With goal of £58 million turnover, Barker Ross Group creates nine industry teams

Top UK recruitment agency, the Barker Ross Group has undergone a major restructure and created nine dedicated divisions to ensure it achieves its aim of increasing turnover to £58 million by 2015.

It’s new food, agriculture, waste, industrial, logistics construction, civil engineering, energy and housing teams will source and supply temporary, contract and permanent workers.

Founder and managing director of Barker Ross, Paul Ross says: “We’ve grown the business as we have been able to give clients the people they want, when they want them. We’ve got ambitious growth plan as we currently turnover £22 million and want to more than double this by 2015.”

“This restructure is really just a logical extension of what we have doing all along; it gives our consultants a clear focus in one area of business. This focus will mean, they will know exactly what is going on in their sector and be able to really contribute to our clients’ profitability.”

Established in 1988, Barker Ross quickly established a reputation as one of the UK’s leading construction and industrial specialists. The group has become one of the first ports of call for clients needing temporary and contract staff in areas such as food processing, agriculture, property and energy.

The group also includes Cardea, a recruitment business serving the health and social care sectors.

A new website has also been launched, in addition to a redesign for all the company’s offices and communications.

Ross continues: “We’ve got a new look and a new structure, this is a very exciting time for us. As well as achieving more success with our established business, we can also see opportunities in related sectors and have concrete plans to expand our office network.”

“We are constantly on the lookout for new people to join, as our growing reputation is winning us many new clients and we need the best people to join our new teams.”

The Crocodile wins global EMC account

EMC Corporation, the world’s leading information management company, has appointed independent London agency The Crocodile to lead global campaign development in IT Transformation and Big Data, following an international five-way pitch.

The Crocodile has been an EMC roster agency for some years, participating in project-based campaigns at global, EMEA and UK level. The pitch, which took place in late December, has coincided with the creation by EMC of a new internal campaign team with a brief to drive EMC growth in the rapidly developing ‘IT as a service’ market. The win hands The Crocodile a key strategic agency role working alongside campaign teams in Boston and London.

EMC’s pitch brief required a fully integrated results-based approach using digital, social, email and direct mail to drive leads through to sales qualification via an internal CRM platform. Additionally, participating agencies were required to demonstrate clear understanding and experience of the global technology market and the dynamics of both direct and indirect sales channels.

“Working with EMC plays to our core strengths as an agency,” explains Adam Wooff, founding partner and managing director of The Crocodile. “We bring informed strategic focus and cut-through creativity to the table, along with a clear perspective on the mix of activities that will genuinely impact the buying behaviour of EMC’s customers and prospects. These days there’s simply no room for tokenistic marketing – anything we do has to prove relevance, tie in to sales activity and make a measurable contribution.”

Chris Blaik, who is a senior director, Global Campaigns at EMC commented, “The Crocodile has a proven track record in not just building world class, award winning campaigns but an ability to truly understand the go-to-market priorities of our business and channel, crucial to driving value in today’s end to end environment”

FACTFILE:
The Crocodile is a full service integrated marketing agency with a focus on influencing buying behaviour and generating qualified opportunities. Our approach is based on the insight that the best B2B marketing strategies no longer stop at the door of the sales department. We think marketing works best when it shares the commercial objectives of the business and is able to make a measurable contribution.

The Crocodile works with clients across a wide range of markets, including IT and technology, finance, business and retail services, food and drink, telecoms, engineering and automotive. Established in 1990, the company is based in Hoxton Square, Central London, has 25 full-time staff and is independently owned and operated. For more information visit: www.thecroc.com

EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing. Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset — information — in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way. Additional information about EMC can be found at www.EMC.com.

Igentics, the full service digital marketing agency, make the move to Cambridge

Igentics, the full service digital agency has moved to their brand new offices in central Cambridge.

Igentics was formed in 2001 and until recently have been based in Saffron Walden. However, having recently won several new long-term contracts and having taken on new staff members the need for larger and more central premises became apparent.

The new offices are in Tenison Road, just off Mill Road and 5 minutes from the station bringing Igentics right to the heart of the city with excellent transport links. Managing Director, David Donnan commented: “We are delighted to have made the move into Cambridge which is an important part of our growth strategy for the Company, and the timing was perfect as our customer base has expanded so positively during 2011. We look forward to becoming part of the Cambridge business community and are really enjoying getting to know our local neighbours and environment.”

