Latest Updates
Microsoft predicts 80,000 IT jobs
05 October 2009
Almost 80,000 new jobs will be created over the next four years as thousands of new technology firms set up in business in the UK, technology giant Microsoft predicted today.
Research by the firm suggested more than £50bn will be spent on information technology (IT) this year and will increase by 1.8% a year between now and 2013.
The IT market will drive the creation of nearly 2,500 new businesses and 78,200 new jobs between the end of this year and 2013 according to the study. Most of the new companies will be small and locally owned organisations, and the jobs will be highly skilled and high-quality, said the report.
Microsoft underwent a 'cultural reformation' when it felt the effect of the global recession, chief executive Steve Ballmer said today. "Consumer spending was impacted, we had to decide how to cut. We suffered the first revenue declines inour company history. they were a few percent," he said during a visit to London. "I had a journalist say to me: 'Severe revenue decline' and i had to concede that any revenue decline felt severe if you've never had one.
Steve Ballmer, who joined Microsoft in 1980, and was the first business manager hired by Bill Gates, he was optimistic about the possibilities for the future but called for greater investment in future generations. He said: "I am super-enthusiastic about the possibilities for the future, for business at large and for information technology as a propellant of that. Whether as a company, industry or society, we have to focus on developing the talent we're going to need. That probably means more investment in education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and maths. These are the areas in which the UK, the US, the developed economies are not investing in the same ways as emerging economies." He added that it would play a critical part in the future and in economic recovery.
"Information technology is more critical than ever, it's got a more important role to play... I think there will be about three times as many jobs created in information technology than in the economy at large"
Source:The Independant News & Media Limited (October 2009)
Fresh air and exercise improves work performance
11 September 2009
Most of us are working harder, longer and in more challenging circumstances than we may remember in recent times. As managers we are also having to work smarter and make careful and well informed decisions to steer our businesses through the current minefield, with a view to emerging stronger and better for the future.
We do our best to keep ahead, knowledgeable ready to face the daily challenges we encounter, but according to Dr. Veronica Burk of the Cranfield Business School, managers need to pay more attention to physical improvement if they want to reach peak performance in the workplace.
Although a certain amount of stress may be good for us, in this climate some managers may be getting more than their fair share. Stress releases something called cortisol which in periods of prolonged stress builds in the body and can have a negative effect on performance and general health and well being. According to Burk, the best way of breaking the stress cycle is through exercise at least 3 times a week, which decreases the ‘stress hormones’ like cortisol and increases endorphins - our body’s ‘feel-good’ ‘chemicals. Unfortunately in these circumstances, relaxing with a nice large glass of red wine simply won’t have the same beneficial effect as a workout…. you are likely to just wake up feeling stressed again the following day.
As an employer it pays dividends to recognise the need for a stress free work environment. Millions of working days and productivity are lost every year through stress. In these times where many businesses have been forced to cut staff – those remaining can often face longer hours and increased workload.
Burk advocates building enough recovery time into our day through slightly lower intensity tasks, allowing us to concentrate on our ability to focus and use our energy at full throttle when we really need it.
Keeping laughter in the office and escaping the building for 20 minutes to breathe in the fumes and stimulate the senses works well for me – a long walk with the dog works wonders too!
Louise Hewett
Hewett Executive Talent engaged to design and deliver training for newly unemployed managers.....
22 May 2009
Hewett Executive Talent engaged to design and deliver training for newly unemployed Managers, professionals and Executives throughout the Marches area...
Since the beginning of April additional help has been made available for people from day one of becoming unemployed. This includes people who have been in a stable job for many years, or those from professional or executive backgrounds who need help to start looking for a new job. Jobcentre Plus is working actively with the Recruitment and Employment Confederation to offer additional support to Jobcentre Plus' services and help customers search for suitable opportunities by sector and area. Over 300 recruitment agencies have already signed up to this initiative offering specialist job search support to newly unemployed professionals or executives
Hewett Executive Talent based in Worcester is one of the agencies engaged by Jobcentre Plus to deliver this service across the Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire areas. A course programme has been devised by the team at Hewett’s, which will provide comprehensive, practical advice on jobsearch, including an understanding of different selection techniques used, such as competency based interviewing and psychometric profiling.
One of the most difficult issues people encounter when they lose their job is acknowledging the emotions they feel. The programme will help participants to feel more positive and encourage them to explore their talents, experience and skills and to put together an action plan for finding a new job
These are difficult times, but businesses are still recruiting and there are opportunities out there, we are beginning to see some favourable signs emerging. It is vital to stay positive and focused to succeed in securing a new position in this market, our aim is to help unemployed managers and executives to prepare themselves to succeed!
The job search support programme has now started in Worcester and unemployed managers and executives who are interested should ask their Jobcentre Plus Adviser for further information.
'Interims' bring renewed energy to organisations....
25 February 2009
In these difficult economic conditions, businesses are facing tough, escalating challenges…. including complicated HR issues, balancing the need to reduce costs and debtor days whilst driving performance and creating new effective marketing strategies etc.
One constant in business is always said to be change and that applies just as much in these conditions as in periods of substantial growth.
Parachuting in a short term senior level interim manager can offer a flexible solution to accessing specialist skills sets on an as-needed basis.
Interims can offer the facility of ‘talent on tap’ exactly where and when it is needed. The great thing about these ‘transient’ executives is that they are nearly always over qualified for the job in hand, which means they’ve ‘seen it all before’ and can be effective from day one. To deliver objectives quickly, interims display certain common characteristics, they all have a senior level of expertise with strong interpersonal skills, able to build relationships quickly and understand the culture of the organisation, they are judged on their performance at each assignment and know they have to make a real difference…… so they also tend to be the kind of people who are driven by results.
Difficult times put intense pressure on people at the top, the answer may not be found within the existing team, bringing in a short term experienced interim can also bring in renewed energy and a highly specialised resource to tackle the company’s key challenges head on without any of the potential ‘emotional baggage’ to restrain their thinking.
Website Launch Winner....
16 December 2008
We are pleased to announce the winner of the Vintage Champagne following the launch of Hewett Executive Talents new website is Liz Macklin - Group HR Officer at Thamas Vale Construction Ltd in Stourport..... Many Congratulations to Liz and thanks to all who entered!
