How will the Brexit affect UK procurement?
With the forthcoming Brexit referendum fast approaching on 23rd June many around the UK are wondering how an exit from the European Union will affect them and their day to day lives. For those working within the procurement industry many will be wondering whether leaving the EU will have an effect on public procurement regulations. As it stands the general consensus is that an ‘out’ vote would have little to no effect on the UK’s procurement regulations and the issue is highly unlikely to be pursued by policy makers in the immediate months afterwards.
Although the EU regulations of EU Treaty and EU Procurement Directives would no longer apply to the UK, an ‘out’ vote would have no immediate effect on the validity of current UK Procurement laws. As it currently stands the main procurement regulations within England, Wales and Northern Ireland are the Public Contracts Regulations (2015) and the soon to be introduced Utilities Contracts Regulations (2016) and Concessions Contracts Regulations (2016). Unless reformed these are the rules that will continue to regulate purchasing within the UK.
Although there was no procurement regulatory system prior to the UK joining the EU, public bodies and local authorities had their own internal procurement regulations to ensure accountability, probity and decisions free from bias. So even in the event of the UK’s current procurement system being revoked, it is extremely likely it would be replaced with something very similar.
If the UK left the EU it would potentially adopt a similar approach to Norway and become a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).This would mean that the UK would still have to adopt EU procurement rules. However, a disadvantage of this would be that as non EU members the UK wouldn’t have a say in any procurement laws.
Whatever the outcome on June 23rd it is highly unlikely that the UK would change their stance on procurement policy and it seems that the UK’s procurement regulations are here to stay for the foreseeable future.
If you are a procurement professional then why not head over to our vacancies page where we have a variety of procurement roles within Birmingham, the West Midlands and East Midlands.
You can also find out more about ESA Procurement and Supply Chain here.
How you can use social media in your job search
Like it or loathe it, social media is now a huge part of everyday life. Not only used for holiday selfies and food pictures, Jobvite’s recent annual survey on job search trends revealed that 48% of job seekers used social media in their most recent job search and 58% used social media to research companies of interest. With the use of social media ever increasing we’ve shared our top five tips for using social media in your job search.
Research company culture
Many organisations now have company profiles on social media, which is a great way to not only keep up to date on news and vacancies but also have a glimpse into the company culture to see if this is the right organisation for you. You can also use this information when applying for a role at the company as you can incorporate it into your CV or cover letter.
Follow up on an initial meeting
Social media is a great way to stay in contact with people you’ve previously met an industry event or networking session. Social networks such as LinkedIn are intended for business networking and are a great way to engage with other professionals and continue to build your relationships.
Networking
Social media is also useful for finding industry networking events within your local area. Networking is an easy way to build lasting relationships with other driven and ambitious people and will help you grown both personally and professionally.
Not only will this help boost your personal profile but you may also find that you find out about potential new opportunities.
Gain an insight into career paths
Business networking sights such as LinkedIn give a unique opportunity to be able to view the career paths of those already within more senior roles within your industry, which allows you to gain a sense of your long term career path.
Social media can also help when applying for a role as you can see the types of career backgrounds and experience that the organisation look for.
Search for jobs
Pretty obvious this one but social media sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter are full of job postings – all you have to do is look! LinkedIn is used by recruiters all over the world to post job vacancies and connect with potential candidates. You can use LinkedIn to connect with recruiters in your local area and see what potential opportunities they may have. You can also follow organisations on LinkedIn and many regularly use this to promote vacancies.
Twitter is also a great social network for finding job roles, try looking up relevant hashtags such as ‘#MarketingJobs’ or ‘CSharpJobs’ and you’ll find a range of job ads which could be relevant to you.
If you’re on the lookout for a new role why not take a look at our vacancies page where we have a range of Midlands based roles within the Marketing, HR, Technology and Procurement & Supply Chain industries.
You can also follow us on social media by connecting with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Could a career in HR be for you?
