Member Blog

Intangible assets typically make up more than 50% of the value of a modern business. In some sectors (for example, pharmaceuticals), that percentage is much higher. In general, IP forms the greater part of these assets; it is hardly surprising that purchasers of businesses and their assets should pay careful attention to the process of perfecting ownership of IP rights.

As with the transfer of ownership of real property, there is a significant difference between agreeing to transfer and the completion of formal change of ownership. The latter requires compliance with formal procedures across multiple jurisdictions and often with multiple authorities.

Advance preparation is crucial for any transfers of IP ownership. Yet, no matter how extensive IP due diligence has been, the recordal process rarely passes without hitch. Updating records is, in general, a time-consuming and often costly process, bound as it is by the cleanliness of the existing records and the vagaries of each jurisdiction’s recordal system. However, there are steps that companies can and should follow to smooth the process and minimise the demands on their internal resources. In the first of our in-depth looks at the recordal process, we set out the process that should be put in place before the sale is even completed.

Smoothing the completion process To ease the completion process, due diligence should include the following in relation to the IP assets being acquired:

• Exactly which entity is recorded as the owner of each right?
• What is the status?
• Are the rights in force?
• Are there licences in force and recorded against any rights?
• Are there charges or other interests recorded against any rights?
• Do the registered rights match those used in the business?
• Are there any unregistered rights?

Obtaining the answers to these questions in advance enables effective planning for the recording of changes of ownership.

Good housekeeping The extent to which companies are diligent in the registration and maintenance of IP and IP records varies. If the vendor has followed best practice, either as a matter of ongoing routine or in preparation for an asset sale, then this inevitably makes the recordal process easier to execute. When IP rights are in force, with a sensible ownership structure and up-to-date ownership details recorded, then this is very helpful.

If rights are not kept up-to-date then they are at risk in terms of validity and /or enforceability. This should come out during the due diligence process and may result in more complicated requirements for the post-completion recordals (as well as potentially impacting the sale process itself).

Obligations on the vendor It is usual for an agreement between parties to place an obligation on the vendor to assist the purchaser in taking all the necessary steps to record the change of ownership of IP rights. This generally includes a requirement to complete whatever documents are needed in order to meet the formal requirements of recording the change.

There should also be an obligation on the vendor to provide information relating to IP. This is particularly important when it comes to unregistered rights where creation and use are important factors in the ability to register or enforce rights post-completion.

The scope of the obligation on the vendor should be clear and broad enough to enable effective future protection of rights as well as enabling recordal of the change of ownership to happen without problem. Clearly, it is in the interests of the purchaser to have as long a duration of these obligations as possible. However, there will normally be a time limit and the purchaser needs to be mindful of this limit when planning the recordal process.

This is part 1 of our in-depth look at the IP assignment process. For further information, sign up to our bi-weekly IP newsletter.

It’s 1976; in a small disused railway warehouse in London, arguably one of the finest exports of the punk movement are being formed…..The Clash.

Both the Clash and the punk movement rapidly gain popularity and by 1982 mohicans and safety pins move out of the subculture and into the main stream. The song ‘Should I stay or should I go’ the band’s only number one single, is released and is sung not by lead vocalist Joe Strummer, but by guitarist Mick Jones and rumours about the song’s content surface, as it seems to pre-empt Mick’s exit from the band.

Upon Mick’s decision to exit, the Clash start a 4 year period of tension before eventually breaking up. The punk movement declines and the UK economy becomes uneasy, unemployment rises to a record 3 million, the miners’ strike is on the horizon and we start to emerge from a recession.

Fast forward 34 years, and we are in a not too dissimilar state of unease following the Brexit vote. Regardless of how you feel about Brexit, if/when we eventually leave the EU, it is difficult to predict how long the uncertainty will take to settle and what its effect on us socially, politically and economically will be.

What’s Happening Now

Being energy consultants, we are concerned with how Brexit/leaving the EU will affect the energy markets and more specifically how it will affect clients. The graph below shows how the price of energy changed in the lead up to and after Brexit.

