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about 20 hours ago
Senior PR Account Executive / Junior Account Manager – Consumer Birmingham (2 days onsite p/w) £27,000 - £30,000 Pitch is excited to be working exclusively with a top Birmingham based PR and content agency that’s looking to recruit a super talented Senior PR Account Executive or Junior Account Manager with a background in consumer PR to join its exceptional team. This agency is extremely well established, with a brilliant senior team who pride themselves on the business they have built, allowing team members the autonomy to push forward their careers with the support needed to do just that. They work with a range of household brands across hospitality, retail, leisure and FMCG sectors, creating impactful PR campaigns for the national consumer lifestyle press along with some high-profile regional PR too. They have a highly collaborative and integrated approach and they love nothing more than looking at different ways of doing things, working collaboratively together to achieve brilliance for their lovely clients! This agency recognises without doubt the importance of every individual that makes up its team. Culture is key and they pride themselves on the team ethic they have nurtured. They are a diverse, supportive and energetic team with the shared goal of doing great work and enjoying what they do. They have a hybrid approach to the working week with two set days in the office and three days from home along with regular team social events, tailored personal development plans and investment into training. As their new Senior PR Account Executive / Junior Account Manager you’ll be: Working with high profile (and very lovely!) consumer clients within retail, hospitality and FMCG sectors – some of the country’s best loved brands are in this agency’s portfolio! Writing copy for a range of different platforms – from press releases and features to blogs and awards entries. No two days are the same! Pitching news stories and features to a range of consumer media contacts, securing outstanding coverage for your clients. Supported by an exceptional Account Director who is extremely supportive and nurturing. Are you the brilliant PR this agency is looking for? Are you … An experienced consumer PR, used to a busy role that sees you juggling different clients and projects? Confident building relationships and securing coverage with the media? A team player, collaborative, energetic and looking for a business that you can be a part of long term? Yes? Pop your CV over to arrange a chat about this opportunity, but be quick, it won’t be around for long! Ref: 51121 AA123
about 20 hours ago
Project Manager / Account Manager £28,000 - £40,000 Birmingham (4 days onsite) A brilliantly creative and hugely ambitious, central Birmingham based marketing consultancy is looking for an exceptionally talented Account or Project Manager to join its talented team. This agency’s approach is unlike any other. They have a model that allows them to uncover the detail of a brand, their audience, what it stands for and then create a powerful brand proposition, brand assets and campaign work that makes it stand out far above the competition. This agency is about doing things differently, boldly and without boundaries. They’ve experienced huge growth over the past few years and have recruited and developed a team of strategists, marketeers and creatives who really are two steps ahead of the game. If you want to work on exceptionally creative campaigns that hit the mark and be proud of every single campaign you’re involved in, this could be the perfect agency for you. As their brilliant new Project Manager, you’ll: Oversee delivery of a range of projects – planning, overseeing execution and managing timelines and budgets. Ensuring the smooth running of projects across a range of marketing and advertising channels, ensuring accuracy of project documentation and communications. Working closely with clients and internal teams to ensure projects run to set timelines. This agency is looking for a candidate who: Is an established Account Manager or Project Manager with a production focus. Has agency experience and is used to leading client relationships and overseeing delivery for a range of clients. Has a highly creative approach, not afraid of pushing the boundaries. If you’re an experienced Account Manager or Project Manager with a background in branding, marketing or advertising and you’re looking to join a leading Birmingham based agency, working as part of a passionate and highly creative team within a business that offers excellent long-term progression opportunities then please get in touch! Ref: 51187 AA123
16 days ago
