Hays Senior Finance reveals demand for finance chiefs in Essex and East Anglia

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:46:54 GMT

Hay Senior Finance has revealed that finance professionals in Essex and East Anglia are enjoying a rise in demand for their business management skills and commercial know-how, according to research from the leading recruiting expert. Two-thirds (67 per cent) of employers say retention of qualified accountants will be a key priority in 2011, with four in 10 (40 per cent) worried they won't be able to hold onto their star players. The research suggests they may have good reason to worry, with two-thirds (67 per cent) of senior finance professionals saying they intend to look for a new job at the start of the new year.

In Essex and East Anglia, chief financial officers (CFOs) and group finance directors in large corporate organisations can earn between £120,000-£250,000 and finance directors (FDs) are typically paid £100,000-£150,000. Competition has already intensified to the extent that senior finance professionals routinely receive more than one job offer.

Karen Young, regional director of Hays Senior Finance in Essex and East Anglia, said: "Employers are increasingly being trumped by lucrative counter-offers, as CEOs and board directors attempt to hang onto their finance chiefs. Talented qualified professionals are increasingly being sought-after for financial analysis roles, or to help mitigate operational or business risk.

"The war for talent is highly competitive and therefore many finance leaders can look forward to a more rewarding 2011. Even in parts of the region which traditionally pay at the lower end of typical pay scales - such as in the Fens, the Norfolk Broads or in rural Suffolk - employers are likely to have to revise offers upwards to attract top talent. Senior finance people and other qualified accountants in cities like Chelmsford or Cambridge can expect packages at the upper end of the range. The absence of a Big Four accounting firm in Essex, which means there are fewer newly qualified chartered accountants coming through the ranks, may be a factor driving up salaries, especially in Romford and elsewhere in the Thames Gateway."

About Hays:
Hays plc (the "Group") is the leading global professional recruiting group. The Group is the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide, being the market leader in the UK and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe. The Group operates across the private and public sectors, offering IT jobs, marketing jobs and architecture jobs, amongst others, in permanent positions, contract roles and temporary assignments.

As at 30 June 2010, the Group employed 6,845 staff operating from 270 offices in 28 countries across 17 specialisms.

Debenhams announces 9000 festive jobs up for grabs

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:37:48 GMT

Debenhams announced that it is on the lookout for 9,000 seasonal temps to cope with its busiest time of year; Christmas.

Although the number of positions has increased, the number of hours remains the same. The retailer has altered its recruitment strategy by searching for more part-time roles. This emphasis on flexible shift patterns will ensure additional staff are in store whenever customers need them.

The jobs will be split across Debenhams' 160 outlets and average out at 56 per store. The jobs are based in menswear, womenswear, accessories, childrenswear, home, gift or cosmetics departments.

Roles available are varied and include everything from stock handling and general sales advisor jobs to gift advisor roles which require special training.

While previous retail experience isn't essential, excellent customer service and team working skills are.

Michael Sharp, Deputy Chief Executive at Debenhams said: "These jobs are sure to be welcomed by local economies during the most financially challenging part of the year.

"Our recruitment drive is so huge that for the first time we have trained a manager in all 160 stores to oversee staffing for Christmas.

"We are recruiting directly through our website and looking for energetic people with a talent for customer service."

Minister for Employment, Chris Grayling said: "These new vacancies are a great boost for jobseekers, and flexible working patterns mean they can be family friendly too.

"We are committed to injecting new life into the private sector and this is another example of how employment in this sector is growing."

Contracts will be for flexible working hours with the majority of positions running from November through to January, when the majority of customers will be carrying out their Christmas shop or indulging in the January sales.

More information and application forms can be found on www.debenhams-jobs.com or by contacting the local store.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors:
Debenhams is committed to ensuring that every individual connected with the Company - whether employee, applicant, customer or other third party - receives fair and equitable treatment, regardless of their differences.

The policy helps Debenhams create a culture of respect and tolerance, a wider and more diverse talent pool from which the company can recruit the best possible people for its business, and support its corporate reputation by ensuring it gives excellent customer and employee experience.
Debenhams recognises that few people would deliberately breach the policy, however, it is possible to do so unintentionally. It is therefore everyone's responsibility to familiarise themselves with these guidelines.

About Debenhams:
Debenhams is a leading department stores group, and has a strong presence in key product categories including womens fashion, menswear, womens boots, home ware and children's wear with a number of Debenhams deals also on offer.

