The recruitment industry in in a healthy state, according to recently released data from Plimsoll’s Industry Analysis of 1000 recrutiment agencies.
The data has revealed 456 of the firms surveyed are ‘powering ahead’ with their targets, whilst 149 firms are struggling and 159 are currently subject to a takeover bid.
David Pattison, who headed up the survey, has commented:
“Having rated 149 struggling companies as ‘danger’ and given 456 others a ‘strong’ rating, I am surprised at the gulf in performance in the market. Despite all other factors, success still comes down to how well a company is run.
“The market, in the current economic climate cannot support this many companies. There has to be further, more radical consolidation in the market. Strong companies will be buying up distressed competitors in the next 12 months.”
Jobseekers are being urged to exercise caution after PhonepayPlus, the premium rate telephone services regulator, issued a £50,000 fine to a recruitment service for misleading customers into subscribing to expensive mobile content.
Playphone Europe was also ordered to refund vulnerable jobseekers who were left out of pocket after unwittingly signing-up for expensive mobile subscription services the company was promoting on a number of websites, including “workjobs.net”. The one most commonly subscribed to cost jobseekers £4.50 a week.
One complainant visited workjobs.net looking for a delivery job only to find when he signed up to receive information about jobs he also unknowingly subscribed to premium rate services, including quizzes and ringtones. “I was asked to enter my mobile number and then send ‘yes’, so I did, thinking it was for a job application,” the victim said. “I am not a teenager and did not request a ringtone.”
PhonepayPlus’s Bradley Brady said: “We’ve recently seen instances where jobseekers are being misled by a small minority of providers on the charges for using premium rate recruitment services. We understand how difficult the job market is right now and we have taken tough action where we have seen a lack of pricing transparency by providers, particularly as jobseekers are facing a challenging job market as a result of the recession.”
The keynote speech from deputy prime minister Nick Clegg on social mobility and has been welcomed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales (ICAEW).
It believes that corporate finance recruitment can do its bit to help encourage social mobility, while simultaneously strengthening the UK’s economy.
Chief executive of the ICAEW Michael Izza stated that social mobility was crucial in order to create a fairer society.
He also welcomed the impact an increased focus on social mobility would have in economic terms, by creating equal access for all.
Mr Izza said: “Through our participation in the Gateways to the Professions work, the accountancy profession is continuing to look at our education, training and recruitment practices to ensure fair access is incorporated.”
His comments followed June’s announcement of over 900 young professionals qualifying as chartered accountants by passing the ACA Professional Stage exams.
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