Igentics brings to clients a wide variety of digital services, all of which focus on developing creative and innovative campaigns that really deliver. Whether clients are looking at purely developing their current website or looking at a much larger campaign including a new website build, SEO strategy development and social media solutions to reach their own customers, Igentics are in the perfect position to help. Current clients include Cambridge University Press, Norgren, Jessops, Marley Eternit, Britvic and the University of Cambridge.

As The Agency Workers Regulations Implementation Date Closes In, UK Umbrella Company Tarpon Encourages All Recruitment Agencies and Employers To Be Ready

With the implementation date of the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR) on the 1st of October, UK umbrella company Tarpon is encouraging all contractors to be ready.

The AWR, also known as the Agency Workers Directive (AWD), is a piece of legislation which, once in force, will entitle an agency worker to the same basic working and employment conditions as would have been received if directly employed by the company, therefore enforcing equal treatment and day one rights for all agency workers.

However, according to the recent survey undertaken by The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC), a shocking number of employers are still unaware of the new regulations. As high as 23% are unaware of the new regulations, 44% remain undecided, and only 14% of employers said they will definitely make changes for the implementation date of the AWR. Of those who have committed to making changes there has been an increase to 13%, previously 8% in July.

A positive note from the survey is the increase in 3% of employers, now at 83%, who plan on maintaining or increasing their use of agency workers throughout the next year, compared to 80% last month.

A spokesperson for Tarpon commented on the recent findings:  “This survey has established that more notice and clarity must be made to help influence the current approach chosen by organisations. We at Tarpon take employment responsibility seriously and are happy to back the new changes that the AWR will be implementing As a company we are proud to offer 100% protection against any potential employment law and tax challenges related to employees working with us.”

The REC's Director of Policy and Professional Services has also commented on the findings: “With nearly a quarter of employers still unaware of the changes the Regulations will bring, and a further 44 percent still unsure of what measures to take, there is scope for one final concerted push to raise awareness and address common misconceptions...”

FACTFILE:

Tarpon is an umbrella company specialising in contractor payroll, enabling contractors to maximise their income and streamline their admin processes.

Top intern recruitment agency reaches landmark placement

Inspiring Interns are celebrating creating 1,000 graduate internships. The London-based intern recruitment agency have been helping SMEs connect with young talent since early 2009, using innovative matching techniques such as video CVs to secure their position as market leaders in the internship field. It is this in-depth matching process that has seen over 600 of their placements become permanent jobs.

The use of video CVs and psychometric testing, with a high level of individual engagement with the candidate, has been key to Inspiring Interns’ high level of client satisfaction and thus impressive retention rate, believes founder and CEO Ben Rosen.

“We spend a long time with each applicant, from a preliminary phone interview to a 45 minute one-on-one meeting in our office. This ensures we really understand what motivates them, where their skills and passions lie, and what roles they are best suited to. When we send a candidate to a company it is because we genuinely feel they would be a good fit for both the position and the organisation.

“We have also found that employers really value video CVs as an additional tool in the recruitment process, allowing hiring managers to go beyond the basic paper CV and really get a feel for an applicant’s personality.”

With 1,000 placements under their belts, Inspiring Interns have no shortage of happy customers lining up to sing their praises. Robert Avery of Northern and Shell commented “I have used Inspiring Interns regularly for over a year now. They have consistently provided me with high quality interns, 75% of whom have ended up as permanent employees. I always receive exemplary service – they come highly recommended.”

Samantha Turner, of M&C Saatchi, was both placed by Ben Rosen in her current role and now recruits from him. Highlighting Ben’s “database for a brain and great interpersonal skills”, she is always confident “he’ll find the very best candidate for a position, and vice versa.”

Alongside their innovative and thorough recruitment process, Ben also draws attention to Inspiring Interns’ youthful outlook combined with genuine experience of the graduate employment market as a key to their success.

“Our management team come from strong recruitment backgrounds and have an excellent grounding in helping businesses find the right person for their role. On the other side of the fence we have 10+ recent graduates on our staff who really understand what motivates candidates and are able to better match them with positions as a result.”

Having reached the 1000 mark, Rosen is unequivocal in his vision for Inspiring Interns. “2,000 is next! There are still tens of thousands of graduates looking for work and thousands of companies who are unaware of the benefit hungry young talent can bring to their organisation. Inspiring Interns is committed to bringing the two together, creating jobs and boosting business.”