PR Account Manager Birmingham £30,000 - £35,000 Pitch is working in partnership with a leading Birmingham based integrated agency to support in recruiting a superstar PR Account Manager to join its growing team. This agency really is one of the region’s leading lights and most well-established agencies; they have a fantastic culture and can offer a brilliant career opportunity to the right candidate. They're a full-service creative agency with a team of well over 50 people, offering services that span PR, creative, digital and media to a vast array of clients, ranging from up-and-coming start-ups to numerous global household and B2B brands. This agency keeps their values at the heart of everything they do and their culture is second to none. The agency has a collaborative approach and invest heavily in the development of their people, each and every individual has input, is valued and their staff retention & progression opportunities are well ahead of the market average. This really is a fantastic opportunity with an agency that develops its employees and values its clients; their growth, success and reputation is testament to this. They offer some great benefits, including a flexible approach to working with a split between home and the office, a great holiday allowance, awesome employee benefits scheme and professional training and development in abundance. This fantastic new PR Account Manager role has been created due to some new business wins and within the role you’ll be: Leading PR and social activity for a range of B2B and trade clients. Working as your clients lead, defining the campaign strategy and delivering highly creative PR campaigns. Writing a range of content including press releases, case studies and thought leadership pieces. Working closely and building great relationships with trade media contacts to secure coverage and raise brand awareness. We’re looking for: An experienced B2B PR candidate with agency or in-house PR & comms experience. A brilliant writer and strong relationship builder with great media relations skills. A passionate PR with a team focused approach. Think you could be this agency’s brilliant new recruit? Get in touch to hear more! Ref: 50657 AA123
18 days ago
Social Media Manager Wolverhampton - 4 days office/1 day home Competitive salary Pitch is delighted to be exclusively supporting this full-service marketing agency in their search for an awesome Social Media Manager! This agency is a real gem, a team of people across a variety of specialisms, they do some really great work for clients and have a completely multi-channel approach. The team is long standing and supportive, they work collaboratively together and their culture is really key – they work hard but they have fun, they have a team focused and autonomous approach and every employee is valued. They work with clients across a diverse range of sectors, both B2B and B2C, they are seeking an ambitious and creative social specialist to join their growing team. What will you be doing? Managing client relationships and supporting with developing social media strategy. Coming up with highly creative campaign ideas, with the opportunity to really push the boundaries and try out new things. Crafting engaging and creative content for social channels, scheduling and posting. Analysing campaign results and reporting to clients. What experience are we looking for? An experienced social media candidate, working at Senior Exec or Manager level currently within an agency or in house role. A creative thinker who loves coming up with new ideas. A love of variety - You'll be able to juggle multiple projects and clients. Due to the location of this agency, you must have your own transport. If this sounds like the next step in your social career please apply online now! Ref 50276 AA123
22 days ago
Account Executive – Marketing £24,000 - £27,000 South Staffordshire Pitch is proud to be supporting a brilliant integrated marketing agency in recruiting a talented Account Executive to join its growing team. Based in South Staffordshire, this agency is fully integrated with services across digital, design and PR & content. The team work with a vast array of clients in a variety of sectors but are true specialists in the new homes arena, working with some fantastic high-end clients, creating beautiful websites and marketing campaigns that deliver exceptional results. Their reputation within the industry is exceptional and their client retention rates back this up. They have a great culture and a real family feel, their team ethic is at their core and they work hard to maintain the culture they are so proud of. Over the past few years (and beyond!) they have maintained consistent growth and have continued to invest in their team and enhance their offering. They have a flexible approach to remote working, with one day a week in the office and 9-5 working hours (a change that was made to support a better work/life balance), a collaborative team approach is encouraged but they also appreciate that a strong element of home working can be a great benefit to the business and individual. As their newest Account Executive you’ll: Support with campaign delivery for a variety of exciting clients. Work on a vast array of marketing