A steady rise post Brexit, but on the run up, an even steeper one. You would probably expect to see this the other way around given the level of uncertainty, so what does that tell us? – the world has an in-built economic fear of the unknown when energy is concerned? A predictable allergic market reaction to instability? Or maybe it’s just not that big a deal? But, what we do know is there are more factors than just Brexit that have gone into this.

The £

The lower value of the £ means it is more expensive to import energy, impacting on our Wholesale costs. There is also uncertainty on what impact there will be on future investment, specifically raising concern over replacing lost generation and our plans beyond 2025. Short term supply appears healthy though.

Phew…

We currently have a positive supply situation in the UK for Gas and Electricity, Gas import availability is increasing and we have measures in place to secure Electricity for future demand.

…However.

We have also seen the shutdown of Rough until March / April 17, which is our largest Gas storage facility. Traditionally this is filled in the warmer months for use in the winter or when there are other supply issues. Although this is an added pressure to prices, the impact has not been as severe as it would have been, due to the increasing availability of LNG and imports from Europe.

The Future

There is a lot of emphasis on ‘the future’ in the energy industry. Suppliers and generators pay a lot of money for analysts to predict the future for them, so they can shape their future decisions. We don’t have a crystal ball but we do have an Indigo one. Here are our thoughts on what will affect prices moving forward.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

LNG is becoming more widely available and with a move away from using Coal for Electricity generation due to environmental concerns and the cheaper availability of Gas, other countries are building facilities to receive LNG, creating more demand.

This may impact on the UK as prices to secure LNG could go up with demand. We will be more reliant on LNG to replace closing Coal and Nuclear operations.

Leaving the EU

So far the UK has led the way in going beyond requirements in terms of carbon targets, but will Theresa May continue to support renewable energy and carbon targets? We have already seen delays with Hinkley Point C power station.

Physically, nothing is likely to change between us and Europe as we will still import and export Gas and Electricity, the politicians just need to make sure the mechanisms/policies remain in place to facilitate this as favourably as possible.

More legislation, more cost, more demand

We have seen considerable swings in what makes up our delivered Electricity bills as well as legislative requirements for companies to comply with. A growing proportion of bills are formed from levies, introduced to incentivise us to reduce consumption, to invest in small and large scale Renewable projects and also, to try and make sure we have enough generation to meet demand.

Uncertainty

Basically, there is a lot of uncertainty and it will continue with widely speculative tabloid headlines until legislation is put into place post exit. In terms of energy costs, we’ll just have to see how leaving the EU eventually trickles down to affect businesses, but as Mick Jones from the Clash once sang, “If I go there will be trouble, if I stay there will be double.” Let’s hope the economy mirrors his sentiment.

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N.B. If you are a business in Norwich and want to know what 8 things you can do to make better decisions about your energy, we will be presenting a free workshop through the Norfolk Chamber of Commerce on the 11th of August, spaces are limited.

Sign up for Norfolk Chamber of Commerce Free Workshop – Peck Here Sign up to our Newsletter – Peck Here

Article originally from Indigo Swan website:indigoswan.co.uk/blog/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-now/

No matter what business you’re in, you should know broadly what you want that business to look like – your vision. To achieve that vision you’ll need to set some strategic objectives to get you there. You might, for example, need to drive more sales, improve customer service, or reduce lead time.

But what does ‘more’ or ‘better’ look like? And how do you know that you’re heading in the right direction?

You need targets to measure your performance against – key performance indicators, or KPI’s, in “business speak”. Sounds simple, but getting targets right is quite a skill.

You may have heard the acronym SMART. As acronyms go, it’s actually a really good one. It’s often applied to targets or objectives, and serves as a reminder that they should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound. If you can cram all that into your target, you’ve got a good one that, if used correctly, will help drive your business in the right direction.

Using appropriate targets as part of a continuous business improvement plan actually works – I’ve seen it! What gets measured gets done. To move your business forward, you need to define the key measures that will drive the right behaviours. It’s a waste of time having aims for your business if you can’t measure actual performance delivery.

