Peterborough 'upwardly mobile'

Much has been said about Peterborough in the press over the past few years – not much of it has been positive.

So it was refreshing to see a large picture of the beautiful Cathedral splashed across the Sunday Times over the headline ‘Upwardly mobile’ and alongside a map showing the city as one of the ’12 areas on the way up’.

The piece talked about the ‘substantial regeneration’ of the city ‘with millions of pounds of public money committed to attract blue-chip employers who will provide well-paid jobs and make the city one of the most sustainable in the country’.

Add to that the number of companies with Peterborough offices which featured in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies 2010 and our region starts to look a lot more attractive.

We were very proud to see one of our clients – Coloplast - featured in there as well as others from round the region.

Peterborough is on the up it seems. That’s good, not only for those coming into the city but for those of us who have been here for the long haul – both personally and professionally.

And of course it’s a great sign for us as a recruitment agency. People moving to the city will create a bigger pool of talent for us to draw from and companies relocating here will generate a wider variety of positions for those candidates.

MP says well done to us

We have been basking in the glory of some lovely comments following the announcement that we had received the gold industry standard from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).

Our MP Stewart Jackson has added his congratulations in a personal letter sent on House of Commons stationery,

Mr Jackson said: “The honour pays tribute to your continued success, professionalism and dedication to recruitment. It is excellent to see such success for a Peterborough business.”

He finished off by saying: “I commend you on the admirable work of Anne Corder Recruitment and I look forward to future achievements. Once again many congratulations.”

We’re one of only around 50 agencies in the entire country to hold the accreditation and it’s one we work hard to achieve – it gives all our clients and suppliers the confidence we are providing the very best service. Having it recognised by others is rather satisfying too!

REC chief executive drops in to say ‘congratulations’

We were delighted to welcome REC chief executive Kevin Green to our offices in Park Road, Peterborough. He dropped in to present us with the official certificate marking the renewal of our REC Audited status for another two years.

There’s something special about being recognised by your peers – isn’t that what people say at award ceremonies? It is true though. That’s why we’re feeling rather pleased with ourselves for passing the Audit from our industry regulator.

We were one of the first recruitment agencies to apply – and pass - the audit when it was introduced a few years back. We’ve retained it ever since but we have never taken it for granted and we work hard to maintain the strict standards required.

It verifies that all our policies and procedures are in accordance with the necessary acts, regulations and codes of practice. That means our clients and candidates can be sure we are fully compliant, trustworthy and professional.

The award ‘acknowledges the dedication and professionalism that you and your staff deliver and which ensures these stringent standards of compliance are met on a daily basis’.

Kevin echoed that. “It’s critical that first rate recruiters like Anne Corder Recruitment demonstrate their commitment to professionalism and standards by achieving REC audited - the gold standard for the recruitment industry.”

As I said, we’re quite pleased with ourselves so forgive us giving ourselves a pat on the back this time!

Employers upbeat about growth in UK jobs

The cautious optimism we’ve noticed in the job markets over recent weeks isn’t limited to just our clients or even our region. According to the latest JobsOutlook survey from our industry body – the REC – 94 per cent of employers expect to maintain or grow their workforce over the next 12 months.

And a quarter are planning to increase the number of temps they use. That’s a move we often suggest to clients deliberating over staffing levels.

Using temps offers tremendous flexibility – they can be drafted in when work volumes are high and then not used during quieter periods. And of course taking on temps is a great way to try potential employees out. What better way to decide if a person will fit into your work environment than by putting them in it.

That’s why I was disappointed to see the TUC’s comments following the announcement of the latest job figures.

Unemployment fell by 3,000 which the TUC described as ‘deceptively healthy’ because of an increase in temporary and part time work.

Surely any fall in unemployment figures – after so many months of rises – should be welcomed. Taking on temporary staff is a step in the right direction. It suggests companies are seeing an upturn in the amount of work but keeping their options open – a healthier approach to taking on permanent staff and then struggling to make the wage bill or being forced to consider redundancies.

New opportunities

We’ve been tasked with finding the right people to help a new client substantially expand its team – just the type of recruitment campaign we love getting our teeth stuck into.

And a very positive signpost too, especially as the client concerned is in financial services and mortgage provision, one of the areas worst hit by the recession.

So we’re now sourcing candidates with knowledge of the home buying process, excellent communication skills and a proactive approach to make outbound calls. And if they have CEMAP qualifications then all the better.

There’s a good salary on offer with the potential to boost earnings to between £25 and £35K.

If you’re interested – or know anyone who might be – please get in touch.
Email us at info@annecorder.co.uk or call for more details on 01733 319888.

National salary trends

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show average pay increases are at the lowest level since records began nine years ago.

The results – published as part of the ONS monthly update on unemployment and wages – are on a par with those from the 12th annual Peterborough Local Market Survey produced by PAYdata Ltd in partnership with us.

Our salary survey showed an overall downturn in wages for the first time, with an average slip of 3.6 per cent. The ONS figures were slightly less gloomy but still show private sector employees’ salaries rose by just 0.2 per cent.

Of course, these figures reflect last year’s trends when many employers chose to freeze pay in an effort to stave off redundancies or worse.

We weren’t at all surprised by our results – we had suspected the economic climate would deliver the first fall. And the 0.2 per cent figure from the ONS – as an average – of course suggests that while some people did receive a pay increase, others had their pay frozen or even decreased.

These figures are all based on last year’s business decisions. While no one expects huge about-turns over night, today’s announcement that the UK is emerging from recession could mean this time next year it is, for a lot of people, a different story.

If you would like further information on how you can take part in our Peterborough Local Market Survey during 2010 please contact Nel Woolcott (nel@annecorder.co.uk) here at ACR.

Get a better job – we’re right behind it

A lot of people who might otherwise have begun a job hunt last year sat tight, preferring to stay with their current employer than start a potentially futile job hunt or, worse still, change jobs only to find themselves surplus to requirements not long after.

But with signs the job market is moving in the right direction – the latest Report on Jobs sponsored by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG (which we contribute to) reveals there was an increase in demand for staff in the three months to December – now could be a good time for candidates to start considering their options.

We’ve always found job fairs a very positive way to engage with candidates. You know that everyone in the room is actively interested in launching a job search, that’s why they’ve taken the time to visit. As an agency exhibiting at these events we find we’re often targeted by people who know they’re not particularly fulfilled or happy in their current role but aren’t quite sure what else might be open to them.

We’re able to help, advise and suggest possible solutions – whether it be companies they could speak to, courses they could attend to improve their skill set or even inviting them in for a more formal consultation if we feel we can really add value to their search.

Get A Better Job day is an annual event in Peterborough. This year it’s being held on Thursday, January 28 between 10am and 6pm at The Great Northern hotel.

While those are currently out of a job are welcome, the day is also geared towards those who are looking for, as the name suggests, a better job!