Welcome to Issue 7 of Recruitment Trends & Industry Insights

Hi I'm Joanna Oakley CCWP MCIPD . With over 20 years of experience in the staffing and recruitment industry, I am a Transformation and Change Consultant and the Owner/Director of Argylestone Consulting Ltd . I help multinational staffing firms and local recruitment businesses implement technology and operational change and transformation programmes to drive growth and productivity.

TRENDS

For trends this week I thought that I would share the Total Jobs Hiring Trends Factsheet:

I would love to know what trends you are seeing in your marketplace. Let me know in comments.

INSIGHTS

Most Attractive Staffing Segments in the UK 2024 - according to the Staffing Industry Analysts?

In the August?report shared by the SIA,?Most Attractive Staffing Segments in the UK 2024 | Staffing Industry Analysts

Currently in the UK, Healthcare is considered the most appealing segment for staffing. This industry has seen a significant increase in temporary workers and self-employment in recent years, and there is expected to be high demand in the future according to SIA's findings.

Information Technology ranks as their?second-most attractive segment due to factors like high pay and an expanding temporary workforce.?

The Marketing/Creative staffing segment follows closely behind with attractive salaries and a large number of self-employed workers.?

SIA's top-ranking commercial sector, Industrial, stands out for its mixed scores - it excels in areas such as market size, weekly growth rate, and skills shortages, but falls behind in employment growth, weekly pay, and projected demand.?

The Engineering and Life Sciences segments in STEM industries rank fifth and sixth respectively. While Engineering has seen steady growth in its temporary workforce, its self-employment numbers are lacking. On the other hand, Life Sciences boasts a substantial temporary workforce but is the smallest market in terms of revenue.

WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO

I did it! On Saturday I successfully completed the Chiltern 50k ultra challenge!! I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t the most attractive route I’ve ever done and due to flooding we were diverted away from the original river route in land so we actually hiked 53km vs 50km, but fingers crossed I do appear to be blister free. I am tired and a little achy but generally feeling pretty good! A massive thank you to everyone who supported me and sponsored me, I am absolutely thrilled to have raised a huge ￡900 (!) for Blue Cross which absolutely makes the challenge worth it. Here is a pic of the day and my medal!

EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!!

I am so excited to share my new Service with you! Introducing..... The Business Optimisation Assessment!! This service will both save you money by identifying efficiencies and make you money by identifying opportunities!!

The Business Optimisation Assessment is a comprehensive 9 to 12 (dependent on agency size) week consultancy service designed to help recruitment agencies enhance their operational performance and streamline business processes.

The assessment culminates in a fully documented report that covers:

Current ‘As Is’ State: Analysis of existing workflows, complete with Visio process maps and identification of bottlenecks, duplications, and inefficiencies.

Opportunities for Streamlining: Detailed insights into areas where tasks can be automated or optimised to improve performance.

Performance vs KPIs and SLAs: A review of how existing internal processes measure up to established goals of the front office business.

Technology Assessment: Examination of your current technology stack to ensure alignment with business needs and recommend upgrades where necessary.

Next Steps & Recommendations: A clear plan for Phase Two to implement optimisation strategies.

Expected Outcomes:

The identification of potential improvements to operational efficiency and recommendations as to where savings can be found.

The identification of how to streamline recruitment processes with less duplication and bottlenecks.

Recommendations for enhanced team performance through training needs analysis and process improvements.

Suggestions for optimised technology usage, recommendations for automation to support seamless workflows.

A clear roadmap for future improvements, driving long-term growth and scalability.

This service is ideal for recruitment agencies with circa 50–500 employees who are experiencing operational inefficiencies such as bottlenecks in candidate placement, technology issues, or performance gaps that are hindering your growth.

The service is also ideal for recruitment agencies looking to expand their service offering into the RPO or MSP space.

Want to go into 2025 with your agency in the best possible shape for growth? DM me for more info or book a call HERE

WHAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING

Monsters : The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story | Netflix

As anyone who knows me can attest, I have a deep fascination with all things forensic and true crime. To me, it's not just about the sensational details of a gruesome crime, but rather understanding the motivations behind why someone would commit such an act and how they ultimately get caught.

My latest watch was the Netflix series Monsters: The Menendez Brothers, which looks?into the infamous case of Lyle and Erik Menendez. These two brothers gained notoriety for brutally murdering their wealthy parents in their Beverly Hills home, and this dramatisation explores the complex family dynamics that led to this tragic event. It raises uncomfortable questions about trauma, wealth, and justice.

At first glance, the Menendez family seemed like the epitome of success – affluent, well-regarded, and living a seemingly perfect life. But as we delve deeper into their story, we discover a much darker reality. The series paints a disturbing picture of a family plagued by emotional, physical, and even sexual abuse. Lyle and Erik claim that they were driven to commit such a heinous act due to their father's tyrannical behaviour and their mother's neglect. However, there are moments throughout the documentary that remind us of their calculated actions after the murders – including lavish spending and manipulation.

One aspect that sets Monsters apart is that it doesn't offer easy answers or excuses for the brothers' actions. We are forced to confront the uncomfortable truth that regardless of their past trauma, they still carried out a callous double murder. The series constantly challenges us to question whether they were victims of their upbringing or simply motivated by greed. And even though we sympathise with their suffering at times, it's difficult to reconcile it with the horrifying violence they committed against their own parents.

By the end, it's clear that justice has been served in the eyes of the law, but we're left wondering if we will ever know the full truth behind what happened in the Menendez household. Monsters challenges us to go beyond sensational headlines and confront the messy reality of what happens when family dynamics, trauma, and power collide in tragic ways. It challenges our perceptions and forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about human behaviour and family relationships. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder that there are always shades of grey in every story.

?BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY 30 MINUTES WITH ME

Did you know that the ability to lead change management is the #1 skill needed in leaders today? Yet only 35% of leaders effectively manage change (across industries), and 70% of change management initiatives fail. This is why bringing a true change management expert into your business during times of change and transformation is so important.

Whether your staffing business is based here in the UK or internationally, I'm here to help. Let's discuss your goals and how we can achieve them together! Don't hesitate to book a call with me using the link in comments to explore the possibilities. Looking forward to connecting and making a positive impact! BOOK YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CALL

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