I help businesses identify where they need to focus their efforts to drive the growth they want. I helps them define their objectives and create the right targets to help them reap the rewards.

Things to remember when setting targets

I’d like to sharethree top tips to to remember when setting targets:

Firstly, you need to know you’re measuring the right things, not just things that are easy to measure.

Secondly, you need to communicate those targets so the right people know what they need to achieve.

Finally, your targets need to include just the right amount of ambition. Having something to aim for can be a real motivator. It’s OK to challenge staff with your targets, but ask too much of them and it’ll have the opposite effect.

Well-defined targets should form a really key part of your business plan. Written and implemented correctly, they’ll help you achieve your goals.If you need help setting the right targets to help your business grow,please doget in touch!

27th July 2016

Billy McInnes, of online publication Microscope, has taken a look at the problems that some organisations have had in engaging with G-Cloud and spoken to those both who have benefited and those that have not. In this well balanced article it is clear thatthere is no simple answer. What does become clear, however, is that those organisations that claim to have benefited from it are hardly small. Of those interviewed that sing its praises, one is a large corporation with a turnover of over £116 million and an even bigger American parent, one has a turnover of over £32 million, there are very few true smaller companies that are benefiting.

The UK Government defines an SME as a company with fewer than 250 employees and states that this accounts for over 99% of all businesses registered in the UK. This is how they claim it is successful for SMEs and is a large part of the problem. Interesting too, that two of the companies that have benefited most from previous G-Cloud iterations are both organisations that fit in the 1% of UK businesses that the Government’s own definition would describe as large.

The problems with G-Cloud continue to rumble on. Services from the latest iteration, G-Cloud 8, aredue to become available very soon. Will it be better? Will it enable more of the smaller companies to do business with the Public Sector as was originally stated? Only time will tell. In the meantime, read the full article in Microscopehere.

Confusion, dismay, concern, speculation, jubilation……whichever side of the fence you are on, the fact is there now lies ahead a period of adjustment, uncertainty and concern. Regardless of what business you are in, this could be a good time to consider your customers’ motivations and decision making landscape.

The one common denominator amongst all voters is a feeling of being disenfranchised with the current status quo. But whether it’s on a global scale, a national scale or a local neighbourhood scale, each voter had their own reasons for voting the way they did.

It’s done. The fallout will be long and protracted. It may impact every person in the United Kingdom financially and personally. But every person in the United Kingdom will still have to purchase bread, buy services, choose education and select adequate care for their elderly.

Our day to day routines and procedures will still exist but they may all become a little more intense in the short term. Customers will start making more informed decisions and taking careful steps to ensure their economic stability.

This is the perfect platform for you to create a deeper relationship with your customer and provide some welcome assurance that you will continue to honour your agreements or transactions with them.

We know that customer experience is destined to overtake price and product as the key brand differentiator this decade. With that in mind, creating a grounded and stable customer experience should take precedence now. Make it known that you value your customer and their views, whatever they may be. Every customer is different to you. In ‘Future Proof Your Business’ Patrick Dixon writes ‘seek out advice from experts, consultants, innovators – people who think very differently to you and others in your company’. Outsiders’ views will challenge your own views, allow you to step out of the bubble that is your own business which means you stay current and relevant. Your customers are valuable resources. Listen to them.

Of course, you will be considering the financial implications for your own business but your business is worthless without your customers. Take a step back and consider your customer journey. What are they seeking now?

We suggest there are a few things you should certainly NOT say to your customers this summer:

1. ‘You ticked WHICH box??????’ Keep your views to yourself. The easiest way to lose customers is to vocalize a view that does not match theirs.

2. ‘I don’t care about YOUR situation; our industry is unique.’ You do not stand alone and there will always be businesses in different situations to you. This is not the time to moan about how you may be more affected than most. There are winners and losers in every situation. Customers will be looking at how your handle your win or loss and what your strategies are going forward.