Working in HR is all about attracting and retaining the right talent for your organisation. This can include recruiting, training and developing employees as well as dealing with employee welfare and employee law. A career within HR can be hugely rewarding and gives you the opportunity to positively influence your company’s development. HR roles are available within all sectors of business which opens up a wide range of career opportunities worldwide for those looking in this industry.
Those starting out in the sector will typically begin as a HR Administrator, learning the ropes and gaining an understanding of the HR industry. As you gain experience, you will then naturally progress to roles such as HR Assistant and HR Manager.
While the majority of HR roles tend to be a mixture of responsibilities, you may find as you progress within your career that you would like to specialise in a particular area. There are many specialist roles available within HR and many different career paths such as;
- Employee relations
- Employment law
- Health and safety
- Pay and benefits
- Recruitment Training, learning and development
As well as work experience and qualifications such as those from the CIPD (The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), those wanting a career within HR will also need to consider the personal qualities they will need to possess in order to be successful within the HR industry.
These include;
- Trustworthy and discreet
- Strong communication skills
- Interested in business
- Flexible and adaptable
- Good at building relationships and working within a team
- Patience, integrity and sensitivity
So is a career within HR for you? Well if you enjoy working closely with others and contributing to the development of both your organization and its employees then you may well find that HR is a career path you want to explore.
ESA Human Resources are specialists within the HR industry and work with clients from B2B, B2C and public sector organisations around the Midlands area. Our consultants are experienced within the HR sector and are always happy to offer their expert advice.
If you’re looking for a career with the HR industry within the West and East Midlands then head over to our vacancies page, contact us via email or call 0121 210 5100 and speak to one of our experienced consultants.
All you need to know about Internships
So you’ve been to University for three years and finally got your much coveted Undergraduate degree. Naturally you want to get out into the working world and put your degree to good use, only to be told that your degree isn’t enough and that you need more hands on work experience.
What can you do?
An internship is a great way to get your foot in the door and allows you to gain valuable industry experience within a role. We’ve answered a few of the most commonly asked questions regarding Internships below.
How long do internships last?
There is no set time period for an internship but typically they tend to last between 10 weeks and 3 months, however depending on the industry they can last up to a year.
Will I be paid?
By law organisations don’t have to pay people for undertaking internships. However, if you are performing the role of a worker then by law you should be receiving at least the National Minimum Wage. If you have set hours, duties or responsibilities these are signs that you may be classed as a worker and qualify for National Minimum Wage.
You may also find that many organisations offer reimbursements for travel and lunch cost during your internship.
Why should I do an internship?
- Real industry experience
Internships are a great way to gain experience within your chosen field and also allows you to see whether it’s really an area you can see yourself working in.
- Personal Development
For many graduates an internship will be their first experience in a professional environment and enables you to improve on key skills such as team work, time management and project management.
- Grow your network
You know the old saying ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know’. Internships are a great way to meet other people within your chosen industry and build valuable friendships with people who have been in a similar situation to yourself.
- Job prospects
Although definitely not guaranteed, many successful internships have been known to turn into job offers. Whilst on your internship you may also hear about upcoming vacancies which may be suitable for you and you could apply for. After all you’ve more than likely already built up a rapport with your co-workers and know how the organisation works.
If you don’t get offered a role then there’s no need to worry – stay in touch with the company and who knows they may contact you if a suitable role becomes available.
ESA Group work with clients from B2B, B2C and public sector organisations around the Midlands area specialising in Marketing, Technology, HR and Procurement and Supply Chain roles. Our consultants are highly experienced within the recruitment industry and are always happy to offer their expert advice.
If you’re looking for a graduate role to kick start your career then head over to our vacancies page, contact us via email or call 0121 210 5100 and speak to one of our experienced consultants.
How to handle a counter offer
So you’ve accepted a new job role and have just handed in your notice to your boss with your mind fully made up to move on from the company. But then your boss says “It would be a shame to lose you from the team, we were planning on giving you a raise in the upcoming months, how about we give it you a few months earlier, would that make you reconsider?” Getting counter offered is not uncommon; so what do you do if you find yourself in this position?