campaigns – from beautiful brochures or impactful social campaigns to engaging email communications, SEO and paid search. Work with some fantastic household brands, as well as established boutique businesses. Be supported by a team of experts internally to deliver work you’ll all be proud of across all marketing channels. We’re looking for a candidate who: Is an experienced Account Executive or Marketing Executive / Assistant looking for an exciting and varied marketing role. Has broad marketing experience, understanding digital and traditional channels. Is friendly and collaborative, a great team player with a positive approach. If you’re interested to hear more about this truly great opportunity with a fantastic business working as part of a genuinely lovely team, then please apply now! Ref: 50622 AA123
25 days ago
PR Account Director Derby £40,000 - £55,000 Pitch is working in partnership with a leading Derby based PR and communications agency to support their expansion with the addition of a talented PR Account Director. This agency works with a diverse portfolio of B2B clients across a range of sectors including, logistics, pharma and construction brands. The agency has been established for many years so have a great reputation and long-standing client and media relationships. The current senior team are keen to grow and develop the business off the back of this strong foundation and they’re looking for an ambitions Account Director to support them with this, offering the successful candidate the opportunity to join their leadership team and to play a key part in shaping the future of the business. As their PR Account Director you’ll be: Leading a team to deliver PR and social media campaigns for a range of B2B clients. Working at a strategic level with senior stakeholders to develop PR and comms strategy. Supporting your team day to day, leading and mentoring to support ongoing progression and development. Maximising revenue within your existing client base and supporting with new business pitches. Hands on as well as strategic, still allowing you to get into the detail of the day to day. We’re looking for a candidate who: Has a strong B2B PR background, this could have been gained within an agency or in house role. Is a strong team leader, able to inspire and motivate a team, leading by example. Is great with clients, with a strategic and commercial approach. This opportunity will be a great step in anyones career and long term would allow you to take a place on the senior leadership team and in time potentially as a shareholder. If you’re looking for a business where you can make a mark and develop your long-term opportunity then this is it. Get in touch to hear more about this great role, or apply online for immediate consideration. Ref: 50268 AA123
25 days ago
PR Account Manager / Senior PR Account Manager – B2B Birmingham (hybrid working) £30,000 - £40,000 I’m excited to be supporting an ambitious PR and communications agency based in Birmingham city centre to help in their search for a superstar PR Account Manager (or Senior Account Manager) to join its talented team! This agency is a real gem, ambitious and forward thinking, and offering a great opportunity for theor new recruit to come in and make an impact from day one. With a specialism in B2B PR they work with a range of clients, crafting PR and communications campaigns that connect businesses with their audiences and deliver exceptional results. They take huge pride in the work they produce and the client relationships they’ve built. They have a flexible working model with 2 days a week in the office and a half day on a Friday so you can kick off your weekend early, and they have a great collaborative team working approach. This role is a great opportunity for someone who loves media relations, if you’re a PR that doesn’t love the writing side, but who wants to spend your time with the people then this could be the perfect role for you! As their new PR Account Manager you’ll be: Working in a really varied role right at the heart of the team, leading and mentoring others to ensure brilliant results are achieved for your clients. Involved in strategy creation and campaign planning for a range of outstanding B2B brands aswell as being hands on with delivery – from content creation and copywriting to media relations and engagement. Heavily focused on media relations, building great relationships with a broad range of B2B press contacts, pitching stories and securing excellent coverage for your clients. A huge part of the future of this growing business, with the opportunity to develop and progress your long term career. We’re looking for a candidate who: Has a love of B2B PR, experience could have been gained in house or within an agency role. Has a real strength, and really enjoys media relations. Is a great team player, collaborative and supportive in their approach. Want to hear more about how you could bag a role as their new PR Account Manager? Get in touch! Ref: 50292 AA123