3. ‘Of course our pricing will change’. The UK is one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world. This will not change overnight or this month or this year! Reassure your customer that nothing will change (even if you suspect you may have to make changes in the long-term, do not worry your customer needlessly).

4. ‘We’ve changed our warranty terms’. Any whiff of instability on your behalf will surely result in your customer seeking out other options. You should really be doing everything possible to make sure your customers feel secure and that their relationship with you is permanent and ongoing.

5. ‘I’m studying to become an immigration agent’. Even if you anticipate there will be a mass exodus to countries on distant continents, your customer will not thank you if you announce your intention to leave your current business and cash in on industries that may experience a boom. It is a pointless and futile exercise to predict worst case scenarios. Focus, instead, on opportunities that may be hidden within your own business.

6. ‘We’re all doomed.’ We know that approximately 70% of buying decisions are made based upon how a customer feels he or she is being treated (McKinsey). A depressed, financially insecure customer will not really be amenable to ‘the upsell’. There has never been a better time to make your customer feel loved.

This season, we have some beautiful fabrics in store at Norwich Sunblinds. Favourite fabrics include canvas and linen textured finishes from the iLiv range, which make any room look warm and plush.

The Clarke and Clarke Richmond range of embroidered materials also look absolutely stunning up at the window and are particularly good for living rooms and dining rooms. The Voyage range even includes threads in silvers, golds and beads. Neutral colours are also popular at the moment.

These fabrics all make perfect curtains or roman blinds.

If you are looking for sun control or privacy take a look at the innovative Vision blinds.

These blinds are unique in that they have two layers of material. One is a mesh and one is a solid material. You can control the blind so that you still see out, but it’s also giving you privacy or you can have it completely blocked in. Add in the choice to pull the blind completely up or completely down and you have lots of options for sun control.

There is a lovely range of fabrics to choose from. These stylish fabrics gently filter and soften daylight, which means that you control the light while maintaining the view.

Blackout blinds are also popular at the moment, and are particularly good for children’s bedrooms.

The range of fabrics is fantastic – plains, patterns, textures, lovely children’s designs and we also have a wide range of adult designs such as chenilles and shot silks, for that luxurious boutique hotel effect.

You can even choose a motorised option for your blind.

If you’re interested in blinds or curtains, why not pop in to see us at our shop in St Benedicts Street, or we’ll bring the blinds and samples along to you so that you can match them to your room and make sure that you have the perfect fit.

Call us on 01603 615945

Visit the website to book an appointment online: www.norwichsunblinds.co.uk

Visit our shop at 8 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, NR2 4AG

The Need for Training

Attaining an RTITB Forklift Licence

Obtaining your forklift licence is necessary for you if you are looking to further your career within this industry. It is the mark of someone who can not only drive a forklift but drive it safely, efficiently and in a professional manner.

Once your RTITB Forklift Operation Certificate is attained, you have it for life, with no expiration date (although the; National Operators Registration Scheme records this training does).

The Need to Refresh Your Certificate

Refreshing an already attained forklift certificate is a good way to maintain safe working practises and eliminate accumulated bad practices that may have been accumulating over a period of time since the last training took place.

Some certificate holders may only be occasional operatives, by refreshing and updating an existing licence will ensure skill fade does not creep in over time.

Most reputable companies will insist newly appointed operators, who already have an RTITB Forklift Licence, take a refresher course to demonstrate they are a safe and competent operator. This can also form part of a familiarisation course to ensure they a competent to operate unfamiliar equipment in a new environment.

A scheduled training regime will ensure a safety culture is adopted throughout the company, along with maintaining a high level of competencies and the ‘Approved Code of Practice’ for forklift operations. The benefit of regular training will ensure accidents are reduced and in the main eliminated.

As an employer why is it important?

As an employer you have a duty to ensure your staff are suitably trained. The decision to retrain and refresh is the responsibility of the employer as stated in the Health & Safety At Work Act (1974) and Regulation 9 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1998) which states that; ‘adequate information, instruction and training’ is provided for all employees.

