Relaxed Planning Laws... New Policy

The Relaxed Planning Laws also Apply to Agricultural Buildings

Local Authorities Exempt from the Relaxed Planning Laws

Following a thorough assessment, Mr Pickles announced in a written statement on the 9th of May that only 17 local authorities would be exempt from the relaxed planning laws, with six outside of London. These were: Manchester City Council; Ashford (Kent), Vale of the White Horse and Stevenage borough councils; Sevenoaks and East Hampshire district councils. The London authorities are the Boroughs of Westminster, Wandsworth, Tower Hamlets, Southwark, Newham, Lambeth, Kensington and Chelsea, Islington, Hackney and Camden, together with the City of London.

Could the New Legislation Affect Availability of Office Space

There is concern amongst critics that the new rules could adversely affect the availability of office space, particularly in residential areas of high value where office space would be profitably converted to housing. Comments have also been made that allowing offices to become homes could drive shoppers away from the high street and into retail complexes away from the town centres.

Moreover, in some cases planning permission would have to be obtained for the more extensive additional works needed to complete conversion from B1(a) to C3 status. In cases where planning permission is not required, there is the issue that local planning authorities will not be able to secure the additional finance required to invest in the appropriate social infrastructure needed to support the new residences. 

Talented Accountancy & Finance Recruiter

Manager - Contract Recruitment (Or Senior Consultant) invited to share in our wealth:

Established in 2004, our business has gone from strength to strength; from being a finalist in ‘Newcomer of the Year’ in 2006 we have grown to be nominated for Search firm of the year in 2011 and most recently accepted onto the National Growth Accelerator Program which is aimed at High Growth companies whom will add head count and value to the UK Economy.

Circle Square Talent is on a strong track to build and sell within three to seven years, netting everyone in the business a lump sum. Our financial performance and the strength of the team set us apart from the competition and everyone in the team is on a learning journey.  We are looking for Entrepreneurs not small thinkers.

Our proposition to you:

Take on more responsibility, learn and work amongst some of the best recruiters in the London market. We will offer you the freedom and opportunity to realise your full potential and in doing so become a fully fledged partner in this business.

Training & Development:

Your training will encompass two areas:

• Personal Development: We will help develop behaviours that will increase your confidence and make both your personal and working life a happier and a highly productive experience.
• Hard Skills: Training is on-going as we want you to advance to the next stage of your career. You will always be training for the next level.

Remuneration:

We offer a top-end package unrivalled in the market. Call us to find out more.

Why us?

Our best resource is our people.  With the right training and the freedom to develop, we can produce some of the highest fee earners in our industry.  This is a passionate business which thrives on your personal success, professional development and team culture.

Our requirements for this role:

• A demonstrable sales track record (in recruitment);
• An entrepreneurial, passionate and committed approach;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• ENERGY and DRIVE are musts
• A good work ethic and desire to lead by example
• Management experience or potential to manage essential

Your duties:

• Managing a team of 2 consultants
• Working on our Contracts desk your week will be varied
• To build a successful temps desk with part qualified and qualified temps working on a regular high volume of temps out and maintaining good margins.

  All aspects of BD and negotiation

• To excel in the provision of a high quality service with our clients and with the best candidates;
• Building long term relationships with clients.
• Negotiating pay and charge out rates and finalising arrangements between client and candidates;

Behaviours Required:

• Fast paced – ability to work at the fast pace of a temps controller
• Tenacious – the ability to see things through to the end
• Confident in all dealings with people
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal) – will be tested
• Ability to think laterally and solve problems
• Resourceful – can you look at other ways to provide a solution?
• Hungry – you must want to make money and to be 
• successful
• Commercial – we are a company of entrepreneurs
• Target orientated – you package will be targeted towards results
• Competitive – we all love a bit of competition
• Pride – are you able to take personal pride in what you do
• Desire to learn – there will be a steep learning curve ahead
• Team orientated – we are a team of strong minded individuals
  • Positive attitude – we are a happy team which really on everyone being positive
  • Personable with good rapport building qualities
  • Ability to network outside of your comfort zone
  • Reflective – can you look at yourself and find where you could be better
  • Organised – structure is important to what we do
  • Entrepreneurial / Innovative – can you think outside the box
  • Strategic and forward thinking – what happens next thinking – looking ahead
  • Non-confrontational in approach and voice
• Ethical – we highly rate doing things the right way

How to apply:

Please contact David Archer for an informal and confidential chat on 020 7492 0718 or 07780 616 050 or forward on your CV to david.archer@circlesquare.co.uk

I am happy to take calls outside of office hours.