Well in this situation its important to weigh up your options, after all there’s a reason why you started to look elsewhere for a job role.
Here are a few points to consider;
Trust
Once the news is out there that you have been looking to leave the business you may find that this affects your relationships within the office as your bosses and colleagues could feel that you have been disloyal to the company. If you decide to stay it may take a while for you to be fully trusted again.
Motivation
You may be earning more money if you accept your counter offer but unless the issues which caused you to search the job market are directly addressed, then within time you may find that your motivation starts to slip and you’re back at square one. According to reports 60% of those who accept counter offers end up leaving their roles within 6 months.
Pros and cons
It may sound like obvious but something as simple as writing a pros and cons list comparing you current and new role can really help you work out the best option for you. Ultimately you want to be in a role which holds the most potential for you and will allow room for progression within your career. Remember the reasons you wanted to leave your current role and try not to let any emotional attachment to the organization cloud your judgement.
The Job Market
When considering your counter offer it is important to look at your proposed new salary and compare it to the current job market. If your proposed salary is way higher than other positions currently out there then you may find that this hinders your next career move as your salary won’t truly reflect your value as a candidate.
Handling a counter offer can be a difficult situation and always takes great thought and consideration to ensure you are making the right decision.
If you feel that it’s time for you to move on from your current role then why not get in touch with our team and one of our experienced consultants will be happy to assist you with your next career move.
You can browse our vacancies here or contact us directly via email or call 0121 210 5100.
How To Build A Personal Brand
We all know that business branding is common practice but having your own personal brand is becoming more important than ever. Creating a solid personal brand can open up an array of professional opportunities. So what can you do to ensure that your personal brand makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd? Here are our tips for creating your own unique personal brand;
1. Determine your expertise
To build your own brand you must first determine your unique selling point or “USP”. What is it that makes you stand out from the crowd? To begin with try thinking about these points*;
- What three or four keywords describe your essential qualities quickly and clearly?
- What is your essence factor, the core of who you are? "I know I am in my element when __________."
- What is your authority factor, the knowledge that you hold and the skills that you possess? "People recognize my expertise in _________."
- What is your superstar factor, the qualities that set you apart? (This factor is how you get things done or what you're known for.) "People comment on my ability to ___________."
*Via Personal Branding for Dummies
2. Find your target audience
In order to successfully build your personal brand, you need to define your target audience.
Ask yourself these two questions;
- Who will buy this product?
- Where do I want to sell this product?
Your personal brand won’t appeal to everyone so you need to ensure you are showcasing it to the right audience. For example if you are looking for a new job role then you need to be aiming for potential employers, or if you are employed and trying to build your brand within your current company then your target audience will be the people you work with.
3. Create a personal website
Not only is having your own website or blog is a great way to ensure that your name ranks on search engines but it also gives you a great platform to display your skills to potential employers. You can use sites such as GoDaddy.com to check if your name is available to purchase as a domain. If your name is quite common try adding your middle name or initial.
Platforms such as wordpress.com are great for creating websites or blogs and have a range of preset templates ready for you to use. You can also use sites such as About.me to use a central point of contact – make sure you include a link to your social platforms and a brief biography.
4. Network
Networking is a great way of getting your personal brand out there in front of others and can help build lasting relationships with other ambitious and driven people that can help you grow professionally.
By regularly networking with others in your industry – whether it be a local business event or online in a LinkedIn group, you can help raise your profile among the local business community. Offering useful advice and tips will not only help strengthen your credibility but also help you stick in people’s minds.
5. Social Media
Whether you’re a fan of social media or not, it’s a vital tool in developing your personal brand. When your name is Googled chances are you will see your social media in your search results. If you find that you have a fairly common name try using your middle initial or middle name to make yourself stand out from the crowd.
Social networks such as LinkedIn and Twitter are great ways to stay in contact with other industry professionals. By regularly participating in LinkedIn groups and Twitter hash tag conversations you can engage with others in the business community and also gain more exposure within your industry.