In addition to the published guidance further information can be found in the Approved Code of Practice for Rider Operated Lift Trucks (L117), which has special legal status in that if you are prosecuted for a breach of Health and Safety Law, and it is proved that you did not follow the relevant provisions of the code, you will need to demonstrate that you have complied with the duty or law in some other way, or a court may find you at fault.

It is best practice to consider a gap of between three to five years, depending on the truck type, tasks, environment and frequency of work/risks. Some companies identify this as an issue and provide refresher training more often than this.

Workers may also need refresher training if:

• There has been an unsafe incident or ‘near miss’
• Awareness of dangerous driving
• Operatives becoming disabled

If you would like more information about our Forklift Training Courses please give us a call on 01508 218721 or contact us via e-mail at enquiries@shieldhealthandsafety.co.uk

Following our update on the possible impact on a business’s patent rights if there is a vote for Brexit on 23 June, we look at the implications for trademark and design portfolios.

With a reported one third of the electorate unsure whether to vote to leave or remain in the EU on 23 June, and the other two thirds split relatively equally between the two camps, a British exit (Brexit) now seems a real possibility. But, what will it mean for trademark and design rights?

Will EU TMs continue to cover the UK? At present, there is no documentation or comment from the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) on the potential impact on trademarks and designs in the event of an exit vote in the referendum. However, it is reasonable to expect that if the UK does leave the EU, it will no longer be part of the European trademark (EU TM) or registered design (EU Design) systems.

That said, the withdrawal from the EU TM and Design systems will not occur immediately: Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty stipulates a two-year withdrawal and negotiation period (which can be extended). It is yet to be seen whether the UK would need to legislate for successor rights as part of that withdrawal (i.e. some form of conversion of EU rights into UK law) or if UK proprietors would be required to re-register EU rights at the UK IPO.

Nonetheless, companies would be advised to review their current filings and management/renewals strategy to ensure their rights continue to be protected at both EU and UK level post-Brexit. We would advise taking the following steps:

• Prioritise registrations: Review your current EU TM (and Design) portfolio and prioritise rights for action/protection (e.g. between primary, secondary and tertiary registrations)
• Pull out duplicate rights: Identify those EU rights that overlap with existing UK registrations (as separate protection should already exist)
• Weed out waste: Use the opportunity to identify those rights or classes that are no longer relevant, so as to save cost and streamline the portfolio
• Ringfence core rights: Also use the time to review primary/key rights to ensure that they are up-to-date and adequately protected
• Consider associated effects: For example, implications for existing licensing agreements, injunctions/disputes or anti-counterfeiting strategies (as the UK may no longer be subject to the EU principles on the free movement of goods)

(Click here for more tips and advice on auditing IP portfolios)

Should you convert your EU TMs to UK applications? If an EU TM has been filed and the trademark is used only in the UK, then the right could be vulnerable to cancellation actions (for non-use) if the five-year grace period has passed. It is already possible to convert such EU TMs to UK rights, however, it’s important to note that such conversions will leave companies without EU TM protection and could, therefore, require them to file additional applications to ensure protection in Europe if they plan to use their mark there moving forward.

Conversely, when the UK portion of a EU TM, which is used only outside the UK, is converted into a national registration, the UK registration would similarly be vulnerable to cancellation actions (for non-use).

Seniority claims would also need to be reviewed. When the EU TM system was implemented, there was a system by which national rights could ‘live’ within the EU right and the national right allowed to lapse. Where this has occurred in respect of UK rights, it would need to be discussed whether these rights could be re-activated in some way.

Will it impact enforcement strategies? There will be some impact on the enforcement of rights if the UK exits the EU, as the UK would no longer have a EU TM court. While the impact is likely to be quite minimal, any pan-EU injunctions/ or decisions could be vulnerable to change or amendment.

