In any market everybody is looking for competitive advantage especially if the market is slow as it is in recruitment at present.
The latest device within recruitment is the so called “Umbrella”, companies offering payroll facilities that claim to be able to take advantage of self employed worker regulations which means that holiday pay and employers national insurance can, it is claimed, be sidestepped. Most schemes that we have seen do offer the workers a higher rate of pay than National Minimum Wage as a means of profit sharing on the savings but these schemes sail very close to the wind and are against the spirit of the employment regulations.
To gauge the authenticity of any offer simply ask for a copy of the schemes HMRC approval. If it is genuine why should they not send you one? To date we have never seen such a document but are aware that competitors claim to hold such approval so why not prove it?
Our advice is, if a copy of the HMRC approval is not provided – walk away and avoid a potential boomerang if HMRC challenges the arrangement.
Even if an HMRC approval is held make sure your employment needs meet the criteria.
It is an old joke but it reminds me of the scaffolder who at the top of the ladder was self employed but became employed as he fell to the bottom – so it is very much caveat emptor , so please be careful.
In every business there is a minimum cost of doing business and if you get offers of hourly rates that look to good to be true , it because they are
A recent report stated the UK Manufacturing sector should see a slight improvement, offsetting the downturn in consumer spending.
The manufacturing sector is expected to grow from 11% to 15%, however the financial services sector to contract from 8% to 5%.
The report also states it expects a fall in the UK’s economic output next year, a trend that will be felt around the world.
The downturn of sterling will certainly help the export sector, companies are already looking to ‘cash in’, particularly the pharmaceutical and aircraft area. The manufacturing sector as a whole has witnessed a severe drop off, this has left the door open for a mini-revival.
Consumer spending is expected to underperform economic output, going forward government spending will need to be lowered to reduce the national debt. A full recovery is on the cards but it is a long way off yet.
The UK needs to work its way through this difficult period, the overall economy is set to contract by some 4% this year and 1% next.
In last week’s Budget, Chancellor Alistair Darling predicted that the UK economy would contract by 3.5% this year, but would grow by 1.25% in 2010, general consensus is, he is being overly optimistic
The IMF on the other hand expects the UK economy to shrink by 4.1% in 2009, and contract a further 0.4% in 2010.
Shipbuilders and engineering companies from Europe are facing a recruitment problem. This is clear after a study came out on the lack of workforce in this field, one which is basically forcing companies to recruit to as much as 12, 000 people on the next five years. In Europe, the shipping industry remains an unpopular career choice among students and graduates. Most people who are capable of working in the shipping industry in Europe have chosen to work across America, leaving the shipping industries across Europe with a need for more workers. Also, the existing European workforce is facing retirement in the near future and that represents yet another problem which needs to be dealt with.
In line with this, the Community of European Shipyard Association will be launching a massive recruitment campaign. The shipping companies will also open their doors to students who might want to try putting their skills to good use. The main goal is attracting potential employees and ultimately putting an end to this important recruitment problem.
The shipping industry is expecting a huge growth during the coming years, but concerns over a small pool of recruitment remain: this is definitely not a problem which should be treated lightly. The labor shortage issue led other shipping companies to adjust ferry schedules due to lack of staff and crew.
The European shipping industry hopes that, as a result of this massive campaign, things will be able to get back on track and, even more so, that taking things to the next level will be possible.
