The Importance of Supporting Good Mental Health in the Workplace

Monday saw Mental Health Awareness day take place, which is a day to educate and raise awareness of mental Illness and the effects it has on those around us. Over half of workers (53.2%) report that stress is an issue for them in their current workplace according to research carried out by CV-Library to coincide with National Work Week.

The top causes of work place stress given by those asked were;

• Bad management – 65.8%
• Low morale within the workplace – 38.1%
• Unfriendly colleagues – 35.7%
• Heavy workloads – 34.1%
• Long working hours – 29.3%
• Poor work/life balance – 25.5%

Worryingly 89% of workers surveyed think that being susceptible to stress at work can have a negative impact on their career progression. The recently published Mental Health at Work Report also showed there is lack of knowledge and awareness amongst employers.

It goes without saying that good physical and mental health and wellbeing of employees are essential to the ongoing success of a company.

According to the Mental Health Foundation over 70 million working days are lost each year due to poor mental health. This includes everything from symptoms of anxiety and stress to the more complex mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

So what can employers do to ensure they are supporting good mental health and awareness in the workplace? The Mental Health at Work Report (2016), suggests that employers can take the following calls to action;

1. Talk

Break the culture of silence that surrounds mental health by taking the Time to Change employers pledge.

2. Train

Invest in basic mental health literacy for all employees and first aid training in mental health to support Line Manager capability.

3. Take action

Close the gap by asking all staff about their experiences in order to identify the disconnect that exist in the organisation between what you are committed to and what you employees are experiencing.

You can find out more about the Mental Health Report here and access the Mental Health tool kit for employers here .

Why recruitment agencies need to be more than a voice at the end of the phone

Most of us have been there, you receive a phone call from a recruitment agency about an amazing new opportunity, spend time going through your skills and experience only never to hear of them or the role again. Unfortunately, situations like this have become common within the recruitment industry and as a result are creating a culture of distrust amongst those candidates who have experienced service like this.

Here at ESA Group we believe that every client and candidate is unique and deserve to be treated as such. As a business we strive to stand out from other recruitment agencies and have placed customer service at the heart of our organisation.

Subsequently we have created our own unique customer service system to ensure that candidates are kept in the loop throughout the whole recruitment process and while we cannot guarantee that we will place you in a role, we can assure you that we will do our best to make your experience with ESA Group exceptional.

Our candidate journey begins from the moment we receive a CV. We aim to contact all candidates within 24 hours of receiving their CV to discuss potential opportunities and get a general overview of their skills and experiences.

Before we put a candidate forward for a role we always endeavour to meet with them so that we can get to know the person behind the CV and to give candidates the opportunity to the meet the consultant at the end of the phone who is rooting for them to get the role.

We feel it is crucial to meet with candidates to gain a deeper understanding of what they are looking for, not only in their new job role but also in regards to office culture so that we can ensure that we help them find the best role possible.

As we do with our candidates, when taking on a new job role we endeavour to visit our clients on site to take the job briefing in person. We find this allows us to get a feel for the office culture which in turn allows us to provide the right culture fit for both candidates and clients.

For us recruitment isn’t about making a quick buck, it’s about building valuable relationships built upon our core values of honesty and transparency.

Developing a deep understanding of the needs of our clients and candidates is a crucial part of business approach. We make sure we understand skill sets, personalities and career aspirations in an effort to achieve the highest level of organisational fit.

For us it is truly telling that those we have previously placed within a role are now using ESA Group to recruit for their organisation.

If you are looking for a new job role then head over to our vacancies page where you can browse through our exciting job opportunities within marketing, technology, HR, sales and procurement and supply chain.

Alternatively, if you are an organisation who have vacant job roles and are looking to recruit then why not give us a call on 0121 210 5100 or email us on info@esa-group.co.uk to discuss your requirements in more detail.

ESA Group launches Sales Division

Birmingham-based specialist recruitment consultancy ESA Group has unveiled a brand new sales division to complement its existing four core market offerings. ESA Sales will help local businesses source the best candidates for a range of permanent, interim and contract sales roles across all levels, from junior account manager to executive sales director. It will join ESA Marketing, HR, Technology and Procurement and Supply Chain divisions at the company’s headquarters in Victoria Square.

The launch of ESA Sales comes at an exciting time for the company, which has seen impressive growth rates since launching in November 2010 with a single Marketing division and two employees.

Now a team of twenty permanent staff and recruiting across five specialist areas of the market, they have progressed to a leading commercial recruiter for the Midlands – a success they attribute to offering employers a bespoke recruitment experience centred around delivering exceptional customer service.

Daniel Heathcote, Managing Director and Founder of ESA Group, said:

“ESA Group are on an upward trajectory and this year has seen our biggest successes yet, with headcount doubling and sales up sixty per cent, and profits projected to double. Our new sales division is part of our five-year strategy which will see us develop our business further. Our objective is to double turnover in 2017 which will be challenging but I am confident we can achieve given our continued investment in staff, systems and marketing.”

“It is extremely exciting to be able to launch this new venture and we are confident that ESA Sales will further strengthen the portfolio of services that ESA Group offers its Midlands-based clients and candidates.”

“We pride ourselves on the high levels of personal service that we deliver to each and every customer and on our open and transparent approach which underpins everything we do. ESA Sales works towards our vision, and ensures we continue to deliver the specialist service that our customers expect.”