Coventry Airport open for business

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:41:37 GMT

Coventry Airport is open for business and operational again following its acquisition by Sir Peter Rigby’s Patriot Aerospace, earlier this year.

The announcement signals a new era for the Airport, which is committed to job creation and income generation in the communities it serves. Championing the vision of a vibrant commercial regional hub for general aviation, Patriot Aerospace will offer a range of aviation services - including leisure, business and freight - with passenger flights cited amongst the possibilities for future developments.

"I'm truly excited to be launching a new era in the long history of Coventry Airport. With the groundwork done, we can now handle business jets, cargo, light aircraft and helicopters, but this is just the beginning of what we would like to achieve," said Patriot Aerospace Chairman Sir Peter Rigby.

"Coventry is an airport with a big future. We intend to make it one of the crown jewels of the local area, providing economic growth and jobs in the community, and will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to develop the business."

Under the new management team, Coventry Airport is now proactively investigating areas for expansion. With the return of scheduled flights to the site identified as a key potential source of growth, Patriot Aerospace is currently searching for viable airlines capable of offering passengers the right routes at the right prices, and also has plans to develop existing customers, suppliers and tenants.

“The owners have immense commercial experience and an excellent track record and we look forward to working closely with them.”Cllr Linda Bigham, Coventry City Council Cabinet member for City Development, said: "This is excellent news and is evidence of Patriot Aerospace’s commitment to the future of Coventry Airport.

"It supports hundreds of jobs and its long-term development and viability is essential for the local economy."I believe that a city like ours should have its own airport and a successful Coventry Airport provides an enormous opportunity to raise the profile of our city and sub-region."

Louise Bennett, Chief Executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Chamber has been a long advocate of a vibrant airport in the city and this is extremely good news. The airport generates and supports hundreds of jobs and has far greater potential than has been realised in recent years.”

Sir Peter has a long track record of investing in the Midlands where he is a major employer and vocal champion. His international technology group, SCH plc has its headquarters and main campus in Birmingham, while his luxury country hotel group, the Eden Collection, owns Mallory Court in Leamington Spa and the newly re-opened Arden Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon, which is a joint venture with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Ends

For more information/ images contact

Beatrice Mocci Revolver PR beatrice@revolver-pr.co.uk
Tel 0141 339 4174
Louise Acton / Judy Groves judy.groves@sch-group.com
Tel 0121 766 2594

Notes to Editor

About Coventry Airport and Patriot Aerospace
Coventry Airport was acquired by Sir Peter Rigby’s aviation group, Patriot Aerospace, in April 2010.

The deal firmly establishes Patriot's status as a leading and fast growing General Aviation specialist in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The acquisition of Coventry Airport dovetails with the Group's extensive national flight training, charter, sales and engineering operations.

Patriot Aerospace operates through three specialist aviation businesses: Patriot Aviation, Heliflight and London Helicopter Centres. Through

Young job seekers need 2020 vision says Search.co.uk

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:45:58 GMT

As we come into a new decade and out of the worst recession in living memory, young job seekers need to consider how their current career decisions will look in another ten years says Search.co.uk.

This means doing more than simply finding the right employer. Never has it been clearer that the "jobs for life" culture doesn't exist any more, explains Peter Gillespie, Managing Director of Search.co.uk, the leading jobs website .

"Many jobs which seemed rock solid ten years ago have disappeared. Who would have thought, for instance, that working for a Scottish bank could turn out to be a risky business?

"But rapid change in employment is now a fact of life. What job seekers have to consider is how they can develop the skills to help them to adapt and even benefit from regular career moves," says Gillespie.

It is impossible to predict precisely which skills will be in demand at the end of the decade. But there are patterns which have continued for many years.

There have not, for instance, been enough school leavers going into technical education and training which has created a skills shortage in the oil industry in Aberdeen and Dundee. Okay, it is possible that environmental concerns will reduce employment prospects in the oil business, but higher-level technical skills can be transferred to other industries, for instance developing renewable energy sources.

"It is these adaptable skills that young job seekers need to develop," says Gillespie. "For example at Search.co.uk we're hearing from a growing number of employers who are seeking recruits with language skills. This demand can only grow as the economy becomes increasingly global."
Employers also say it can be difficult to find applicants with so-called "soft skills" such as customer handling, planning and organising and problem-solving. Employees with these abilities are the ones who can benefit from on-going training so they can develop their skills to match the requirements of the organisation.

