Corby has received its second major jobs boost in a week with the news that at least 40 positions are being created at a £2million factory site.

New chilled pastry company Bakeaway Ltd is opening today at the old Parker’s Fine Foods site in Baird Road, on the Willowbrook East industrial estate.

The company already has a contract to supply the Sainsbury’s chilled pastry range and says there is a “promise of many more” jobs to come.

Negotiations are already under way to forge links to the catering and business sections at Tresham College

It follows an announcement on Monday from the Bradford-based firm Advanced Supply Chain which is about to create 80 jobs at a warehouse in Eismann Way, Corby.

Bakeaway Ltd managing director Brian Homewood said:

“We are currently supplying Sainsbury’s nationwide with 11 new products and our longer term plans are to grow the business by identifying other distribution points.

It is an amazing conclusion to the project which we have been working on for the last year, and I am very proud that we have got to the point that we can employ local people.

We are using local business where we can - our flour is milled at Whitworths in Wellingborough which means we have low food miles.

Within three years we are aiming to turn over £14m to £15m and employ around 100 people.

The chance to provide long-term job security is good news for the local community and Corby is also the ideal location, being central to all destinations in the UK.”

A Tresham College spokesman said the company and the college were working together to provide NVQs and other associated apprenticeships for students.

More information:

Jenrick Engineering is a recruitment partner for many of the leading Engineering Corporations within the UK, providing an array of contract and permanent job opportunities for engineers who operate within this sector.

If you would like to  explore job opportunities in this sector, or wish to seek advice regarding recruiting contractors or permanent staff, please contact our offices at Burton on Trent (on 01283 548 121) or Crick, Northampton (on 01788 824555).

Source: northantset.co.uk

Supermarket chain Morrisons, the only major multiple retailer to operate its own meat processing factories, has struck a deal to acquire a 9,755m² meat processing facility in Winsford, Cheshire from Vion UK.

The site is a fresh pork and lamb retail packing plant which Morrisons said has the capacity to expand into beef and mince products and increase its existing production. This work was previously carried out at a Morrisons-owned site in Bradford and by third party suppliers.

Morrisons said the jobs of all 300-plus staff in Winsford would be safeguarded and that there is potential to increase the size of the workforce as the business grows. The retailer said the acquisition will give it greater capacity as it continues to expand, and more control over the quality of meat products sold in its stores.

The chain is the second largest fresh food manufacturer in the UK, employing more than 7,000 people. Its processing sites in the north west include ones in Colne, Lancashire, and Gadbrook Cheshire, for meat and fruit and vegetables respectively. Morrisons is investing £200m over three years to support its growth.

Group manufacturing director Martyn Fletcher said:

“Owning the manufacturing sites that produce our fresh food is crucial to Morrisons, because it ensures we can control quality and keep down costs for our customers.

“As Morrisons continues to grow, it is important we have the facilities to support us. This facility is a high-quality, purpose-built meat processing factory and will an ideal addition to the fantastic manufacturing sites we already own.”

Vion UK, which has its headquarters in Livingston, Scotland, is a meat processing specialist. Production currently carried out at Winsford will be transferred to its other UK facilities, the company said. It added that the move would enhance operational efficiencies and ensure that its packing resources are better aligned to current and anticipated market demand.

“Importantly, Wm Morrison Supermarkets is a respected and highly-successful company, and the proposed sale will provide for continuity and job security for the Winsford workforce,” added Vion UK.

More information:

Jenrick Engineering is a recruitment partner for many of the leading Engineering Corporations within the UK, providing an array of contract and permanent job opportunities for engineers who operate within this sector.

If you would like to  explore job opportunities in this sector, or wish to seek advice regarding recruiting contractors or permanent staff, please contact our offices at Burton on Trent (on 01283 548 121) or Crick, Northampton (on 01788 824555).

Source: menmedia.co.uk

Norfolk, Buckinghamshire and Cornwall are top hotspots for manufacturing growth with all three counties adding over 1,000 factory jobs since 2006 according to the GMB.