Eurozone's Bailout Fund Bailing Out the Banks

Under the agreement, the European Stability Mechanism will be able to inject up to 60 billion euros into bailing out the banks that are struggling, rather than allow them to go under. The total rescue fund is worth 500 billion euros.

Allowing the ESM to shore up struggling banks is a move away from past policy. Previously, the ESM had only been allowed to bail out national governments rather than European banks. 

This new banking rescue plan to stabilise the eurozone agreed just four months after the Chancellor, George Osborne, announced the UK banking reform bill going to parliament.

Eurozone Banks Face Bigger Losses Than Their Governments Can Cope with

In some of the countries which have suffered financial collapse, it was the banks that needed help. For example, the governments of the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus and Spain received bailouts but they in turn had to use the money to rescue their own banks. That could have unsettled the markets, with fears that the banks in the eurozone might suffer losses bigger than their governments could cope with. The problem is made worse by the fact that many of the governments are dependent on their own banks to lend them funds.

National Governments Across the Eurozone Relied on for Bailing Out the Banks

The rescue package is designed to break a 'chicken and egg' situation, where the governments depend on their own banks for funds and the banks depend on their national governments to bail them out. It's intended to spread the risk of a bail-out across the whole eurozone, rather than allowing individual countries to fend for themselves.

Limits Set on Bailing Out the Banks 

However, the eurozone governments with stronger economies have raised concerns about their level of risk. Led by Germany, they have sought to limit to the amount of funds the ESM can supply. This means that the national governments of those banks which have been bailed out will still take the biggest risk.

Big Depositors May be Expected to Contribute

The terms of the new directive includes a so-called 'bail-in', where the banks' shareholders, lenders and even big depositors may be expected to make a contribution before any ESM funds are released.

Fears of a New Financial Crisis

Written by David Archer of Circle Square  -  Investment Banking division

If you are looking for advice we have a dedicated career advice section. Our advice is not just generic recruitment advice we have tailored advice for each of the recruitment divisions we work in including: 

executive search, accountancy & finance, temporary & interim, Real Estate, private equity, capital markets & M&A. To view our M&A Jobs

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Your Professional Contacts can Improve your Career

Improve your career - knowing the why, when and where of career development can be a difficult thing. But whether you are at the start of a career, in the middle or nearing retirement, there is one thing that should be put in place and maintained in order to improve your career success: a network of professional contacts to provide structure and offer support throughout your working life. Regardless of industry and irrespective of position, developing and sustaining a trusted set of contacts can be the key to improve your career success.

Knowing the Right People Can Improve your Career

Knowing the right people in the right places can improve job prospects but the opportunities networking provides are far more encompassing. Indeed, every person you meet or come into contact with has knowledge you can learn from and experience you can gain from. In addition to this, the potential to be headhunted is a very real opportunity. A good impression here, a successful meeting there and you never know who might be watching.

A Chance to Shine

By actively seeking and maintaining purposeful professional relationships with like-minded peers and influential seniors, you will naturally be challenging yourself. Without personal growth, professional growth is an impossibility and there is no better incentive for growth than a support network. Whether it is encouragement on a day-to-day basis or top tips when preparing for interview, your contacts are invaluable. And the very nature of building relationships based on your personality and talents will force you to reflect on your skills, strive for progress and be the best you can be. This will improve your career prospects.

A Helping Hand to Improve your Career

It is a misconception that guidance is something only sought, valued and needed at the onset of a career. Guidance, whether it's an informal word in the break room or a formally structured performance review, should always be welcomed and acted on. A positive support network can offer much in this area and even those who have reached their career pinnacle need advice to keep them on top of their game and continue to improve your career.The workplace can be challenging enough without your feeling isolated. With no one to turn to, no one to look up to and no one to mentor you, the chances are that your career could stall and you might miss out. However, making the most of every opportunity and embracing the potential of a pool of contacts can lead the way to improve your career success now and in the futur

Written by Adam Tachauer of Circle Square - to review all our recruitment divisions:

M&A    Real Estate    Capital Markets    Private Equity & Venture Capital    Finance    Executive Search

Finance or Accountancy Job    Real Estate Jobs    M&A Jobs    Private Equity Jobs    Capital Markets Jobs 

This Year's Busiest Private Equity Buyout Dealmaker    Battles Faced by Today's Auditors    This Year's Busiest Private Equity Buyout Dealmaker    Is the Future for the UK Economy Looking Brighter?    Might We See the Next Lehman Scandal?    Building a High Performance Team    How Big Brands See Into The Future    MBA`s what`s the real cost?    Forget 4G Mobile Network    Can London Become the Tech Hub of the Uk?    Will This Year See SMS Become the Way to Pay?