For many people higher education will be the best way to "learn to learn" new skills. Some strictly vocational training creates inflexible workers who get left behind the pace of change.

But Gillespie stresses that a degree isn't the only path for job seekers. "It is impossible to predict exactly what skills and qualifications will be required by employers offering jobs in Scotland in 2020. But I bet there'll still be shortages of plumbers, electricians and other qualified trades people. Those with the right qualifications will be making a very comfortable living."

Search.co.uk predicts good news for jobs in Scotland

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:19:21 GMT

After a year of analysts prophesying gloom, prospects for Scottish jobs are surprisingly bright for 2010 according to leading jobs website Search.co.uk

"For several months employers I've been talking to in cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee have been increasingly optimistic about jobs," says Peter Gillespie, Managing Director of Search.co.uk.

"Their feelings were confirmed in the middle of December by figures from the Office of National Statistics showing that unemployment fell in Scotland by 2,000 in the three months from August to October - despite the jobless figures continuing to rise for the rest of the UK."

Gillespie says that while this does not represent a boom in Scottish jobs, it does seem to suggest that a recovery in demand for staff - although fragile - is on its way. Also that there are some areas of the Scottish economy where there are definite grounds for optimism.

The financial services sector, which a year ago appeared to be in meltdown, is quietly recovering. The large banks did shed staff and, while there may be more redundancies to come, there was also considerable growth in the form of Tesco Bank, Virgin Money, BN Paribas and Esure insurance.

"Although some major institutions suffered catastrophic problems with the credit crunch, the need for financial services in general hasn't disappeared. Individuals and companies still need insurance, banking, loans, pensions, savings and investment services. The institutions may have changed but the Search.co.uk.

”With all the recent discussion about employer branding, it makes even less sense to create a group of disaffected applicants with a poor impression of your process and your regard for their effort in applying to them. People place more value on what employers do rather than what they say, and so ultimately employers get the reputation they deserve.”

"There’s no excuse as current online response management tools mean it can be as easy as clicking a button for an employer to acknowledge and respond appropriately to an application. So, why don’t more employers do it?

We've built openness, ease of use and transparency into all our own online response management processes for advertisers on Search.co.uk. To do otherwise is unfair on job seekers and reflects badly on the employers."

Gillespie says that most organisations will tell you that their employees are their most important asset. If that's the case, shouldn’t they be treated accordingly right from the very start?

"Job descriptions in many advertisements are also poorly worded. This leads both to applications from people who are not appropriate for vacancies and to well-qualified candidates deciding not to apply because they don't understand the job requirements," says Gillespie.

He recognises that some of the problems arise from the current strain on HR departments which are often being squeezed at the same time as they have additional pressure arising from cutbacks in other areas of the business. Bad recruitment procedures, however, can only add to the strain on an organisation.

In the current economic climate 'running lean' is the secret of success. That means every employee and, therefore, every new recruit has to have not just the capability and skills but the motivation to maximise their performance within the organisation.

Recruitment processes should focus on more than just simple selection. They should be seen as a way to communicate with candidates.

Every job applicant should know:

* Any information they provide is kept secure and confidential.

* What will happen next in the recruitment process.

* When they will learn the outcome.

* What the outcome is.

Search.co.uk has these steps built in to their online service for advertisers so every job seeker can be saved, initially assessed, acknowledged and responded to with a couple of ‘clicks’. There is no reason why other organisations should not offer the same, Gillespie explains.

"Quite apart from any poor experiences suffered by job applicants being bad for an organisation's reputation, it can start any subsequent new employees off on the wrong foot.

"Organisations which follow best practice, treating future potential employees fairly, will ultimately benefit from a more loyal and committed future workforce. And, they’ll enhance rather than damage that much talked about ‘employer brand’ and make it easier to attract future talent. That is the simple message we want to communicate," concludes Gillespie.

Search.co.uk pioneers recruitment model of the future

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:45:09 GMT

For years employers had been paying for job adverts that were ineffective. Then Search.co.uk came along and shook up the online recruitment market with revolutionary 'pay per response' billing. Now others are finally following suit.

"Our model was designed to answer one simple question: Why should employers pay for job advertising unless it can be shown to attract genuine high-quality potential recruits?" says Peter Gillespie, Managing Director of Search.co.uk.