Twenty seven UK regions recorded a boom in manufacturing employment the GMB analysis of an ONS population survey showed.

Star English performers included counties more associated with tourism than manufacturing such as Bournemouth and Greenwich.

More information:

Jenrick Engineering is a recruitment partner for many of the leading Engineering Corporations within the UK, providing an array of contract and permanent job opportunities for engineers who operate within this sector.

If you would like to  explore job opportunities in this sector, or wish to seek advice regarding recruiting contractors or permanent staff, please contact our offices at Burton on Trent (on 01283 548 121) or Crick, Northampton (on 01788 824555).

Source: Works Management.co.uk

When you consider that a role will frequently have well over 70 applicants, and as such a recruitment consultant can only spend up to a minute assessing your details, it shows how essential it is to double check everything.

Some of the most frequent CV mistakes we have encountered within Jenrick Commercial are highlighted below. We would urge you to spend a couple of minutes referencing them against your current CV:

Spelling and grammar
Over 20% of CVs have obvious and multiple spelling mistakes. A spellcheck on a PC is a good start, but please check it yourself - or, even better, have someone with fresh eyes look through it.

Concise and to the point
You have a limited window of opportunity, so keep it to the point and ensure your core messages come across with strength - and do not make your CV too long.

Lack of tailoring
Each employer is looking for a CV and cover letter that applies to their role and as all roles are different, you should make small adaptations so that it matches their specific requirements. Show that you understand what it is they want you to do.
Information Gaps
Whether it’s by choice or just forgetfulness, some people leave previous jobs off their CV meaning a gap in employment. Even if you were not working, state what you were doing.

Keep the design simple
Unless you’re going for a design role, layout should always be second stage to the content of your CV. One standard font in a Word Document is perfect - please do not send PDFs.

Incorrect personal details
It is amazing how many people write the wrong telephone number on their CV, or misspell their email address - please test them. Also, if you are applying for jobs, ensure your voicemail is not too personalised or your email address is not inappropriate - it may put off potential employers.

If you would like our consultants to review your CV, please call any of the Jenrick Offices and we will be more than happy to help.

Janos Meszaros, Recruitment Consultant at Jenrick IT recently provided the following report on his job market predcitions for 2012 within the security and defence sector:

2012 is going to be a busy year for consultancy companies within the defence and security sector. Their priority will be to continue the battle against Cyber Crime.

As an answer to recent (various organization hacked by the Anonymous Group) and not so recent (Stuxnet attack against an Iranian nuclear reactor) Cyber attacks, the British Government announced last year that they will allocate £650 million of funding to set up a National Cyber Security Programme. Government Agencies will also take a central role to organise the ongoing battle and work closely with commercial organisations.

This busy market has opened up many opportunity’s for jobseekers with strong technical knowledge. The most sought after candidates have strong development experience with C++ in an embedded and/or real-time context in either Linux or Windows environment; also having strong experience in developing multi-threaded applications.

There is a lot opportunity within this sector. However, key security and defence companies (who are responsible for the Nations defence against Cyber Attacks) are facing their biggest challenge todate -  the lack of available skilled professionals.

Historically C++ Developers were primarily employed by the banking sector creating various trading platforms, commanding top rates and salaries. So the question is why would these people leave a position where they can earn a lot of money? The answer is that certainty around jobs and the trust in the Financial Sector has been in decline. In addition, the excitement surrounding companies within the Defence and National Security sector is on the rise.

There is also a very good opportunities for people working within the Gaming and Computer Hardware Manufacturing industry to work on important, high profile projects with cutting edge technologies.

The Security Sector could be the new Gold Rush for those people who are willing to take the risk to explore new boundaries and strengthen our defences against the unknown threats of Cyber Crime. These companies need innovative people with real passion for technology, willing to learn new skills and enjoy working in a faced paced R&D environment.

• FURTHER INFORMATION

If you are interested in learning more about opportunities within Cyber Defence, please contact us and ask for Miriam Lee, David Delve or Janos Meszaros on 01932 245 500.

