UK - Sports Direct offers casual staff guaranteed hours ahead of shareholder meeting

Sports Direct said it will offer directly employed casual retail staff at least 12 guaranteed hours a week, instead of zero-hour contracts. However almost all staff at the firm's troubled Shirebrook warehouse are agency workers and are not eligible.

In a report commissioned by the firm, it apologised...

UK – InterQuest results below expectations

InterQuest Group (ITQ: LSE), the IT staffing firm, announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2016 reporting revenue of £73.8 million, a decrease of 9% over the same period last year. 

According to Chris Eldridge, Chief Executive Officer: “A root and branch reform...

Netherlands – ABU reports continued staffing growth

According to the Dutch Federation of Private Employment Agencies (ABU), hours worked by temporary workers increased by 7% and turnover grew by 8% in period 8 (weeks 29 – 32) compared to the same period last year.

ABU divides the year into four-week periods, with the 8th period the most recently ended. ...

UK – Umbrella provider ADVANCE expects growth despite expenses legislation

Contractor and recruiter services provider ADVANCE is confident of further growth after recording a 7% increase in revenue. Turnover for the year ending 31 March 2016 was £57.1 million, up from £53.5 million compared with the previous 12 months. The company has now achieved six consecutive years of...

UK – Regional demand for engineers rises

Demand for professionals in the engineering sector grew year on year to July according to the latest Professional Recruitment Trends report from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) and Staffing Industry Analysts.

The insight, based on analytics provided by Burning Glass, indicated...

UK - REC achieves accreditation for excellent customer service

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) is now the second professional body in the UK recognised by the Institute of Customer Service (The Institute) with ‘ServiceMark’ accreditation. ServiceMark recognises achievement in customer service, and a commitment to upholding standards.

The...

Brazil – Government promises overhaul of outsourcing legislation

Brazil's new government, in office since May, has promised a major overhaul of the country's antiquated and highly bureaucratic labour legislation.

Labour Minister Ronaldo Nogueira said on 20 July that the government would release a labour reform proposal to legalize outsourcing, which is restricted and...

France – Reaching out to fresh talent with job dating

Many staffing firms operating in Europe know that addressing high youth unemployment is a daunting task. In Saint-Nazaire, a city best known for its cruise liners and building industry, the local temporary work agencies organised a job dating event aimed at local jobless youth, according to the daily...

UK - Recruitment fair effective in sourcing and retaining medical staff

A new conference, the Healthcare Recruitment and Training Fair, comes at a time when doctors are beginning to see new opportunities under the GP Forward View, the ambitious NHS target of recruiting an additional 5,000 GPs by 2020. This is spurring on a number of initiatives adopting new approaches to...

Germany – Deloitte expects more Chinese investments, driving jobs and promoting growth

Chinese companies are expected to make more acquisitions in Germany as they continue to embark on outbound investment around the globe, an investment guide to Germany produced by Deloitte suggests.

It comments that the long-standing trade and investment partnership between the two countries that has provided...