25 days ago
Strategic Planning Director Birmingham (hybrid – 2 days p/w onsite) £70,000 - £80,000 (neg) Pitch is exclusively partnered with an exceptional Birmingham based integrated agency in its mission to find a brilliantly talented Strategy & Planning Director to join its growing team in a new role that is pivotal to the growth of the agency. This agency really is one of the region’s leading lights and most well-established agencies; they have a fantastic culture and can offer a brilliant career opportunity to the right candidate. They're a full-service creative agency with a team of well over 50 people, offering services that span PR, creative, digital and media to a vast array of clients, ranging from up and coming start-ups to numerous global household brands across B2B and consumer sectors. This agency keeps their values at the heart of everything they do and their culture is second to none. They have a collaborative approach and invest heavily in the development of their teams, each and every individual has input, is valued and their staff retention & progression opportunities are well ahead of the market average. This really is a fantastic opportunity with an agency that develops its employees and values its clients; their growth, success and reputation is testament to this. As a Strategist within this super talented agency team you’ll be: Partnering with a range of high-profile brands to create transformational brand propositions and marketing campaign strategy. Working closely with senior stakeholders and internal teams to create insightful and innovative strategies that have a huge impact on your clients’ success. Working on the detail – identifying competitors, analysing challenges, interviewing and understanding senior stakeholders and engaging with experts to allow you to create strategy that transforms business. Be the lynchpin for the creative process, leading truly integrated strategy and ensuring that is aligned across all agency teams. This agency is looking for a candidate who: Is a highly experienced brand strategist with a wealth of creative agency experience. Has a proven record of supporting well-known consumer and B2B brands with brand and marketing strategy. Has the ability to lead research interrogation, getting into the detail and transforming findings into a compelling narrative. They offer some great benefits, including a flexible approach to working with a split between home and the office, a great holiday allowance, employee benefits scheme and a truly brilliant culture. If you think you could be their brand new Strategist please get in touch to hear more about this amazing opportunity! Ref: 50265 AA123
over 1 year ago
Let’s take ourselves back to 4th January 2021, an eager new recruit walks into the Pitch offices, optimistic and positive about the next step in her career, being back in a vibrant office environment with her brand new team and getting back to normal in a post covid world… Seven hours later we’re back in lockdown – what a start!Two and a half years on and things look very different – for me and for the world. But as the time has passed I haven’t taken the time to reflect on my journey with Pitch, we don’t do we? We crack on because life is busy. So when I was asked to take a look back it seemed almost impossible to remember the highs and the lows, the challenges and the wins, the twists and turns in the journey – there have been many and I’ve never learnt so much, been out of my comfort zone so much, or doubted myself so much. But my overriding feelings are of pride and gratitude – I’m proud of my achievements, my perseverance when things have felt hard and I’m beyond proud of the business that I’m a part of. I’m grateful to my team, an exceptionally talented bunch of brilliant recruiters who have my back as I have theirs and I’m grateful beyond words to Reb and Rob, who took a risk in the midst of a pandemic and hired me. They gave me a chance and the promise of an opportunity that was too good to turn down, and that promise stood firm through the good times and the more challenging times. They welcomed with me open arms to what was a pretty tight leadership team and gave me the space to carve out my place, they pushed me so far out of my comfort zone that there were many times I felt completely out of my depth, but they were always there to catch me if I looked like I was about to fall (flat on my face at times!), and they supported me to grow and develop as a leader. And now, the next chapter begins… as a director and shareholder of Pitch! And I can’t wait to see what the twists and turns of the journey look like. What advice would I give thinking back on my journey? Take the risk, push yourself out of your comfort zone, try to enjoy every day and take the positive learns from the challenging times but celebrate the wins however small they are. But most importantly, surround yourself with the right people, they are worth their weight in gold.