The company has appointed senior sales specialist Jamie Dawson to head up the new Sales division. Jamie brings more than 5 ½ years sales experience having worked for national and regional firms in a number of sales roles including Business Development Manager and Digital Account Manager. He will oversee a team of consultants who are all experts in their respective sectors of the industry, including B2B, FMCG, Financial Services, IT Software Sales, Technology and Public Sector.

For more information, visit the ESA Sales homepage.

83% of UK HR executives are open to re-hiring former employees

Research carried out by Robert Half shows that 83% of those asked would be open to hiring former employees otherwise known as boomerang employees, showing an increase from those asked three years ago. Only 7% of those participating said they would not consider hiring a boomerang employee, which shows that for those wanting to return to previous employers it is still very much a possibility. Positively the research also showed that 36% of HR Directors have successfully rehired former employees, while only 25% of HR Executives said they had hired a boomerang employee but wouldn’t do it again.

Almost half of those asked (49%), from larger companies said that they have successfully hired former employees. Interestingly there was a contrast in response between those from smaller and larger organisations, with only 4% of HR Directors in larger companies said they wouldn’t hire a former employee compared to 12% of HR Directors in smaller companies.

The research also looked at the most influential factors organisations looked at when rehiring former employees. These were;

• A successful track record – 60%
• Their fit into the corporate culture – 40%

Another factor that played an influential role for HR Directors was the reduced on-boarding costs of hiring a former employee, with 36% saying this was another point to consider.

As a result of ongoing skills shortages hiring managers are now looking to engage with former employees who have moved, built upon their skillset and are now returning to the business in a more senior level position.

However when considering hiring a former employee it is important to consider the following points;

• Is the returning employee the best candidate for the role?

Although you and your team may already have a great working relationship with your former employee it is important that you look at their skill set alongside the other candidates in the process. It is important that the boomerang employee brings with them the new skills and experiences they have gained since leaving and adds value to the organisation.

• Why did they originally leave the company?

It is important to understand why your former employee decided to leave the business as it can help you understand their expectations moving forward.

A day in the life of marketing recruitment - Ben

Here at ESA Group we have a great team of people all dedicated to offering the best service possible to all our clients and candidates. Our latest blog post looks at a typical day at ESA Group for our Senior Marketing Consultant Ben.

Ben Williams – Senior Consultant for ESA Marketing 

• Why did you join ESA Group?

I joined ESA Group as I had already worked for another agency and had a taste of recruitment, but was attracted to working in an interesting sector, where I could manage my own day and my own desk. The business was in the early stages of a growth period, so I could see the potential in the business, and it hasn’t disappointed.

• What is a typical day like for you at ESA Group?

I work as a 360 consultant, so generally get in bright and early, catch up on the admin from the night before, hit the job boards to find some new CVs and start calling through all potential candidates for my roles. The rest of the time up until lunch is the time for me to drive sales, attract new business and build relationships with existing and potential clients. The afternoons are generally then spent meeting clients and candidates about potential opportunities and then managing the whole recruitment process. If I have the energy, I then try and go for a light ale before heading home.

• What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy the relationship building side of the role and generally getting to know people and socialise with them. Running your own recruitment desk is almost like running your own small business; the more I put into it, the more I get out of it, and everything on my desk is all on me. Our office is a young and vibrant place, where sometimes I forget that I’m at work, rather than in the pub with my friends.

• What made you want to work in recruitment?

I came back from over two years of travelling, which was an experience that took me out of my comfort zone, was very sociable and where every day was different. I arrived back in the West Midlands and needed a job which offered the same, so off the recommendation of a couple of mates who had forged successful careers in recruitment, I took the plunge and haven’t looked back since.

• What do you like to do after work?

These days my evenings have been spent renovating my new home, but once that project is completed it’ll be back to watching the football, meeting friends and trying to exercise.

• Where is your favourite place to go for a drink after work?

I can often be found around the pubs of Moseley or the Jewellery Quarter, but also like working my way through the menu in Pure Bar.

You can find Ben’s LinkedIn page here.

If you’re interested in finding out more about ESA Marketing and what we can do for you as an organisation or candidate, then you can read more here.

Should You Join CIPS?

Why join CIPs?

The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply Chain (CIPS), are the largest institute in the world for procurement and supply chain professionals.

CIPS offers professional qualifications to aid the development of those within the industry depending on your experience. These qualifications combined with three years industry experience, allow procurement and supply chain professionals to apply for full membership of CIPS which subsequently allows members to use the letters MCIPS after their name. MCIPS is recognised worldwide as the global standard for procurement and supply chain professionals.

Another way of joining CIPS is by completing a CIPS accredited degree. Midlands’s universities offering CIPS accredited degrees include Aston University and Coventry University – you can view the full list of accredited courses here.

You can find out more about the other pathways to MCIPS by heading over to the CIPS website here.

Pricing

Prices may vary based upon your chosen method of learning and the qualification studied. However many organisations actually sponsor employees to undertake CIPS qualifications as they know the skills and knowledge learnt will be beneficial to the organisation.

Does CIPS give me an edge over other candidates?

Organisations will often state if they require a candidate to have a CIPS qualification or MCIPS. However many see CIPS and MCIPS as a natural route for those professionals wanting to progress within the procurement and supply chain industry.

Although having an internationally recognised qualification like CIPS can increase your employability, organisations will be looking for confirmation that candidates can put their theoretical knowledge into practice in the workplace.

ESA Procurement & Supply Chain

ESA Procurement and Supply Chain have a wide range of job opportunities available throughout the Midlands region. If you are interested in finding out more about Procurement and Supply chain roles then you can register with ESA Group here or email us at info@esa-group.co.uk or alternatively you can call us on 0121 210 5100.