New data has revealed that professional salaries in the North West will see the biggest hike of seven per cent, compared with any other region in the country. Robert Walter’s annual Salary Survey found that individuals paid on either a contract, temporary or project-basis will see a significant jump in their salaries. Below are some of the biggest sectors that are set to produce success stories for workers in the UK: Procurement and supply chain Coming in 4th following London, Midlands, Milton Keynes, the North West has a permanent average salary of £70k, a contract average of £462 p/d, and shows a 3% increase in contractors salaries from 2018. IT In 3rd place following - , the North West shows a dramatic increase in IT salaries from 2018. The permanent salary average in £63k, a 19% increase from2018, and the average contract rate is £533 p/d, a 7% increase from 2018. Other sectors that show considerable growth are Banking and Finance, Legal, and Human Resources. With 2019 in full swing, recruiters in the North West may become inundated with lots of hopeful applications and by jobseekers looking to take advantage of more competitive salaries outside of the country’s capital. This may make it easier for recruiters to source quality candidates for some of the sought-after roles.  If you are looking for your next role, please contact Integra People for a confidential and friendly conversation with one of our dedicated consultants on: 01925 838 600.

Skills shortages in the past year have led to a candidate led market, and the outlook for jobs is positive for the coming year. The fact that connectivity has improved massively and a billion of the population are now connected to data, is likely to impact many sectors, such as education, healthcare, IT and financial services. “There’s no question that emerging technologies designed to grow and scale business, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation are having an impact on the types of jobs employers are hiring for across the country. As a result, we’re seeing a spike in demand for highly-skilled workers in 2019,” said Glassdoor Economic Research Analyst, Amanda Stansell. The 25 Best Jobs in the UK for 2019 according to new research from Glassdoor:  Rank Job Role  Mediam Base Salary (£) Job Satisfaction (out of 5) Job Openings  1 Audit Manager 52,000 4.5  1,124  2  Finance Manager  60,000  3.8  2,001  3  Marketing Manager 42,500  3.9  1,966  4  Product Manager  52,500 3.8 1,697 5  Sales Manager 42,000 3.8 2,795 6  Risk Manager 60,000 3.9 1,111 7  Data Scientist  46,000 4 995 8  Operations Manager  42,000 3.7 2,226 9  Design Manager  55,000 4.1 719 10  Business Analyst 40,000 3.7 2,949 11  Front End Developer  35,000 4 1,841 12  Commercial Manager 57,000 4 701 13  Business Development Manager  37,060 3.7 3,915 14  Project Manager 39,000 3.6 7,320 15  HR Manager 49,000 4.1 664 16  Contract Manager  40,000 3.7 1,687 17  Communications Manager  43,700 4.1 651 18  Software Engineer  43,000 3.5 4,876 19  Executive Assistant 37,000 4.1 853 20  HR Business Partner 49,000 3.8 753 21  Engagement Manager 48,000 4.3 405  22  Web Developer  31,000 3.9 1,586 23  Recruiter 25,000 4.4 2,862 24  Solutions Architect  70,000 3.4 1,597 25  Software Developer 37,000 3.5 3,088   The Job Score was determined by three factors: earning potential, job satisfaction, and number of job openings. While audit manager takes the top spot, recruitment makes an appearance at number 23, with respondents rating their job satisfaction as 4.5/5. The world is getting older, with the number of people 60 and over expecting to rise to 2 billion by 2050 – approximately 22% of the global population. According to World Health Organisation, as this happens, there will be more investment opportunities for companies which serve this age group, such as home health care – and this means more healthcare jobs. “With such a healthy job market kicking off 2019, we’re seeing many of these Best Jobs open for people to apply to and get hired at employers across all industries and in all areas of the country,” said Stansell.   Reach out to recruitment consultants who can offer you insight into what the current situation and market is like for your profession, where you live. For help finding a job, please call Integra People for a confidential conversation with one of our friendly consultants: 01925 838 600.