The following article discusses the opinions and results from a number of London business surveys:

Olympics infrastructure provider Cisco found 40% of employees think the London Olympic Games will build a ‘better Britain’, although the survey also found the mood was still ‘negative’ for 51%.

But a separate survey from the CBI and KPMG found 92% of London businesses think the Games will benefit the capital internationally. With opinion divided - especially over the £41 million ‘extra’ being invested in the opening ceremony - can the Olympics provide the boost the UK economy needs?

Adrian Moorhouse, managing director, Lane4, won gold in 100m breaststroke at 1988 Seoul Olympics

The Olympics can be a catalyst for growth, but only if leveraged correctly. Organisations not involved with the Games can feel the impact by engaging employees, using the performance message. Employers have an opportunity to enhance engagement, and impact on the bottom line in performance.

There are many ways to do this, ranging from themed events with sport-related speakers, to aligning the learning with sports performance language and techniques, providing a framework and mindset for change. The latter would have a longer lasting impact, but the key is to make sure the activity relates to employees’ working lives. Inspiration is one thing, providing a ‘feel good’ factor, but if it does not have a long-term impact on performance, it won’t jump-start business growth. Who’s going to get your organisation out of tough times if not your employees?

Bring the Games inside in a meaningful way and engagement, productivity and growth will follow.

Andy Powell, group brand and marketing director at Adecco

The Olympics will have a huge impact on the economy, with revenue flowing in from foreign visitors. There is also the ‘feel-good’ factor around the Games which will encourage consumers to start spending and get the retail sector moving.

But the Games also has the potential to provide a boost to the jobs market. With unemployment higher than it has been for a generation and with huge public sector job losses expected, the Olympics will be essential, not just in creating tens of thousands of jobs for the Games, but also in the skills legacy it provides.

The Games has the potential to address some of the challenges facing the employment sector, by providing people with the work experience and skills for which businesses are crying out. This is a key element in Adecco’s ‘Unlocking Britain’s Potential’ campaign, which aims to bring businesses, Government and other relevant bodies together to address the issues facing the economy.

Article source: hrmagazine.co.uk

Jaguar Land Rover is planning to double the size of its Merseyside factory and create 1,500 new jobs in a major boost to the Coalition’s drive to rebalance the economy.

An expansion of the plant - one of the biggest car manufacturing facilities in the UK - comes amid growing worries over a slowdown in UK industry and the prospects of a double dip recession in the wider economy.

JLR’s Land Rover plant in Halewood is at full capacity producing the new Range Rover Evoque and growing the factory will allow the company to keep up with surging demand for its products.

Sources familiar with the situation say the company is exploring plans to double the size of the plant by developing on surrounding land. This will represent an investment of around £100m, although the proposals are thought to be at a relatively early stage.
The premium car maker has already confirmed it is building a £355m engine plant in Wolverhampton and is redeveloping its factory in Solihull. It has hired thousands of new employees over the last 12 months to launch new models, including 1,500 for the Evoque at Halewood last year to grow the workforce to 3,000.

The release of the Evoque, nicknamed the “Baby Range Rover”, has sparked another stage of expansion for JLR.

Its sales are up 30pc year-on-year. It is understood the company is on course to post new record profits for the 2012 financial year and could even make £1.5bn.

JLR employees were called into work over Christmas to work a special shift to help keep up with demand.

An expansion of Halewood will take the UK another step towards producing a record number of cars. The country produced 1.9m cars a year in its manufacturing heyday in the early 1970s.

However, it could break that annual record within five to 10 years following £4bn of investment in the last 12 months from car makers such as Toyota, BMW and JLR.

JLR has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround since seeking loan guarantees from the Labour Government in 2009. Demand for its premium cars in emerging markets led to JLR posting record profits of £1.1bn in the year to March 31, 2011.

Under chief executive Ralf Speth and Indian parent Tata, JLR is investing more than £1bn a year into research and development. It wants to launch 40 new vehicles in the next five years, including a Jaguar sports car and a new Land Rover Defender.