about 2 years ago
Recruiting and hiring great talent has evolved significantly over the last few years. And moving into 2023 we’re not expecting the twists and turns of recruitment to slow. Whilst a recession is on the cards, and more candidates are likely to enter the market, the benefits package is expected to remain a core element behind their decision to join and stay with a company. Though salary is likely to remain at the forefront of expectations, especially in light of the cost-of-living crisis, it’s unlikely to be the big pull for attracting and retaining great talent. Instead, employers should look into ways to attract, reward and retain employees by looking deeper into their benefits package. Our 2023 agency and in-house salary surveys found 4 key areas around the benefits package are likely to be key for attracting, rewarding and retaining talent in 2023. Salary A rising cost of living, coupled with skill and talent shortages across some skill sets has led to salary increases across many roles. It’s been a big topic across the recruitment landscape over the last twelve months and one which we expect to remain present throughout 2023. Here’s a few changes we’ve seen moving into 2023: 59% increase in Junior Developer starting salaries (In-house).£6,300 Increase in the average starting band for PR roles. (in-house). £2,000 Increase in the average social media executive salary (agency). £1,500 Increase in the average PPC salaries (agency).Flexibility The demand for flexible working and maintaining a strong work/life balance is still a vital element for many candidates. In fact, we find that companies who don’t offer some form of flexibility struggle to attract talent. Flexibility looks different for many companies, it could be: Fully remote working. Hybrid working.Flexible start and finish times. Enhanced holiday packages (including sabbaticals). A 4-day working week. Progression If employees are not getting clear communications around routes for training, development and progression, it’s likely they’re going to look for alternative employment to secure their next promotion or pay rise. With some sectors grappling with skills gaps across PR, development, SEO and PPC, training and development could likewise help to combat skill gaps, enabling businesses to home grow talent. Value Employees want to feel valued in the workplace, and are likely to add value to organisations in return for feeling satisfied in their job. The way you add value as an employer is unique to your culture and business structure. Some ways our clients have added value to their employees are: Enhanced holiday packages. Work from home allowances. Bonus schemes and structures.Options to buy and sell holidays. Company away days. Volunteering days. For a deeper look into how you can enhance your benefits package to attract, reward and retain the very best talent in 2023, you can download our latest salary surveys here. Image credit: Header: Image adapted from Photo by Marek Levak: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-using-silver-laptop-2265488/
over 2 years ago
We often come across candidates who haven’t been active in the job market for a while, and whether it’s one or ten years we recognise that building confidence to re-enter the market can be a challenge.If you think that now is the time to take the leap and want to make the move confidently, then there’s a few things we’d encourage you to do.Be aware of your whyWhat are your motivators for changing jobs? Is it salary, progression or do you really dislike your colleagues? Use this to help guide your search and keep you motivated.Make a list of everything you want your next role to beHaving a clear indication of where you want to go and what you want to do, can help to refine your job search. So in your ideal world what does your next role allow you to do?Are you going to be crafting knockout marketing campaigns? Are you working agency, in-house, or is freelance more your vibe? What do your colleagues look like?What benefits are you looking for?The market has evolved so much over the past 2 years, and where getting a greater work/life balance may have been tricky in the past, more employers than ever are willing to consider flexible working options. Because the market is so competitive, employers are also reevaluating their benefits packages at a broader level, to include salary, pension and healthcare enhancements.So what are you looking for?Get advice and helpLike we say, the market has evolved a lot over the last few years, and what may have worked on your CV or during an interview a few years ago has in many cases changed. For a start off, video interviews are more common today and you may not have encountered one of these before.As a basic guide for how to craft a great CV or prepare for that first interview, you may find our interview tips and tricks guide handy! But if you feel like you need some extra support, then we’re always on hand to help!As experts across Marketing, Digital, Creative and Sales recruitment, we’re committed to taking the time to listen, understand and advise you on how you can secure the right role for you.Get in touchImage credit:Header: Image adapted from Photo by Ketut Subiyanto: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-working-at-home-and-making-video-call-on-laptop-4474047/