63% of recruitment businesses are expecting their business performance to improve over the next 12 months, and 63% report an increase in demand from employers for both permanent and temporary roles, according to the Recruiting Times survey 2018. We are in a candidate driven market, where businesses must work hard to attract the best candidate for the role, and this can be helped by developing a strong business brand. According to Tech Crunch’s 2018 Internet Trends report, job openings are at a 17 year high, and the unemployment rate is at a low of 3.9%. Therefore, competition for talent is fierce. An attractive recruitment brand is one that demonstrates excellent customer service, and simple, streamlined processes. Having an active social media presence is important to be able to promote the company and the roles on offer. LinkedIn and Facebook along with other networks remain key areas of growth, to attract and allow for open conversation with potential candidates and clients. Personalised, catchy adverts and paid advertisements could make a huge difference with potential reach and click through rates. Streamlining the recruitment process means the whole experience with the brand will be much more efficient for the candidates and clients, which could help prevent drop outs mid-way through. Introducing and implementing modern technology could mean that repetitive tasks can be automated, for example by using templates and bulk actions where possible, and collating data in one place. If you are hoping to bring in the New Year with a new job, the outlook has not been as bright as it is currently for over a decade. Employers are in a fruitful position. Integra People are a dedicated recruitment business who can offer expert and confidential help with your recruitment needs. For more information, call 01925 838 600.

Lots of people crave a new direction and to move jobs around New Year. A new year often symbolises to many people a “fresh start” whether that be pushing themselves in the gym or in any goals they might have put on the backburner. The message is out there in every media outlet: this is your chance to achieve more and reach your potential. If you’re reading this and wondering if you should bite the bullet and get a new role, it may mean you do not feel you are hitting your true potential. January is the busiest time of year for those hoping to kickstart their career, and you will find a lot of companies have put money aside for New Year hires. If you are raring to go, positive and excited, the right job could be a few clicks away. Instead of worrying and thinking “I wonder how I could get a job there”, your mindset needs to be “I am going to get a job there!” Here are some helpful tips as you begin your job search: Try to remind yourself of your skills, strengths and past successes, and sit down with a friend so you can talk through those attributes and skills, as sometimes other people see valuable assets in us that we miss. It is helpful to begin thinking about what kind of “transferable skills” you can take from one role to the next. Also ask yourself “What can I bring to this role that others can’t?” Finding out how you are a cut above the rest will help you be able to sell yourself successfully. We are living in a digital world, and it is commonly known that companies will check your social media footprint before considering hiring you. Use the internet to your advantage, and showcase your talents and promote yourself. Hiring personnel could trawl through old social platforms you used years previous, or just the ones in which you are present currently. However thorough, you should make sure that all they find is a fun-loving yet respectful candidate in and outside the workplace. A great tip when job searching is to keep updating your CV, and print it out and take it with you to interviews, to refer your answers back to your experience, skills and key attributes. The CV is the reason you get invited for an interview, so it is vital that everything adds up and you come across the way that you promote yourself on paper. When you look at a new company, figure out who their competitors are, what their mission is, what they excel at and why you want to work for them above all of the rest.