FACTFILE:

Inspiring Interns was set up in February 2009 by Ben Rosen when he saw the perfect opportunity to help the growing number of unemployed graduates find their dream jobs and provide help to SMEs looking for top quality staff. They have since placed over 1,000 graduates with small business, creating over 600 graduate jobs.

http://www.inspiringinterns.com

Tarpon Encourages All Employers To Be Ready For AWR Legislation

Tarpon reveals that it is "excited at the prospect of new legislation known as The Agency Workers Regulation (AWR), also known as the Agency Workers' Directive (AWD). Currently planned to come into effect on the 1st October 2011."

This new legislation will allow agency workers to be entitled to certain benefits from the first day of working through to the entitlements after 12 weeks to the same basic working and employment conditions as would have been received if directly employed by the client, so enforcing equal treatment and day one rights for all agency workers.

A recent survey undertaken by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) revealed that awareness levels are currently over 70%. But the current figure of employers planning on making changes as a result of the implementation date of October 1st stands at 10%, with 42% currently considering what they should do.

Tarpon believe that it is also a major step in legislation for everyone involved in the umbrella company industry. Furthermore, they believe everyone must ensure they meet the standards that the legislation is creating.

A spokesperson for Tarpon pointed out: “We've always believed in offering our employees a genuine 'employment solution' through the promise to maintain pay during employment breaks and to always offer holiday pay and maternity pay, where this is applicable.

“We, as a company ,also recognise there is an employment responsibility involved, and as such are taking the changes the AWR introduces seriously and are proud to offer 100% protection against any potential employment law and tax challenges related to employees working with us.”

Now that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has published the final version of the guidance to the AWR umbrella company Tarpon believe everything has now been clearly delineated, and will allow full concentration in ensuring that everyone will be ready for the 1st October, and will back the legislation 100%.

FACTFILE

Tarpon is an umbrella company specialising in contractor payroll, enabling contractors to maximise their income and streamline their admin.

Randstad’s UK-wide ‘Shifting Sands’ Seminars focus on Agency Workers Regulations

Randstad’s UK-wide ‘Shifting Sands’ Seminars focus on Agency Workers Regulations

Top employment law experts Randstad is hosting a series of seminars throughout the UK based on the findings of their latest published report ‘Shifting Sands’, which highlights the social, economic and government policy changes affecting the jobs market.

Keynote speakers will provide guidance on how to protect the organisational cost base whilst managing change in the evolving workplace and discussions will be led concerning the impact of the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR), one of the most complicated legislative workplace changes to hit the UK, coming into force on 1 October 2011.

According to research by Randstad, the world’s second largest recruitment and HR services company, over a third of organisations (37 per cent) surveyed in Randstad’s ‘Shifting Sands’ report, admit that they are not familiar with the Regulations.

The AWR will ensure agency workers receive the right to the same basic working and employment conditions as those in the equivalent permanent job recruited directly by their host organisation. Some rights will apply from day one, such as the same access to facilities and job vacancies. Other rights, such as pay and some benefits, will apply after the agency worker has been in the same job for 12 weeks.

The impact of the AWR will vary across industries, according to their use of temporary workers, with sectors such as construction, education and healthcare likely to face some of the greatest challenges, but as agency workers make up about four per cent of the UK workforce, the highest proportion in Europe, Randstad estimates that at least half of them will be affected by the AWR.

Diane Martyn chief executive officer of Randstad Staffing, UK, says; “The Randstad seminars will take place throughout May, in major cities including Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, London and Bristol. They will provide an invaluable opportunity for organisations to learn how they can effectively maximise the implications and opportunities brought about by the AWR Regulations.”

She continues; “Whilst Randstad recognises the initial challenges that the AWR poses, we support the Regulations in their ambition to professionalise the use of agency workers and, in particular, give greater recognition to those that are paid on an hourly basis and often working unsocial hours, hence our commitment to ensure greater understanding of their implications.”

The Randstad Shifting Sands seminars will also highlight other key challenges on the HR agenda this year, including preparation for automatic enrollment in workplace pensions for all workers, temporary or permanent, in 2012; the transformation of the public sector, as a quarter of the workforce is engaged directly or indirectly in delivering public services; and appropriate recruitment and retention strategies in the light of skills shortages and demographic change.

Shifting Sands features in Randstad’s multi-million integrated national marketing campaign, which includes prime time advertisements on national television, full page colour advertisements in daily newspapers, and online advertisements.

The Shifting Sands Seminars will take place on the following dates at these locations. Booking information and the full Shifting Sands report is available at www.randstad.co.uk

The next available dates are:
Liverpool 10 May
Manchester 11 May
Leeds/Sheffield 12 May
Newcastle 17 May
Bristol 19 May