over 2 years ago
The East Midlands market can often feel overshadowed by its western counterpart.And whilst Birmingham isn’t too far away, when it comes to recruitment, Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Northampton (to name a few) are entirely different places, each with their own unique challenges.I focus my attention on working with the East Midlands market, and have started to see some interesting trends and developments which set it apart.Availability of talentIn the Midlands as a whole we’re seeing an increase in the volume of active job seekers clicking and engaging with job advertisements. Largely driven by an increase in graduate level talent entering the market, summer may be the perfect time to look for that white horse.Competition for talentAccording to Indeed Hiring insights* on average there are 9.6 job seekers per job, compared to 9.1 in the West Midlands. Though the market remains competitive in key areas (digital and PR), compared to its western counterpart, competition is lower due to less companies advertising and competing for job seekers.Talent expectationsMore job seekers entering the market doesn’t mean you need to stop being competitive when searching for great talent.Candidates are just as selective as ever when it comes to finding their next dream job, taking culture, fit and flexibility into consideration before saying yes. But it’s not just about benefits, salary is once again becoming an important decision factor as the cost of living rises.Salary averages* in the East Midlands are currently:£39,060 for a Marketing Manager - 2% above the national average.£30,893 for a PR Manager - 3% above the national average.£27,239 for a Graphic Designer - 7% above the national average.Attracting great talent in the East Midlands will require you to put together a recruitment strategy that is competitive in the market and attractive to potential applicants.Advising you on the best course of action is something which I and Pitch place at our very core of how we do recruitment, ensuring we’re able to match you with the right candidate in the right way. So, if you’re looking to get ahead of the competition and attract the best talent for your business, reach out to me and let’s chat about what we can achieve together.*Data gathered from Indeed Hiring Insights and is accurate as of June 23rd 2022.Image credit:Header: Image adapted fromphoto by Olya Kobruseva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/question-marks-on-paper-crafts-5428833/
over 2 years ago
Before we get into the nitty gritty - Congratulations on finishing your degree and graduating!2022 is an interesting year to be entering the job market as a fresh graduate. Your skills are likely to be in high demand, and some employers are willing to offer higher salaries to combat talent shortages and the rising cost of living.The current average graduate salary is just over £24,000, according to the Graduate Outcomes report by HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency). But before you get your heart set on a specific number, remember this is dependent on what jobs you’re applying for, your current level of experience and your desired location.To help you know what you could expect to be getting paid as a graduate, we took a dive into someof these differences:I want to be a Marketing AssistantOn average Marketing Assistants can expect to be paid between £19,000 - £21,000 a year depending on location.The averages for May 2022 are:Birmingham - £21,774Manchester - £21,505Leicester - £19,204Northampton - £20,740I want to be a Junior Graphic DesignerOn average Junior Graphic Designers can expect to be paid between £19,000 - £21,000 depending on location.The averages for May 2022 are:Birmingham - £20,235Manchester - £19,873Leicester - £20,995I want to be a PR Assistant:On average PR Assistants earn £23,999, however the most common location for employment is London, which would increase the average salary.I want to be a Marketer, Creative, Communications, Sales or Digital pro!For a guide on what to expect at your level, you can download our salary surveys for the Midlands, North and Home Counties regions. Alternatively, don’t hesitate to reach out a member of our team.*Data gathered from Indeed hiring insights is accurate as of 16th June 2022. Image credit:Header: Image adapted from Photo by Stanley Morales: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-black-long-sleeve-dress-standing-on-brown-concrete-pathway-3186386/
over 2 years ago
