positive news about Peterborough and its businesses, the latest statistics regarding unemployment in the area have resulted in concerns being raised.

A total of 6,710 people are currently unemployed, making up for 5.6% of the local population. It is only a slight increase from the figures released this time last year, but one that reflects poorly on the city in comparison to the rest of the region.

Lincoln, Cambridge, Northampton, Grantham and Stamford all reported figures that were more representative of the national rate, which currently stands at 3.9%.

A number of local organisations were contacted to comment on the news, including ACR. Recruitment partner Nel Woolcott spoke with BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on our behalf, talking candidly about why the figures were so high.

Much of the discussion focused on the impact of seasonal roles, many of which will have recently come to an end following the busy Christmas period, as well as the recent influx of people without jobs moving into the area.

We can certainly relate – having had a busy start to the year – but we still have a variety of job roles currently available and have even identified some skills gaps in the market.

In short, we still have something to be confident about in spite of these disheartening statistics. We know that Peterborough is a job creating city, with a 17% increase in the number of new companies being set up within the last 12 months.

We’ll be keeping cautiously optimistic as we continue to work with clients and candidates alike towards a much-anticipated boost in the city’s economy.

How to stand out from 1,999 others

Guest blog from ACR Recruitment Partner Nel Woolcott

What do you do when your CV is one of 2,000 – and there are just 25 advertised jobs?

That’s the sobering snapshot of job hunting in Peterborough today. 

PJ Care advertised 25 jobs at its multi-million pound new care centre in Bretton Way. The first round of recruitment will see the appointment of nurses, care assistants, chefs, kitchen assistants, housekeepers, maintenance staff, receptionists and admin staff.

After advertising the positions, the company was inundated with an incredible 2,000 applications.

Such a big response hit the headlines. I was invited onto BBC Radio Cambridgeshire recently to discuss what job seekers must do to make their CV stand out in these circumstances.

My advice was centred around tailoring CVs to meet the requirements of the role. It’s simple advice, given to all our candidates, but it’s effective. Dissect the job ad and description and then highlight relevant experience to put yourself in the running.

From a Peterborough recruiter’s point of view, we’re delighted to see such a substantial influx of new jobs – the centre will eventually employ around 180 staff. And there’s further good news with the announcement of new jobs being created at Serco.

The backdrop to all this is, of course, that unemployment in Peterborough reached a 17 year high in February.

But investment of this type in the city is a real demonstration of business confidence which, I hope, will help give others the assurances they need to start looking to the future.

In her shoes

It’s sometimes forgotten just how vital the role is that temps play in the UK economy. Every single week there are around 1.2 million of them working at every level in every sector, private and public.

The temp market is worth an incredible £24 billion annually.
Big numbers aren’t they?

In an effort to highlight the importance of temporary, contract and interim workers, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) holds an annual National Temporary Workers’ Week. This is the ninth year it’s been held and we’re proud to say it’s an important date in our calendar (1st-5th June 2009).

This year, we’re marking the week by sending one of our most experienced consultants out – to do the job of a temp!

Nel Woolcott manages the temp team and, in her decade with the company, has overseen the placement of thousands of temps.

She’ll be going back to grass roots, doing the work of one of our temps for the day. Vivien Jean-Paul is currently working in the Management Suite at Edith Cavell Hospital covering maternity leave for the PA to the chief operating officer and company secretary.

So that’s where Nel will be working – typing, filing, answering phone enquiries, managing emails and organising diaries.

It should prove an interesting reminder for Nel – and the rest of us – just how hard our temps work and how valuable their contribution is to our clients.