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BriefingsMishcon de Reya Recruitment Watch - May 2008
WelcomeWelcome to the May 2008 edition of Mishcon de Reya's Recruitment Watch, prepared by the Firm's Recruitment Services Group. Its aim is to provide those involved in the recruitment sector with a snapshot of what has been happening in the world of recruitment in the last month. NewsPolicyThe government has indicated that it will propose legislation later in the year that would give agency workers the statutory right to the same pay and holidays as permanent employees. The City minister has attempted to allay fears from Britain's financial services sector that the new points-based immigration system will hinder the ability to attract talented workers from abroad by pointing out that many requirements will not apply to tier 1 migrants. Ministers have abstained from a vote that could have stalled the private member's bill to give agency and temporary workers the equivalent salaries and other employment rights of permanent employees. MarketA round table discussion with four of biggest recruitment companies has found that the jobs market has remained healthy away from the struggling financial services market. Ardent has said that it is finding a growing market for placing UK-qualified accountants overseas, in countries that act as financial hubs. New figures from ReThink Recruitment have shown that the number of new IT jobs created at investment banks fell by 18% in the last quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. Recruiter, 30 April 2008 Trends/PracticeA survey of 400 recruitment and employment consultancies by KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has found that a growing number of employers are hiring temporary workers to fill vacancies rather than take on permanent staff because of the uncertain economic outlook. Companies The acquisition of Imprint by Premier UK, in a deal that values the company at £45.2m, will be formalised on 23 May 2008. The completion of the merger of Carlisle Group and Corporate Services Group has been confirmed by the newly incorporated company Impellam, which will act as the holding company and trade on Aim in please of Carlisle Group and CSG. A new review site has launched, called Bview.co.uk, which will allow users to rate recruitment companies on the quality and reliability of their service. Darwin Rhodes Group has secured £1.7m from Yorkshire Fund Manager, which will be used to expand the business. Harvey Nash has reported a 27% increase in revenue to £318.6m for the year to January 31, with pre-tax profit up by 31% to £7.1m. Legal DevelopmentsCasesFiona Clark from Perth, Scotland, has admitted acting as a gangmaster without a licence from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and sentencing has been adjourned until 29 May 2008. The High Court has banned Roy Webb and Anna Faratro from trading in the oil and gas sector for year after ruling that they stole confidential client information from their former employer Tudor Personnel, a subsidiary of First People Solutions Group. Mishcon de ReyaMishcon de Reya's Recruitment Watch is published by the Recruitment Services Group of Mishcon de Reya Solicitors who were established to meet the demands of their clients within the recruitment sector. The Group is made up of cross departmental specialist lawyers who are able to meet the diverse legal needs of the recruitment industry, with wide and varied experience within the sector and who have a proven track record in being able to meet the growing demand for a one-stop service amongst their recruitment clients. |
IMPORTANT: This briefing note is only intended as a general statement of the law and no action should be taken in reliance on it without specific legal advice. |