Handing in your notice can be daunting. It can leave you asking all kinds of questions about whether you really want to move and if you’ve made the best decision.If you’re feeling this way then we want you to remember the reason(s) you started looking for a new job. It could be a culture issue, workload troubles, not getting the training and development you want and need. Keep these at the forefront of your mind.If you’re looking for some speedy tips, then Sophia and Steve have you covered. But if you’re in the mindset for a longer read, then continue reading.Our tips for handing your notice in:Ensure you have a chat with your line manager or manager around the reasons why you are handing in your notice. It can be a difficult conversation to have, but if you are clear and honest about the reasons why, then it can help them to understand the way current employees perceive the business and could also help future recruitment.Always follow up with a letter and emailIt doesn’t have to be war and peace, but follow this meeting up with a quick written summary for why you are leaving and the date your notice ends. That way everyone has a paper trail.What if I’m counter-offered?Many employers are finding it tricky to source new talent, as result we’ve seen an increase in the amount of counter offers promising a higher salary, promotion or the promise of training and development. Sometimes counter-offers can be positive, especially if the only reason you’re leaving a business is around salary issues, but more often than not employers don’t always follow through with promises.Before accepting a counter-offer, consider those reasons why you started looking for a new job. If you think it will solve these issues then by all means go for it - but be cautious around how and when your employer will implement these changes.Image credit: Header: Image adapted from Photo by Cytonn Photography: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-person-in-long-sleeved-shirt-shakehand-955395/
over 2 years ago
We’re big advocates of companies using their culture as a tool to hire great people. It’s through putting their Heart+Soul out there that they’re able to differentiate against the competition and add some personality behind their brand.Having a strong culture is so important in attracting and retaining talent today. Job seekers are increasingly reprioritising and structuring their professional lives around their personal values, and are seeking out companies with a strong culture which enable and support them.But culture isn’t just a fancy workspace, a fridge full of food and the occasional team outing. It’s about how the leadership team embody company values, support employees are able to address complex issues in the right way.These are all dynamics which can’t be brought with the company credit card and delivered next day (sorry). They take time and personal investment.To put it simply, improving culture starts at the heart of a business, through training and development.LinkedIn Global Talent Trends 2022 report identifies 5 key areas businesses should be investing in to improve workplace culture:Professional Development Opportunities - 59%Flexible work support - 48%Mental Health and Wellness - 42%Training managers to lead remote teams - 35%Diversity and inclusion - 26%Though just the tip of the culture iceberg, getting leadership within a business right is the foundation for creating a great company culture which attracts and retains employees.
almost 3 years ago
After a couple of weeks of working four days, how’re you feeling?Thousands of workers are set to trial a four-day working week from June (2022), to examine working patterns and productivity, focussing on output rather than the hours worked approach we’ve all become used to.The trial comes after many companies have shifted working patterns in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, and workers have likewise adjusted their expectations and beliefs around what work should look like.But what are our thoughts on the four-day week as recruiters?Employee attractionCompanies who have adopted more flexible and hybrid approaches to work post pandemic have been able to attract talent more effectively than those who returned to the full-time office model. Should companies be able to offer a four-day week, provided productivity remains high and salaries are representative of a five-day model, we anticipate it to be a huge benefit for employee attraction, especially in today’s candidate driven market.Employee retentionIt’s not all about new people. In similar studies in Iceland a four-day week was seen to help workers to feel less stressed and at risk of burnout, alongside improving their health and work-life balance. Happier employees can lead to higher levels of staff retention, helping to cut down on recruitment costs and time invested into hiring and training replacements.Company growthWe’ve all heard stories about how remote working increases employee productivity, but does it really have a knock on impact on company growth?Following implementing a 4-day week THRYVE (a London based tech company) saw sales increase by 30%. The additional day off holds the potential to also increase consumer spending, increasing high-street sales by a projected 20%.With higher profitability and demand, often comes the need to recruit and expand teams, having a positive impact on company growth in the longer-term.On the flip sideOf course adopting a four-day week doesn’t come without it’s risks, and despite its popularity some longer term concerns continue to niggle in the back of business owners and some employees minds, especially:How will workers maintain the balance of 5 days work across 4 days? Will this contribute to more stress in the longer term?Depending on how it’s arranged, will businesses miss out on potential opportunities if there isn’t manpower in the office to pick up requirements.What are your thoughts on the four-day week? Have you been able to successfully implement it? We’d be keen to hear your feedback on our poll.