"We launched Search.co.uk because we believed job seekers weren't receiving the best service possible and employers were frequently getting poor value for money from their campaigns. Recruitment was clearly lagging behind other forms of advertising."

When selling products companies used to complain that only perhaps 10 per cent of their advertising was effective. What they couldn't tell was which was the 10 per cent that worked and which was the 90 per cent that represented money down the drain.

Then the internet changed everything. 'Pay per click' epitomised by Google's AdWords has become the norm. Companies now don't pay for advertisements, but for results. The return on investment is measurable in terms of the customers who come to their sites and make purchases.

But, although recruiters embraced the internet quickly and wholeheartedly, job advertising charges stayed firmly stuck in the bygone age of print. Companies were expected to pay every time an advertisement appeared even if it didn't produce a single genuine job applicant.

That was the case until Search.co.uk revolutionised the face of online recruitment with pay per response advertising. Employers are only charged for real, high-quality applicants. Advertisements are effectively free.

As Search.co.uk's competitors have found out, this model is not as simple to set up as it might seem. Given the current state of the job market, for instance, generating large numbers of responses is often not too difficult. Many of those candidates, however, will not be appropriate for the position advertised.

To avoid employers having to pay for unsuitable applicants, search.co.uk developed a collection of sophisticated built-in online tools that guarantee candidates will be appropriate for the role. It also allows employers to put a cap on the number of applicants so they only have to pay for the first 20 even if they receive 100 responses.

In addition, with old-fashioned charging, companies had to pay every week or every month for advertising if they wanted to maintain a recruitment campaign. With Search.co.uk there's no time limit. It doesn't cost a penny to keep on advertising.

"It's obvious to us that pay per response offers the best deal for job seekers and recruiters. So we're delighted to see some of our competitors are beginning to provide something similar, although they don't all match our guarantees on quality," concludes Gillespie.

Real Radio launches Scottish jobs service powered by search.co.uk

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:01:24 GMT

Scotland's number one commercial radio station recently teamed up with the country's leading jobs website search.co.uk to launch a dynamic new recruitment service for listeners.

Initially around 1500 Scottish jobs were listed on Real Radio Scotland's website and the new service has been promoted online and on-air on Real Radio, part of Guardian Media Group (GMG). The new job search facility is also available on their other Scottish group stations, Glasgow’s Smooth Radio and Rock Radio.

Regional managing director of GMG Radio Scotland and the north east Billy Anderson says the partnership with search.co.uk has allowed the station to create an "instant jobs resource" for listeners. It means we can add to what we already offer to include: "first-class career vacancies across the whole spectrum of the Scottish population that we serve".

Real Radio Scotland broadcasts across the densely populated Central Belt including the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow where it is now the most popular station. It has been one of the great growth stories of commercial radio in recent years.

Peter Gillespie, managing director of search.co.uk, says the new recruitment service perfectly illustrates the benefits of collaboration, for both parties: "We're delighted bring our expertise and thousands of client job vacancies to this partnership with Scotland's most successful commercial radio station. This collaboration provides an innovative way of providing listeners with a new added-value service, providing access to high-quality job vacancies across Scotland."

These are offered through the Real Jobs website, at www.realradio.co.uk/jobs. There are over 1,000 vacancies across a very wide spectrum of industries, services and the public sector, from relief janitor to finance director and almost everything in between.

Gillespie says the partnership between search.co.uk and Real Radio Scotland shows the way that what were single-media businesses can take advantage of their evolution into fully-fledged multimedia organisations: "Real Radio Scotland the broadcaster cannot be separated from Real Radio Scotland the website. The audience expects the highest quality from both.

"Our recruitment platform provides them with great functionality and user experience and our employer advertisers benefit from access to an additional pool of skilled local talent. Everybody wins.

"Other beneficiaries could be the people who listen to Real Radio Scotland through the website's streaming service because they are outside the transmission area. Many of those will be homesick, but the Real Jobs service could put them just a click away from a paid return to the Central Belt."

Search.co.uk applauds initiative to improve approach to local government recruitment in Scotland

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:35:47 GMT

Search.co.uk has welcomed continued moves by UK government bodies to step into the 21st century with the adoption of online recruitment procedures.

Recent months have seen several government agencies switch from traditional newspaper advertising to listing available scottish jobs online, with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) being at the forefront following the creation of the 'myjobscotland' portal and trial advertising agreements with leading Scottish recruitment websites, including Search.co.uk/Jobs . Praising the Convention for responding to a fundamental shift in recruitment practices, Scotland's leading jobs site believes that the move will deliver a number of key advantages.