 To contact one of our specialist financial recruitment consultants call 0207 492 0700 or email: jobs@circlesquare.co.uk  Connect with us on Google+ & Facebook

UK Services Sector - Cautious optimism is the message coming from economics experts this month as new data reveals that the UK services sector has achieved its greatest growth rate since March 2012.

The UK Services Sector Accounts for Three-quarters of Economic Output 

Figures from the manufacturing sector showed the greatest growth in a year 

PMI figures in construction showed some growth for the first time in six months and also indicated that home building was at its busiest in over two years. Despite impressive results, experts in the industry still expressed concern that the figures indicated a reliance on house building over commercial activity.

Growth from the three core industries in the UK, the services sector, construction & manufacturing

The growth figures seen from the three core industries in the UK, the services sector, construction and manufacturing represent the best increase in the three years since the current government took office. A general air of positivity has led to an increase in recruitment based on an optimistic view of future income and not necessarily on current status.

Financial hit for mothers returning to work after maternity leave

A recent report by the Association of Accounting Technicians has revealed that the average mum returning to work after maternity leave aged 18 to 44 will end up suffering both financially and in her career prospects.

In many cases they are having to accept more junior roles and less money than they were on before they started their maternity leave sometimes as much as  20,000 less, but on average around  9,500 less. This is because they need to find a position that fits around their requirements which can prove tricky.

The report doesn't Clarify why Women Returning to Work Face Cuts

However, the report does not go into detail as to the exact reasons behind these reductions in salaries for women returning to work after maternity leave. It could be because they are working fewer hours rather than because employers are being inflexible and forcing them to do more menial lower-paying jobs.

But if bosses are responsible for the situation, they are not capitalising on the investment which they made in these workers before they fell pregnant. This could amount to thousands of pounds worth of recruiting and training in some cases.

65% OF Women Surveyed Earned Less after Maternity Leave

The Government has not helped the situation 

Although they say they want to boost the economy by getting more women to return to work after maternity leave, they have cut the highest level of support available through the childcare element of Working Tax Credit from 80 per cent of costs to 70 per cent. This has affected over 40,000 families to the tune of hundreds of pounds a year.

Parents who are working and therefore do not get tax credits have also been affected by Government cuts to the childcare vouchers scheme, which allows them to pay the cost of nursery care through pre-tax income.

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Help us Choose our New Brand Colours 

To represent this as well as working hard to secure our candidate’s and clients with an even brighter future we are brightening our look!     

Please could you review our three options of brand colours and send your preferred option to Victoria.campbell@circlesquare.co.uk If you prefer our current brand colours we would like to know this too. 

When choosing, please bear in mind we want our new logo to represent our core values:  Drive, Enjoyment, Innovation, Positivity, Cooperation, Knowledge and Accountability.   

Fantastic Prize for your Support

To thank you for your help with our brand colours we will put your response into a prize draw and the winner will receive an all expenses paid dinner for two at a Michelin starred restaurant.  The winner will be contacted directly on Monday 10th June.  

Link below with the three options to choose from:

Brand Colours   

We've all heard of the glass ceiling that is so often applied to women's progress through the ranks of business to reach the hallowed heights of senior management and the board.

While we are seeing so many more successful female faces seemingly achieving great things on our television screens, we could be forgiven for thinking that the myth of the glass ceiling is just that a myth. After all, if we believe what we see on Dragon's Den, with Hilary Devey and Deborah Meaden as well as the frequent sightings of Karren Brady, then these days it must be far easier to reach the top of one of Britain's top businesses. 

Sadly though recent research still highlights a lack of strong female talent reaching chief executive positions today. 

In fact, at a recent count just three female CEOs head up FTSE 100 companies and the number of women achieving positions on boards has declined slightly rather than increased. 

Currently women account for around 17-and-a-half per cent of new additions to boards and women are not alone in finding this of concern. The Government has set a target of 25% to be achieved by 2015.

The Business Secretary is encouraging firms to be proactive voluntarily but if the situation does not improve in the near future then quotas have been threatened which will force companies to promote women into positions on the board. 

Rather, they would like to see businesses employ measures to retain leading female talent through understanding the needs of family working practices.For women whose target is a position on the board, research among FTSE 100 companies has indicated some trends that may at least set them on a good path to the top. 