almost 3 years ago
We’ll say it again! Recruiting great talent has been a challenge over the last couple of years.‘We get it, there’s a talent shortage!’And there’s so many reasons why that’s the case, but what is one of the biggest?A lack of training and development is creating challenges around the acquisition of key skillsets as current workers are not being up-skilled and a fresh generation of talent isn’t being given the opportunity to flourish.‘Thats a bold statement!’But research shows only 62% of workers received workplace training in 2017, which included inductions and health and safety courses. And participation in training has been in decline since 1998.As new skills and technologies emerge (hey there digital marketers, PPC’ers, SEO’ers … the list goes on), it’s important that businesses invest in their workforce of today to ensure they’re competitive in an ever developing world.It’s anticipated that if more re-skilling and up-skilling doesn’t take place, by 2030, two thirds of the UK workforce could be lacking in basic digital skills, with more than 10 million people under skilled in areas such as leadership, communication and decision making.Training and development is how we help solve some of the challenges faced around recruitment, but it should be at the heart of your talent acquisition plans as well as your culture.A reported 87% of millennials say that training and development opportunities are an influential factor when deciding whether to accept a new job - making it a fantastic talent acquisition tool in a generation who are set to dominate the workforce by 2025. And 94% of employees would stay at a company who invest in their development for longer - improving talent retention rates.Putting training and development at the heart of your acquisition plan will have short and long-term impacts. During the short-term, talent acquisition may be easier and retention rates may improve, but longer-term you’ll be contributing to solving aspects of the skills shortage.Image credit: Header: Image adapted from photo by Photo by Buro Millennial: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-women-having-conversation-on-stairs-1438084/
almost 3 years ago
The cost of living is outgrowing salary growth by 1% on 2021 figures.We’re not going to get political in this blog, you know the situation and likely already know that either you need a pay rise or are looking at your current workforce and thinking who could benefit from an uplift. So we’re going to give you some actionable advice …I’m looking for a pay riseWe’ve previously written a blog on how you can ask for a pay rise, where we advise you to be mindful of preparing your reasons for asking and how you can approach the conversation with your employer.However it is worth saying that not all employers will be able to meet this request as they’re too likely facing increased trading costs depending on which industry you’re working in. If this is the case then we encourage you to look at alternative options.If you’re freelancing, don’t be afraid to uplift your daily rate. You can check out our salary guides for a rough benchmark, but don’t be afraid to reach out to a member of our team for advice.I’ve been asked to/ I’m thinking about increasing my employees paySeeking trusted advice and resources are key to making the right choice around how to increase an employee’s salary. As recruiters we sit at the very heart of the job market and consistently have exposure to the changing scales of wages.Our salary survey provides a rough guide for how much on average employers are paying employees in the north and south of the UK plus the Midlands, however we also encourage you to have a chat with a member of our team as they want what’s best for your team.Image credit: Header: Image adapted from Photo by Mikhail Nilov: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-holding-her-head-while-writing-6893829/
almost 3 years ago
“Should I be advertising my job at a higher salary?”.Let’s have an honest conversation.Because we believe in doing recruitment the right way, we’ve recently had to have difficult conversations with some hiring companies whose salaries have been lower than market expectations.Driven by the candidate shortage, those companies who’re offering lower salaries have struggled to attract the right talent for them, leading to longer recruitment processes. But now a new factor has come into play. The rising cost of living.We recently put out a poll to our LinkedIn audience about whether they’d be asking for a pay rise this year and the reason behind it if they were. 63% said the rising cost of living would motivate them to have that conversation internally or seek an increase from elsewhere.As employees grapple with rising costs, it’s inevitable that companies may be receiving more requests for pay rises than they have previously. If employers are unable to accommodate increases, then more candidates are likely to enter the market seeking out an opportunity to increase their wage.Though increased talent pools may be music to the ears of companies looking to hire, if salaries are not attractive, application volume is likely to remain lower compared to competitors.Our honest answer to employers asking this question, is to stay ahead of the competition.+ Check what salaries competitors are advertising their positions under.+ Consider what employees are asking for internally.+ Consider regional differences. You can find these in our 2021/22 salary surveys.Is increasing salary not an option?We understand that not all employers can meet the demands of the market. So if salary increases are off the table, considering other ways to make a role stand out is key.Image credit: Header: Image adapted from photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
almost 3 years ago