"Recruitment is not a science, it's an objective and logical process when done properly and is all about matching jobseekers with the right skills to the right jobs. Entering into the digital age can, however, make the process smoother and easier, attracting a wider selection of jobseekers and improving candidate selection processes and timescales," said Peter Gillespie, Managing Director of Search.co.uk.

"It's not simply about making savings on advertising budgets. There are greater benefits to be gained; notably changes to working practices which will free up staff and allow them to focus on more value adding work whilst also enabling local government to compete with the private sector for quality staff, particularly in sectors where there are skills shortages."

The progress made by COSLA's launch of the myjobscotland portal and the trial deal to post all Cosla member vacancies across 6 leading Scottish job sites, including Search.co.uk/Jobs, means that local governments can measure and implement a more effective use of their resources to deliver improved performance, by reducing advertising costs and competing more effectively for the right candidates. The all-council recruitment website, seeks to maximise the benefits of both online advertising and technology to improve the quality of responsesreceived by the 32 councils offering jobs in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness and the rest of Scotland.

Improved efficiency is one of the driving forces behind the newly created application and online advertising trial. Cosla's new online recruitment function will reduce the costly, long-winded process of advertising in print outlets, harnessing the latest innovative online technologies to make it a more painless, speedy and cost efficient exercise.

Hays reports energy and sustainably skills required for building services

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:56:54 GMT

Hays, the world's leading recruiting experts in qualified, professional and skilled people, is reporting that despite difficult trading conditions employers' confidence is improving with positive signs for recruitment activity in the building services sector, especially for candidates with specialist skills, such as sustainability and energy efficiency experience.

Recruitment activity for jobs that require energy and sustainability expertise has remained steady across the public and private sectors, with employers particularly keen to attract individuals with a track record in implementing policies to reduce the carbon footprint and emissions of buildings.

Meeting efficiency targets is high on the agenda of most organisations and if a candidate can demonstrate experience in this field, this is a definite advantage and will improve the chances of being shortlisted.

"We have noticed that there are a range of permanent, temporary and interim opportunities for those individuals with energy efficiency experience. The types of role that employers are looking for include energy managers and facilities managers," commented Mike McNally, Business Director at Hays Building Services.

Experience of Display Energy Certificates (DECs) and Advisory Reports is a fundamental requirement. "The requirement for DECs only came into effect towards the end of 2008 and these need to be renewed every 12 months, therefore local authorities and institutions need specialists in this field to ensure that targets are being met and that they conform to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)," continued McNally.

The equivalent for commercial and private buildings is Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). Low Carbon Consultants advise on the design and operation of commercial buildings to meet the highest energy efficiency standards complying with Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power) of the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPB) and can subsequently qualify and attain the Low Carbon Energy Assessor (LCEA) grade.

These skills and qualifications can be easily transferred from the private to the public sector, which increases an individual's employability and can make a significant difference to those looking for building services jobs, particularly during the current downturn. "Achieving LCC status not only means that individuals can command better salaries but these specialists can make a real difference to consultancies and bring in much-needed project work," added McNally.

The competitive recruitment market means that jobseekers with senior strategic project management skills and evidence of cost savings on projects will clearly hold the upper hand. Delivering cost effective solutions and adding value are very much the order of the day. "It is imperative that individuals spend sufficient time on their CVs and quantify their achievements, carefully detailing all the projects they've worked on and the impact this has had on the bottom line. Prior experience of the implementation of energy saving technology should always be included when applying for building services jobs," explained McNally.

Chartership, qualifications and a solid Continuing Professional Development (CPD) record are all important considerations. "Individuals need to focus on career development and networking is a major part of this. Organizations such as the CIBSE, HVCA and the ECA hold numerous monthly meetings across the UK and are free to attend," concluded McNally.

-ends-

Note to editors:

About Hays Building Services:
Hays Building Services is part of Hays plc, the leading global specialist recruiting group, offering a range of building services rol

Hays reports skilled engineers needed to work on infrastructure projects

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:44:53 GMT

Leading recruiter, Hays Civil & Structural has reported that professionals with previous railways, highways bridges, transport planning and drainage experience are highly sought after in the current market.

Due to the upgrading of the railways infrastructure demand has been created for rail engineers to work on a variety of projects, including station design, resignalling, refurbishment and maintenance schemes.

