Who has the biggest influence on the success of your business? Obviously your own staff, but probably you would also say your biggest clients, your suppliers and your competitors. Would you add your local MP to that list? MPs have the power to amend or endorse, champion or oppose,...

The REC has today responded to the Department for Business Industry and Skills (BIS) consultation on the Conduct Regulations. The response draws on feedback from engagement with REC and IRP members and offers the government a detailed and practical roadmap to create a streamlined and more effective regulatory framework...

Members of the Association of Recruitment Consultancies (ARC) have rejected the idea of industry self-regulation, as proposed in the government consultation on the Agency Conduct Regulations. ARC’s response follows several meetings with government officials during which its legal team and members were able to directly explain their concerns about...

After surveyed more than 1,700 employers and revealed the most off-putting traits displayed by job applicants, interview candidates and new recruits. Top of the list of irritations was seeing abbreviated words used within job applications and informality in communications, with some candidates even resorting to text slang and signing...

Key points: – Permanent placements and temp billings increase, but at weaker rates – Slowest growth of job vacancies for seven months – Availability of permanent staff down slightly; temp availability rises – Muted pay inflation Summary: The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG Report on Jobs –...

Former apprentices are outpacing their peers when it comes to being fit for the workplace, according to new figures released today. The study by ICM Research reveals that employers in England rate qualified apprentices as 15 per cent more employable than those with other qualifications (1). Those who complete...

Last month the National Audit Office warned that a quarter of a million extra school places would be needed in England by autumn 2014. REC Education identified the need for more teachers in 2012 as the school system struggles to cope with present levels of demand and faces up...

46 million people around the world are placed as agency workers by staffing companies each year, a new report showed today by the international confederation of private employment services (Ciett). The number is estimated to be equivalent to 12.4 million full time jobs. “46 million people is only a...

The shortage of drivers has been a significant issue in the UK labour market for a number of years now, but with the implementation of Driver CPC looming, it looks set to come to a head over the course of 2013/14. Just how bad is this skills shortage though?...

The UK is set to avoid falling back into recession, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).   The BCC believes a strong performance by Britain’s service industries during the first three months of the year has kept the economy growing.   But a separate business survey suggests any recovery...

The rate of unemployment in the eurozone has hit a record high of 12{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e}, official figures have shown.  The number of people unemployed in the 17 member states rose by 33,000 during February, to hit 19.07 million, the statistics agency Eurostat said.   The highest jobless rates were 26.4{6060b2de664e4eaa3e7b7e86961ce2c4bbd7a29b6c1097abf8257a4e5b07383e} in...