What about imports? An exit from Europe could also have an impact when it comes to the transportation of goods between the UK and the EU. The considerations preventing the partitioning of the internal market would no longer apply if the UK leaves the European Economic Area (EEA). Consequently, EU TMs and Designs could be used to prevent imports into the EU from the UK, as exhaustion rules would no longer apply (currently, a trademark owner cannot object to the further dealing of goods it has placed on the market within the EEA). Likewise, UK rights would not be exhausted by sales elsewhere in Europe and could be used to prevent parallel imports into the UK from the EU.

Most brand owners already know the importance of recording their trademarks with customs to enable them to identify and act against infringing products; however, the Brexit vote may be a good opportunity to review those strategies and to ensure that those trademarks are recorded with customs authorities in both the UK and EU. (Click here for advice on recording your trademarks with customs departments)

A right for Scotland? Nicola Sturgeon has indicated that there would be strong demand for a new referendum on independence if the UK were to exit the EU. This could pose greater uncertainty surrounding the national UK systems for trademarks, designs and patents.

A vote for Brexit could start the process of change in the way in which UK and European businesses protect their IP rights nationally and in the EU. If vote leave does emerge the victor in the debate, we will be in touch with additional advice and updates as the process is discussed and clarified. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or concerns.

If your business is looking to recruit new talent or develop a database of candidates, the smartphone may be the answer. In recent years, the smartphone has taken over as the number one device we use for our Internet activity. We use smartphones to browse social media, watch videos and now we can apply for jobs. According to techradar.com, “twenty-eight percent of job seekers said they searched for jobs on mobile devices.” So what does this mean for you- a business owner or employer? Well, if your business has an online presence, you need to ensure that it is also mobile optimised. Simply, this means that your website translates well to smartphones and is easy to navigate. According to Career Builder, 65% of workers who search for jobs via mobile devices will leave a website if it isn’t mobile optimised. So it is in your best interests to make sure your website is mobile-friendly.

Social media is also a great way of gaining applicants. A lot of businesses already make use of LinkedIn to feature jobs, but Facebook and Twitter are also effective ways of making people aware of job openings straight away. Social media is a fantastic way to advertise jobs as most of us have an online presence on at least one form of social media, which we access via our smartphones.

To some, the experience of applying for a job on a mobile device will seem strange. Understandably, it’s hard to imagine someone answering a series of questions and submitting a CV on an iPhone. However, you should ensure that a mobile application will take no longer than fifteen minutes. Apps like Dropbox and Google Drive allow people to submit a CV and cover letter online. So ensure that your mobile application form asks for a CV, an email, and a few personal details.

Things to keep in mind:

-Ensure that your company has an online presence, which spans at least two social media websites.

-Make sure your website is mobile-friendly.

-Mobile application forms should only take a potential candidate 15mins to complete

How to Make your CV More Attractive

Professional CV’s can now be found in various forms online. For example, LinkedIn and Facebook allow you to list your previous job roles and experience. A strong online presence is important in the world of business, however, your paper CV is still an integral part of the hiring process. Your CV may be used by recruiters and most importantly by potential hiring managers. It may have been a while since you looked over your CV but it is vital to ensure your CV still attracts the attention of a hiring manager.

Following these simple steps will make your CV stand out;

Personal Statement

– The first few sentences should act as your pitch and show your ‘personal brand’. Branding yourself may seem like a strange concept but when we apply for jobs we automatically sell ourselves like a brand, whether we know it or not. Have a clear image of yourself that you would like to portray and make sure it is consistent throughout your CV and online. Finally, ensure your personal statement is punchy, don’t ramble on.

Length

– All CV’s will vary in lengths but try to ensure that only the most relevant job roles are on our CV, even if you have had a lengthy career history. We would advise bullet pointing individual job duties for each role, concentrating on the most relevant duties to the role that you are applying for and list these accordingly.

Career Success Stories

– Rather than using the same old clichés and CV phrases, use examples of your career successes. Show any hiring managers what you can offer by recalling your past achievements. Writing your own personal achievements will make your CV unique to you.