"Rail, signal, civil and electrification engineers are all prized skills and roles for engineers exist at both intermediate and senior level. There are opportunities for qualified individuals, particularly within design, planning and pre-contract commercial management, to work on major projects such as Crossrail," said Sean Fitzgerald, senior consultant at Hays Civil & Structural.

There has also been a steady requirement for infrastructure engineering experience, particularly those individuals with a strong design and maintenance background. Highways design, road and junction design and street lighting experience are all sought after skills. A good all round knowledge of different projects, Highways Agency and local authority experience is also a definite plus.

"Candidates need to be flexible and keep an open mind regarding rates, location, projects and employers," noted Katherine Whipps, manager at Hays Civil & Structural.

The assessment, inspection and maintenance of bridge structures has also created opportunities for qualified structural bridge engineers and bridge inspectors to work on the UK's canals and estuaries.

Whipps added: "Knowledge of bridge design software and the BS5400 code of practice are pre-requisites for these roles."

Other resilient areas are transport planning and modelling, geotechnical, water and environment.

"Employers are looking for technical expertise in PDS, MX, Micro Drainage, traffic and transport modelling software, such as Arcady, Picady, Oscady and Saturn," continues Ben Haigh, manager at Hays Civil & Structural. Demand for senior business development managers has also remained steady: "Organisations are looking for individuals with commercial skills who can generate business, which is so crucial during a downturn."

The current market situation in which jobseekers are competing for fewer jobs means that more care must be afforded to the job application process. Careful preparation is needed for CVs and interviews for jobseekers to get noticed by employers and stand a better chance of securing a role. However, a recent survey by Hays found that almost half (43%) had not witnessed any improvement in the quality of applications.

"It is important for candidates to highlight all their relevant skills and include details of the projects they've worked on and they must quantify any cost savings that may have resulted from their recommendations," added Haigh.

Although recruitment activity for engineering jobs has slowed, employers are still keen to hire specialist skills and experience, particularly for rail, highways, bridges, drainage, environmental and transport engineers. While the majority of roles require previous public sector experience and strong technical skills, organisations are also looking for individuals with first-class communication and commercial skills.

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About Hays Civil & Structural:
Hays Civil & Structural is part of Hays plc, the leading global recruitment group. It is market leader in the UK and Australia, and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe. The Group employs 8,294 staff operating from 380 offices in 28 countries

Hays reports skilled engineers needed to work on infrastructure projects

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:33:28 GMT

"Candidates need to be flexible and keep an open mind regarding rates, location, projects and employers," noted Katherine Whipps, manager at Hays Civil & Structural.

Whipps added: "Knowledge of bridge design software and the BS5400 code of practice are pre-requisites for these roles."

Other resilient areas are transport planning and modelling, geotechnical, water and environment.

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Hays Sales reveals business development paving the way to successful sales growth

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:41:15 GMT

Hays Sales has revealed that the recession has underscored a shift in emphasis toward business development, as organisations seek to increase sales and grow market share.

"The demand for business development managers has remained buoyant, particularly in the service sector, in industries such as IT and utilities, but there are also opportunities in the facilities management side of construction," commented Kevin Dunbar, National Sales Director at Hays Sales.

A track record of business development is a highly prized asset in the current marketplace and this is reflected in the salaries and benefits on offer for the right individual. The need to develop and win new business, over and above the management of an existing client base, has led to a steady demand for sales professionals who can make a real difference to their company's bottom line.

"Organisations are looking for experienced business development managers, with the skills to bring in new clients and generate much-needed cash," continued Dunbar.

For those looking for business development jobs, it is imperative that CVs are tailored to each role and include all relevant competencies. "Individuals need to draw out the experience they have, make it specific to the role in question and demonstrate that they have the skills to meet the organisation's requirements. Quantifying achievements is very important, as employers want to see evidence of revenue streams," Dunbar explained. "Employers are looking for a blend of strong commercial and interpersonal skills and are seeking evidence of how individuals handled themselves in certain situations and how capable they are of interacting with colleagues to achieve desired outcomes."

One of the fundamental issues for employers is to attract the right calibre of candidate for their business development jobs, given that many jobseekers are cautious to move in the current market. With job security the most important consideration for employees, organisations need to find innovative recruitment solutions and delivering a strong sales message is a key lynchpin to a successful recruitment strategy. Establishing a thorough recruitment process is central to this and will also have a positive 'knock on' effect to reduce staff turnover. The use of online advertising has become a focal element behind any successful recruitment strategy. "There are a whole host of solutions, including bespoke campaign sites, SMS messaging and video content, to promote both the organisation and its roles," stated Dunbar.