The company is in talks with Chinese car maker Chery about a joint venture that would allow JLR to open manufacturing facilities in China for the domestic market. The car maker is also exploring how it can work more closely with British schools in order to boost the number of engineering graduates.

A spokesman for JLR said:

“JLR has not made any announcements about Halewood and we do not comment on speculation about possible future plans.”

Despite the global economic uncertainty, a new survey from General Electric says 71pc of high-tech manufacturers in Britain are forecasting their business will grow in 2012.

Out of more than 350 businesses questioned, a quarter said their business will grow by more than 10pc. The manufacturers said this is due to demand from emerging markets, the helpful exchange rate and internal improvements in products and services.

The growth predictions have been made despite only 15pc of manufacturers being positive about the UK economy. Also, 26pc said bank finance remained either “impossible to obtain, or obtainable only on unacceptable terms”.

Mark Elborne, chief executive of GE UK, said:

“These figures demonstrate UK high-tech manufacturing is still a growth story and can play a pivotal role in turning round the UK’s economy. It is encouraging to see that a good proportion of these firms are expecting significant growth in the next 12 months. However, we need to ensure conditions are right to help them grow and take advantages of the opportunities on offer.”

If you would like to  explore job opportunities in this sector, or wish to seek advice regarding recruiting contractors or permanent staff, please contact our offices at Burton on Trent (on 01283 548 121) or Crick, Northampton (on 01788 824555).

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

Philip Fanthom, Managing Director, commented:

“We will see a continuing trend in technology towards easier to manage and easier to access technology.

Some new releases to look out for will be Tango (Smartphone OS) and Windows 8 from Microsoft, and Android update, Hybrid Cloud services from social media hubs, Ultrabooks from all the main players, a battle of the tablets and of course the much anticipated Apple iTV with AI built in (based on IVR) to replace a remote control.

IVR (interactive voice recognition) will take centre stage with a number of technology devices after the successful launch of iPhone’s Siri.”

Here are the general top technology predictions for 2012:

• Apple iTV
• Smarter TV’s
• Social enterprise and B2B
• Windows 8
• Ultrabooks
• Tablets
• Smartphones
• Smart Wallet
• Hybrid Cloud
• BYOD
• e-government
• Open data

For more detail on technology predictions for 2012, please click on the link below:

• Click here for more detail from leading experts on technology predictions for 2012
  

In 2012, HTML5 will be adding support for some really useful and cool APIs that allow one website to connect to another.

For example, Zynga games on Facebook run inside of iframes. Using the new postMessage API these games will be able to communicate within the containing Facebook frame directly. Before HTML5, inter-window communication had to rely on a remote server - or use unreliable hacks.

Another exciting addition is CORS (Cross Origin Resource Sharing). This will make it much easier for different websites to share information with one another. For example, CORS will enable startups to create photo-editing services that download your photos from Facebook, let you modify them, and then re-upload them - again without having to resort to ugly hacks.

With all of the new semantic information available with HTML5, it will become much easier to create web tools that extract information from web pages. As a result, you can expect to see a plethora of new mashup services, as well as better browser modes (like readers and translators).

Exciting web browsing times ahead - watch this space!!!

If you are a web developer and you are keen to seek a new and exciting challenge, contact Jenrick IT on 01932 245 500 to find out more about the job opportunities currently available for HTML5.

Philip Fanthom, Managing Director at Jenrick IT commented:

“If we are to do our job properly as consultants, then it’s only right that we advise our clients on how they can keep hold of their talent as well as add value to talent acquisition.

The more we can understand about the causes of talent attrition, the better placed we can be to offer informed advice”

Attrition and retention seems to be a key focus for companies across the globe for 2012.

A recent report from Forbes.com focuses attention of the top ten reasons why companies lose their top talent, simply click on the link below to view.

• Article at Forbes.com: Top 10 Reasons why large companies fail to keep their best talent

For more information on Recruitment and Retention services, please contact Jenrick IT on 01932245 500.