Format

– Keep the format simple and ensure that there is plenty of white space. It may seem trivial, but a CV, which is easy on the eyes, is more likely to be read all the way through. Make use of headings to split up your information and don’t use more than two fonts. After writing your CV, read it several times and give it to someone else to read over. The smallest grammatical mistake can put off your readers.

The most important tip is to put yourself in the reader’s shoes. You want the information you provide to grab the reader’s attention, making it easy to see your skills and experience. If you are looking for a change of pace or are interested in furthering your career, register yourself as a candidate on our website www.headhuntedrecruitment.co.uk and let HEAD|HUNTED Recruitment match you to the perfect role.

Common Interview Mistakes to Avoid

Whether you’ve just scored an interview with your dream company or you’ve secured an informal meeting with a potential employer it is essential to make a good impression face to face. If you are at the interview stage, your application and CV have already impressed them- so surely the interview will be easy, right?

…Well, interviews are all about our interpersonal skills. They are also a great way to showcase your personality and talk passionately about your ambitions for the role. Interviews can be nerve-wracking but avoiding these common mistakes will help you to impress your interviewer.

1. Timing

-It goes without saying but, make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes before your interview is scheduled. Your ability to keep time says a lot about yourself. If you arrive late to an interview, you give the impression that your time is more valuable, which could set your interview off to a rocky start.

2. Eye Contact

-From the beginning of the interview process be sure to maintain good eye contact. It’s natural to look at other things now and then, but keeping good eye contact shows that you are confident and engaged in the conversation and have conviction in what you say.

3. Inconsistency

– Make sure you’ve analysed your CV, application, and any professional information about yourself online. Remember the most relevant bits of information and if there is any inconsistency, make sure you’re ready to address it. The interviewee will, more often than not, refer to your CV or application, so it makes sense to review it and be ready for anything they may question you on.

4. Listen

– It’s great to be prepared for an interview and have a few great example answers ready but remember to listen to the questions, and adapt your examples accordingly.

5. Speak Clearly and Avoid Repetition

-Make sure you are speaking clearly and avoid rambling. You should also try your hardest to avoid repetition. For example, many of us are guilty of overusing the word ‘like’.

6. Ask Questions

– It is important to prepare a couple of questions to ask the interviewer as this shows you have researched their business and are interested in what they offer.

7. Practice Makes Perfect

Finding example interview questions and practising answering them out loud is a great tip. As with most things, interviews become easier with time.

Benefits of using a Recruitment Agency

As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, it is becoming harder to whittle down the number of applications and find the perfect match. There are various reasons why businesses use a recruitment agency to help them find their next hire; to save time sifting through hundreds of CV’s and cover letters, not knowing where to look for candidates, quality of candidate and more. A recruitment agency will take on the entire hiring process for the business, advertising their vacancy, sifting through CV’s, shortlisting suitable candidates, arranging interviews and the offer process.

Here are some of the benefits associated with using a recruitment agency

Time

-Sifting through endless unsuitable applications not finding the quality of candidates that you want can be extremely time-consuming. Outsourcing your hiring to a recruitment agency whose priority is to find you the best candidates, makes financial sense. HEAD|HUNTED Recruitment can look after this whole process for you, meaning you focus more time on other areas that need it, leaving your next hire in the hands of an experienced recruitment specialist.

The Candidates

– Recruitment agencies will have access to a wider range of candidates than just those directly applying for a job advert. Here at HEAD|HUNTED Recruitment, we ensure all candidates have been spoken to before they are sent to our clients, therefore making sure that your time is not wasted by seeing unsuitable candidates. At HEAD|HUNTED Recruitment, we proactively target both active and PASSIVE candidates to guarantee our clients receive the very best candidates available, not just those actively looking for a new role.

The Full Hire Process

– A recruitment agency won’t just look for candidates. Here at HEAD|HUNTED Recruitment, we also offer a reference checking service, DBS checks and competency based interviews. We do this to make the full hiring process as smooth as possible for our clients.

If you’d like to ensure a successful hiring process, contact HEAD|HUNTED Recruitment – 01603 858024 / 020 362 72201.