The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29th March 2019, and the two sides are still negotiating the terms of its exit and its future relations in a whole range of issues. You would be forgiven for not being able to keep up. One major factor in the deal is our National Health System – depending on the final Brexit deal, will we have enough staff? According to the Cavendish Coalition/NMC, 1 in 20 of the 1.5m NHS staff are from the EU – 9% of doctors, 5% of nurses and midwives and 16% of dentists. BMA chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul feels that changes from Brexit have the potential to create chaos in the NHS. “Freedom of movement has enabled thousands of EU nationals to work in health and social care organisations across the UK, helping NHS trusts, boards and providers ensure gaps in the medical workforce are filled quickly by qualified workers with the appropriate level of training and education.” There has been a 2,385 drop in EU nurses and midwives in the past year, in the UK, and the group of 36 healthcare charities believes the weaker pound and Brexit could worsen the staffing shortages currently being seen in the health service. It is not clear what a no-deal Brexit could mean, however the Brexit agreement means that those currently working will have the opportunity to obtain “settled status” to allow them to stay. The government also plans to “grow its own” by increasing the numbers of doctors and nurses in training, but this does not mean discriminating between any one region or country, and Mr Javid stressed that a skills based system will be based on merit. The home secretary Sajid Javid said that people immigrating to the UK will have to meet the requirements of a skills based system, pass a ‘British values test’ as well as tougher English language demands. The system, known as tier two visas, allows doctors and senior nurses to be recruited from overseas. Dr Nagpaul added: “Our immigration system needs to work for the health and care sector as a whole, and ensure the NHS can recruit and retain doctors and other NHS workers in sufficient numbers.”

Schools, hospitals and train stations that are prefabbed in factories before being erected could be constructed quicker and with less waste, according to Ministers who wish to encourage Britain’s construction industry to become more efficient. The government have set out £600 billion on infrastructure over the next decade, with the Treasury minister Robert Jenrick stating that new methods of construction need to be embraced. Prefabbing means to pre-build universal components in factories, manufactured using the latest digital technology, before they are sent to construction sites. A single component could be used as part of a school, hospital, prison building or train station, and government proposals for the ‘platform approach’ could mean a school that typically takes a year to build could be completed in four months. This prefabbing proposed could generate less waste and speed up construction time by 90 per cent, officials believe, as they could be built three times quicker using parts shared with hospitals and prisons. Exchequer Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “We are committed to renewing our infrastructure to drive economic growth in all parts of the United Kingdom.” As the pace of technological change accelerates, we are stepping up our commitment to digital infrastructure, use of data to drive greater productivity and embrace new methods of construction. With £600 billion of investment over the next decade, including the largest ever investment in our strategic road network, we are taking the long-term action required to raise productivity and ensure the economy is fit for the future.”

Employment across Wales has risen over the past year, seeing the biggest rise of all the nations and regions of the UK in the last three months. The employment rate in Wales has risen 2.6% compared with the UK average of 0.4%, and there were 60,000 more people in work compared with a year earlier. Economic activity (the number of people who are unavailable for work because they are either sick, caring for someone, studying full time or taking early retirement) has also decreased in three of Wales’s four economic regions. There are 49,000 fewer economically active people in Wales than in the same period last year. The proportion is now 21.9%, which is lower than Scotland, Northern Ireland, Yorkshire and Humber, the north-west of England and the north-east of England. Unemployment in Wales remains at 3.8%, which is lower than the UK average of 4%. The figures show that there were 10,000 fewer unemployed people in Wales compared with March to May, which is the biggest fall of all nations and regions of the UK. Welsh Government economy secretary Ken Skates, said: “These results are broadly encouraging for much of Wales, particularly Mid and North Wales, and demonstrate that our approach to supporting businesses in Wales during challenging circumstances is having a positive impact.” First Minister Carwyn Jones, said: “With a Brexit deal still yet to be secured, these are increasingly uncertain times. We will continue to do all we can to strengthen Wales’ economy in innovative and effective ways so we are in the strongest possible position to face the challenges ahead.” He added that the figures were a testament to the Welsh Government’s work to support businesses and make it easier for people to access jobs. If you are looking for a job in Wales, please get in touch with Integra People at our Bangor office: 01248 668 700.