The sales industry continues to be blighted by high levels of staff turnover, particularly in the utilities sector, which serves to reinforce the need to focus on employee retention. Although investment in training and development is an important way of engaging with any workforce the current climate has not facilitated this, as companies struggle to generate sales.

"Training tends to take a back seat during a recession and is one of the first areas to be affected by spending cuts. That said, jobseekers place great value on career development and so employers need to strike the right balance if they are to retain their best sales teams," concluded Dunbar.

About Hays Sales:
Hays Sales is part of Hays plc, specialising in a range of sales jobs from telesales jobs to sales director jobs. It is market leader in the UK and Australia, and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe. As of 30 June 2008, the Group employed 8,294 staff operating from 380 offices in 28 countries across 17 specialisms.

Hays Construction highlight opportunities as trades and labouring jobs show resilience

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:06:27 GMT

According to Hays Construction, leading specialist recruiter, despite a difficult start to the year, there continue to be pockets of construction recruitment.

Lynne Crowe, Regional Manager at Hays Construction, commented, "Although the length of contracts has become shorter on average, the demand for trades and labouring jobs has remained steady in some parts of the UK."

Employers can afford to be more selective regarding the calibre of applicants they recruit and the specific requirements needed given the excess supply of experienced and quality site staff available in the marketplace. Flexibility is an important pre-requisite for employers, who are looking to hire individuals on a temporary basis for their labouring and trades jobs.

Currently the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) is a key requirement, particularly given the health and safety regulations that contractors need to abide by. Lynne Crowe stressed, "It does not matter if you are a fully qualified experienced tradesman or a first time general labourer, a CSCS card provides proof of competency. Employer requirements also include Prefabricated Access Suppliers' and Manufacturers' Association (PASMA) passes in the building aluminium towers."

The public sector continues to prove resilient and there are a number of long-term opportunities for tradesmen such as carpenters, painters, tilers, plasterers, bricklayers, painters, decorators and banksmen, particularly within the health and education sectors, which have benefited from a significant injection in government investment. Examples include renovation programmes for hospitals and the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, which continue to create opportunities for skilled operatives.

Although commercial new build activity is being scaled back in the private sector, there has still been ongoing refurbishment activity. "Companies may seek to re-evaluate a move to a brand new office building and instead look at redeveloping existing premises," noted Lynne Crowe. "The high-end residential market has also created opportunities for those companies with strong cashflow who are able to pick up bargains and inject funds into upgrading properties, which they can then re-sell when property values increase."

Jobseekers need to stand out and differentiate themselves from their peers to have the best chance of securing employment in the current market. Whether seeking both permanent or temporary work, employers are looking for CVs with evidence of a solid work history, excellent ready references and for tradesmen, full tools specifications. But interpersonal skills are equally important, "A good attitude to work is a must and all jobseekers must be keen to impress, as every job interview is their platform to excel," concluded Lynne Crowe.

-ends-

Note to Editor:
Hays Construction is part of Hays plc, the leading global specialist recruitment group, specialising in construction jobs including construction manager jobs and quantity surveying jobs. It is market leader in the UK and Australia, and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe. The Group employs 8,294 staff operating from 380 offices in 28 countries across 17 specialisms.

For further press information please contact:
Alexandra Tucker
Hays Plc
Charter House
13 - 15 Carteret Street
London
SW1H 9DJ
020 7630 4282
www.hays.com

Top Articles Tagged with jobs

Hays Senior Finance reveals demand for finance chiefs in Essex and East Anglia

Debenhams announces 9000 festive jobs up for grabs

Coventry Airport open for business

Young job seekers need 2020 vision says Search.co.uk

Search.co.uk predicts good news for jobs in Scotland

Search.co.uk pioneers recruitment model of the future

Real Radio launches Scottish jobs service powered by search.co.uk

Search.co.uk applauds initiative to improve approach to local government recruitment in Scotland

Hays reports energy and sustainably skills required for building services

Hays reports skilled engineers needed to work on infrastructure projects

Hays reports skilled engineers needed to work on infrastructure projects

Hays Sales reveals business development paving the way to successful sales growth

Hays Construction highlight opportunities as trades and labouring jobs show resilience