Accountancy seems to be the key. Over half of today's CEOs have a background of finance.

Younger women may certainly have some way to go too as 81 per cent of CEOs are aged 50 or over. While the odds are still firmly stacked against women reaching the board, there are always exceptions to every rule and the more females who challenge the system and strive for excellence in business, the better balance of talent we can expect in tomorrow's boardroom.

Written by Rachael Clarke of Circle Square

Other posts by Rachael Clarke:

Helping Mums Back to Work    Building a High Performance Team   Temporary Workers' New Regulations

Why 2013 Will Be the Year You Quit Your Job    Working whilst you study - Part-Time Jobs 

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After years of lengthy work hours and demanding schedules it is no wonder that more and more women are choosing to have a break from their careers and take some time off to spend quality time with their young children. But for those women who are thinking about getting back in the saddle when it comes to their career, returning to work can be a daunting process.

Flexible Hours Would Help Mums Back to Work

A challenge in itself, motherhood certainly demands a large amount of focus and for those mums who have been away from the workplace for two or more years, finding the right opportunities to return to work can be half the struggle. For many women, returning to work means needing access to flexible office hours and fitting business in around suitable childcare. This is added to the fact that after a few years of absence many mums feel a complete lack of confidence in themselves   even if they have previously held high level positions up until starting a family.

The Government is Certainly Eager to get more Mums Back to Work

The government is introducing incentives to help mums back to work, like shared parental leave from 2015. However, those trying to get back into the workplace now say much of the challenge is changing the mind set of current employers. Mums wanting to restart their careers would really benefit from flexible working opportunities like job shares or the chance to work from home. Thankfully these opportunities are starting to be more readily available as employers see that mums returning to work are valuable members of the team despite their career break.

Mum's Cite a Lack of Confidence Preventing a Return to Work

However, sometimes convincing mums of this is actually the hardest part with the majority of women citing a lack of confidence as the reason for not exploring the opportunities available. Workshops like the Returning Talent schemes run by the city-based Bank of America are hoping to change this. The three day courses hope to give women the right tools and a boost in confidence to have what it takes to secure a job in today's competitive job market.

Workshops Providing Mum's with Career Advice & Support 

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Circle Square's specialist recruitment divisions include  - M&A    Real Estate    Capital Markets    Private Equity & Venture Capital    Finance    Executive Search

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Be Well Prepared for a chance at a Banking Career

Banking interviews can often consist of many stages, testing the aptitude, skills and flexibility of the candidate in order to determine his or her suitability. Most of all, employers want to know what kind of impact the individual will have on their bottom line.

One of the first things you will be asked is what you know about that particular company. It is important to have done your research thoroughly, as well as to have a satisfactory answer when they ask you why you have chosen banking as your profession.

Competency based questions are a popular method of establishing core skills; the interviewer will ask the candidate to draw on real life experiences of problem-solving, leadership or client management, therefore it is vital to keep a handful of prepared examples in your back pocket.

Specific, finance-related, investment banking questions could include: If you could buy one stock today, what would it be (and why)? What do you mean by ‘cost of capital’? Can you explain the effect of rising interest rates on the economy? What technique do you use to value firms? Be sure to know the role you are applying for inside out, as you could be presented with a hypothetical situation in which to prove your worth.

Behavioural or personality-based questions often probe your ability to work within a team and under pressure. You may be asked where you see yourself in five, ten or fifteen years. You will almost certainly be asked to list your areas of strengths as well as your weaknesses (always try to put a positive spin on this, by thinking of them more as areas for further development).

Always consider your USP – unique selling point. Banking interviewers will be looking for somebody exceptional, somebody who brings a talent or quality to the table that sets them apart from the competition. City CV are banking industry experts and offer a full interview coaching package; to find out how we can help you stand out from the crowd and win your dream job.

Circle Square Talent - Banking Jobs London

We also have a dedicated career advice section and guides on your options with each accountancy qualification - ACA Careers    CIMA Careers    CA Careers     CPA Careers    ACCA Careers

If you're not sure which career move would best suit your skills and experience take a look at our Job Profiles. The profiles provide advice on the qualifications, skills and experience required for each career option. The job profiles also outline salary expectation, job responsibilities and career progression.

For information on our Finance & Accountancy Recruitment or to view Finance & Accountancy Jobs.

Our Finance & Accountancy Salary Survey 2015 is now available.

To contact one of our specialist financial recruitment consultants call 0207 492 0700 or email: jobs@circlesquare.co.uk    Connect with us on Google+ & Facebook

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