Although teaching is often a thoroughly enjoyable, rewarding job, as with any profession there will be times when you face stress and difficult days, or struggle to find a home/work balance. Whether you are just starting out in the profession or have years of experience, the classroom can be a nerve-wracking place, and you need tried and tested techniques to manage the pressures the job brings and improve your physical and mental health. Here are a few tips to help you unwind and help be positive and control your feelings of stress and anxiety: Communicate When you are feeling overwhelmed, it is important to talk to people you trust about the situation or issue you are concerned with, and sometimes simply getting it off your chest will give you some form of relief. When workload is getting on top of you, communication is key. Speaking to colleagues can or mentors can help reduce pressure, as they are people who probably know all too well what you are going through. Say No Learning to say ‘No’ is an art form that can take time to master. You may feel that you don’t want to disappoint, however telling people firmly and politely that you do not have time or are not able to do something is assertive and will actually gain you respect. It shows that you know your capabilities and ensures you can manage your workload and prioritise your inner needs. Breathe Breathing deeply can have amazing benefits for your health, and it is something that you could even practice with your class to promote a calm and balanced state. Breathing exercises are a great way to practice mindfulness. Meditate A short meditation practice can help you start your day with a positive attitude. Relaxation techniques can include yoga and tai-chi, and anything that allows you to connect your mental and physical senses. Exercise Exercise not only works on your physical fitness, but releases endorphins and relieves tension, which has a positive and calming effect on the mind. You might think you do enough cardio by running around the classroom, yet exercising at the gym or by going for a brisk outdoor run is different as you are focusing on yourself and are in a different environment. Sleep Teachers commonly report finding it difficult to switch off after a days’ work, or that they end up going to bed very late after marking until the early hours. In order to make sure you can sleep like a baby, lose the laptop and smartphone at night, and cut down on caffeine in the afternoon. Have Some You Time Achieving a better work/life balance means prioritising some time in your week for yourself. Work is important, but so is your personal life, so it is a good idea to diarise time with friends and family. As well as diarising seeing other people, put some time aside for yourself: take a couple of hours to switch off, whether that be relaxing in the bath or reading a book.

Office administrators are found in the administrative teams of all types of companies, and it is a role that is vital to businesses in all sectors. Before an interview, you should ensure you have a sound knowledge of the company, the industry they are in, and the position you are applying for. You need to turn up on time and smartly dressed, and conduct yourself in a professional manner.   What makes a good administrator? To make a successful administrator, you must be reliable and resourceful, and be able to solve problems quickly, using your own initiative. Administrators need to have good communication skills, as they will often become the first impression for clients and customers whether in person or over the phone. Administrators also need to have finely tuned organisational skills, as it is a detail-orientated role where you may be required to multi-task effectively.   Typical Interview Questions   What experience do you have? Draw upon skills you have gained with any previous employer and demonstrate how your experience elsewhere can be beneficial in this role.   Give an experience of a time when you delivered excellent customer service This should be an example of a time where you went above and beyond your job specification in order to fix a problem or turn a negative experience into a positive one for a customer.   How do you work within a team? The interviewer wants to hear that you are happy communicating with a range of people, are willing to help others out, and can take direction well.   How do you prioritise your workload? If you use any tools to stay organised, or you have a method for prioritising, the interviewer wants to hear about it and how effective your methods have been previously.   What IT skills do you possess and what software can you use? In the digital age, an employer will be keen to know that you can navigate your way around a computer and you have some experience with software that they use.   In what ways have you contributed to improving efficiency within an office environment? If you have ever come up with a way to simplify a day to day office procedure, go into detail here as this shows initiative and helpfulness.   How do you cope with busy periods? Being able to keep your cool during stressful moments/days is a desirable trait for a busy administrator, so give an example of an especially busy time during a previous role, and describe your coping mechanisms.   Do you enjoy interacting with clients/customers? This question will also reveal whether you are a sociable and friendly person on the whole, which is important for an administrator, who will also have a lot of interaction with internal employees. Are you good at solving problems? An office administrator needs to be the eyes and ears of the business at times, and if things go wrong they need to be able to spot it, raise it, and come up with solutions.   Hopefully now you should feel more prepared for your interview, so now you just need to remember to keep eye contact and extend your arm for a firm hand shake.