What employers should ask potential employees following the pandemic

Recruiters step up to help economic recovery

A new report from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) showcases how recruiters have “stepped up through the pandemic to keep the wheels of our economy turning” and urges employers to treat recruitment as “a priority issue”.

‘Recruitment and recovery: How we can create a more productive and inclusive labour market’ outlines the economic and social impact of recruitment in the UK, with a headline finding that getting recruitment right boosts UK productivity by £7.7bn each year.

Neil Carberry, REC CEO, said: “Employers that treat recruitment as a priority issue because of the value it adds unlock competitive advantage. Bringing in the best talent boosts productivity – especially where organisations work with recruitment experts. Companies wouldn’t go to court without the best lawyers – they shouldn’t hire without the best recruitment and staffing service.”

Research for the study was commissioned by the REC in January and conducted by Public First. The work involved running new surveys of workers, business and the industry to understand their experiences with recruitment, an REC statement said. The research included: Consumer poll – a nationally representative poll of 2,000 adults in Britain, weighted by interlocking age and gender, region and social grade. Business poll – an in-depth economically representative poll of 500 businesses, weighted by business size, sector and region. Industry survey – a short survey of 114 REC members, examining their financial performance over the last two years. Also, Public First ran two follow-up short polls, one focusing on 4,000 adults in Britain weighted by interlocking age and gender, region and social grade, and the other of 1,000 businesses, weighted by business size, sector and region. • Read more about the report on p24.

START-UP SPOTLIGHT

BIOTECH REC

Scott Hubball, director of new life science specialist recruiter Biotech Rec, believes that without his first boss in recruitment he wouldn’t be where he is now.

Having now launched his own recruitment business, Hubball began his career in the industry at Think Specialist Recruitment: “I was lucky enough to be trained by the MD, Chris Jones, who taught me all the principles to become a successful recruiter. If it wasn’t for him, I would not be in the position I am now.”

From Think SR, he moved into the life sciences sector, which he found “incredibly interesting and hugely rewarding”. He built relationships with individuals “in some of the leading life science companies around the world, along with exciting entrepreneurs who have innovative products hopeful of reaching the market”.

This was a catalyst in launching Biotech Rec: “Biotech Rec has a strong network of clients and candidates, which is growing daily. The best way to stand out in the market is to demonstrate relationships by repeat business.

“I wanted to take the knowledge and experience I have gained throughout my life to build a company that utilises all the positives. I want to create a company that people will want to join by giving them the trust and support to achieve goals within their career and life.”

Moving forward, over the next year Hubball hopes to grow the team internally and (Covid dependent) open its first office, with a new joiner confirmed for April. Biotech Rec is a partner of Davidson Gray, which provides support to start-up recruitment businesses.

“We have aggressive growth plans and aim to be the pinnacle agency providing recruitment services to the life science sector,” he concludes.

CONTRACTS & DEALS

Kennedy Executive Search Kennedy Executive Search has welcomed its first Belgian partner office. With offices in Ghent and Antwerp, Tavernier & Van De Vijver has joined the global network of privately-owned executive search firms. The recruiter was founded by Veerle Van De Vijver and Luc Tavernier and is Kennedy’s 13th partner firm, bringing the total number of offices in Europe, North America and Latin America to 20. Lorien International technology recruitment specialist Lorien has partnered with global life sciences recruitment expert SRG to create an allencompassing digital health recruitment solution. The STEM proposition will offer tailored recruitment models, enabling fast-growing businesses across life sciences and technology to scale up. Both companies are part of managed service provider Impellam Group.

ea Change IT and business change solutions provider ea Change has announced a management buyout. Aft er 23 years of leadership, ea Change founders Steve Robson, Cheryl Robson and Jon Murphy are stepping away from their day-to-day roles to “remain part of the journey in an advisory capacity”. Senior team members James McNicol and Andrew Oliver will become joint owners and managing directors of the business.

The Curve Group Recruitment and HR outsourcing and consultancy provider The Curve Group will be continuing its partnership with Propel, a finance provider to SMEs, providing recruitment and HR services to them for a further three years.

D E A L O F T H E M O N T H

Galago Group

Kent-based New Appointments Group has been acquired by recruitment organisation Galago Group.

New Appointments specialises in permanent, temporary and contract recruitment solutions across a variety of sectors including in the manufacturing and engineering industries.

A statement from Galago Group, which is based in Purley, Surrey, said the company “will work closely with New Appointments Group’s existing senior management team to support the continued growth of the business alongside its other subsidiaries”.

Galago’s brands operate in the accountancy, healthcare, private nursing, driving and industrial sectors, and recruitment process outsourcing.

Galago Group was advised by Castle Corporate Finance, led by managing director Stuart Stepney. Financial due diligence was provided by Azets and legal advice from Outset Legal. Navartis vartisNava White-collar technical recruitment specialist e-collar technical recruitment speWhiteNavartis has acquired a controlling interest rtishasacquiredacontrollinginNavart in Project Resource, a brand operating in the same space. With operations in the UK, Australia and Canada, Navartis specialises in the supply of white-collar engineering professionals for infrastructure projects within the rail, power, telecoms, construction and civil engineering industries. Project Resource has delivered white-collar recruitment services for infrastructure and build projects in the construction and civil engineering space for the last 20 years. It will rebrand to Navartis later this year.

Orka Technology Group Worker tech start-up Orka Technology Group has raised £29m in its latest funding round and will use the capital to fuel the rapid growth of its earned wage access product Orka Pay. The fundraise was a mixture of debt financing from Sonovate and equity funding involving the British Business Bank Future Fund and existing investors, including former UK CEO of Adecco Peter Searle.

More contract news at recruiter.co.uk/news