Recruitment News: February 10

● Migrant cap The limit on non-EU migrant workers entering the UK might hinder the finance industry in London more than the rest of the country, as the capital depends on international talent to remain competitive. Chief finance officers were asked to assess the impact on their organisation of the planned cap of 21,700 non-EU workers. The survey by Robert Half showed 39 per cent of London-based CFOs fear the planned cap will have a negative effect, compared with 25 per cent across the UK. More on this topic next week

● Job growth If you think 37 interviews give a representative sample, then the news on jobs is excellent. Investec Specialist Private Bank interviewed 37 entrepreneurs – either clients or members of the Entrepreneurs Organisation – and found two thirds intend to increase UK staffing in 2011. Only 12 per cent expect their headcount to fall, with 6 per cent predicting headcount will rise by more than 20 per cent.

●Recruitment MBA The UK’s first MBA programme for recruitment executives has been launched jointly by APSCo, the recruitment trade association, Henley Business School, and Barclays Corporate, which is providing sponsorship for the best performing student. The idea came from Ann Swain, APSCo chief executive. “The recruitment profession in the UK has waited too long for a professional qualification of this calibre, It will be an excellent way for companies to retain valued senior managers, aid with succession planning and boost the credentials of any recruitment company management team”.
● Feedback Peter Felix, president of the Association of Executive Search Consultants, responds to our January 20 cover feature: “It is right to say many senior positions are not advertised – because it can be an inappropriate method: not all executives will respond to advertisements or they might not wish to be considered an ‘applicant’. An executive search ‘candidate’ has a different relationship with the recruitment process. Subtlety, confidentiality and exclusivity are key elements in senior executive recruitment and are difficult to achieve with a broad advertisement.”