Anticipated Recruitment Trends for 2024 #1:

The decline of the hybrid work model

It seems as though as we move into 2024, the likelihood of people working from home or on a hybrid basis is going to decrease, a welcome change for many, but not so for others. The sustainability of the working from home model has been put to the test & questioned, and as a result, seems to be becoming less commonplace. All manner of companies have tried and tested it with varying degrees of success, but even those who have enjoyed great success with the hybrid model are moving towards bringing their staff back into the office.

Since the pandemic, it has typically been the small businesses who led the way in bringing staff back into the office, with the larger employers happy to remain hybrid or have staff work from home full time, but recent data shows that even major companies like Google, Apple & Meta are recalling staff to now come and work at the office, which is expected to cause a serious ripple effect.

Whereas the near normality of working from home or on a hybrid basis has bred a brand new expectation amongst hundreds of thousands of employees to be allowed to work in this way, changes that the major employers will usher in will bring a wave of change in attitudes during 2024 towards such work options being on offer. In turn this is of course bound to change peoples attitudes to the potential of hybrid/home working. Whereas it has grow to be an expected part of the vast majority of new job offer packages, hybrid and home based working is likely to deplete as the year goes on.

Who knows where we will be by mid 2024, and at the end of the year. Will working from home still be ‘a thing’? Will it still be expected, or hoped for by job seekers?  Or will be see a return to pre-pandemic days?

Courtney Recruitment, named 'Liverpool Recruitment Company of the Year 2023' provides permanent recruitment services to the professional services sector in and around the Liverpool City Region, and has done so since it was established in 2015. The company is headed up by experienced recruiter, Elaine Courtney who started her recruitment career in 2002. To contact Courtney Recruitment, call 0151 601 6263.

As 2022 ends Courtney Recruitment encourage employers to see things from employees’ point of view

Liverpool recruitment experts Courtney Recruitment have had an exciting & eventful 2022 and looking back shows just how exciting things have been for the Office Support and Accountancy Practice staff recruitment expert as they celebrated 7 years in business. However, this month they are warning employers of the need to work hard to retain existing staff as we head into 2023.

Early in 2022 the company moved to the prestigious Honeycomb building on Liverpool City Centre’s Edmund Street following a period of expansion. They then officially launched nationally providing their outsourced recruitment service in Glasgow, London and Manchester as well continuing to look after existing clients in their home city of Liverpool.

2022 has also been a year of award nominations for Elaine Courtney, with a nomination for ‘Recruitment Consultant of the Year 2022’ and more recently, for ‘Recruiter of the Year 2023 Women in Business Awards’, so we shall see what the New Year brings in terms of awards.

Courtney continues to deliver above industry level of 90%+ fill rate for all vacancies and have become very much a thought leader in the sector, with Director Elaine Courtney sharing insights at various events including presenting to students at Liverpool John Moores University about the recruitment marketplace, CV skills and the recruitment process. She has also presented to HR professionals and business professionals discussing her thoughts about supporting socio-economic mobility and bridging the gap between education and the working world.

Courtney Recruitment are now seen as the go to company for any business seeking advice about all areas of recruitment process including onboarding and induction as well as interview and job offer stages of the process. Courtney Recruitment also often write bespoke interview questions for their client to use at interview, to allow them to better understand candidates ‘soft skills’ and personal qualities such as work ethic, loyalty, drive & determination and so on. On this basis as businesses look forward to 2023 Elaine Courtney Director at Courtney Recruitment says:

“We are proud of another year of growth here at Courtney Recruitment and are looking forward to 2023. We have a fantastic team, great clients and excellent candidates. I’m looking forward to working even more closely with clients next year, where I feel a lot of support & guidance will be crucial, as millions of people are apparently planning to quit their jobs in the next 6-12 months, with better pay being the main motivating factor for 35%, 27% seeking increased job satisfaction and 24% looking for a better work/life balance according to a recent report by CIPD’s Good Work Index.

Employers may be concerned but there are steps they can take to help with this, to retain their existing staff by promoting good quality people management practices and improving job quality where it’s most needed, including wellbeing and work life balance.

As we head into 2023 my advice to proactive employers would be to take the time to see things from the employees’ point of view and work closely with them to put a career path plan in place helps them to see how they can advance over time, this will most definitely lead to higher staff retention. I see employers benefitting hugely from sitting down with their workforce, one person at a time, and asking them how they're getting on in their role, what do they hope for next, what they're wanting from their career, where do they want to head over time?”

Following the successful launch of Courtney Executive Recruitment in 2021, the recruitment company this year expanded into providing tiered packages of recruitment support ranging from bronze up to diamond, which provides businesses with a fully integrated service for numerous roles on an ongoing basis. They invite businesses who would like to know more to visit www.courtneyrecruitment.co.uk or call 0151 601 6263 today for an initial conversation.

What does your Jan 2023 team line up look like?

Premier League clubs have started their planning, have you? With the next transfer window opening on 1^st January, most PL recruitment teams will be identifying the top talent they need to improve their squads for the remainder of the 22/23 season and beyond. It can be difficult to complete moves in January for various reasons, particularly if other teams get to their targets before they do!

Many SME’s and certainly larger corporate organisations will have already finished off or be working on their core goals and targets for 2023, and the creation of strong hiring plans should form a key part of such work. If you will need extra Office Support Staff or Accountancy Practice staff come January, the time to start the recruitment process is NOW to allow for interviews, notice periods and induction of new staff as soon as possible.

Nobody really knows what the future will hold but what we do know is that recruitment has never been more competitive. There is still a shortage of candidates available for particular roles, and with the potential of a recession looming many are looking to stay where they are rather than ‘jumping ship’ and starting a probationary period again. This is why a strong value-led culture and rounded proposition is so important when looking to attract additional resource for your team.

January may seem like a long time away but as we approach mid-November it really isn’t. For businesses who know that their team in January needs to include an additional member(s), now is the time to consider the role requirements and partner with an experienced recruiter such as Courtney Recruitment to make sure that 2023 starts with a bang thanks to a full, committed team.

Trends we have seen throughout 2022 have included candidates really putting emphasis on company culture when looking for their next role. Flexible working, a real teamwork attitude and a company that truly practices ethical values are all high up on the list of requirements, as well as the standard pay and benefits package on offer. Throughout the pandemic and as we hit more uncertain times with the current economic climate candidates and employers alike have shifted balance to really focus on work-life balance, which has seen the long-term benefits of reduced sick leave and higher staff retention rates. Developing this culture is crucial as we move into 2023.

Elaine Courtney, Director at Courtney Recruitment commented “Those businesses who aren’t quite sure of the person or role they need, but just know they need some extra pairs of hands have benefitted from the expertise of my team in 2022 who guide them through our unique process to place long-term candidates who are the best fit not only as an additional resource, but also to match culture of the client, which helps to ensure a long term appointment.”

Now is the time to plan for your 2023 team, and if there are missing pieces of the puzzle, contact Liverpool’s Courtney Recruitment who will assist with all your Office Support Staff and Accountancy Practice Staff. Visit www.courtneyrecruitment.co.uk or call 0151 601 6263 today for an initial conversation.

Courtney Recruitment go national

Liverpool headquartered Courtney Recruitment are continuing to grow, and now have a national remit including London, Glasgow, Manchester and the Liverpool City Region.

Having expanded into larger offices just under a year ago to accommodate their growing team, the recruitment company which is renowned for working with businesses to recruit high quality accountancy practice staff as well as office support staff, are investing heavily in new technology designed to catapult the company through automation of certain parts of their process.

Used by less than 2% of recruitment firms in the UK, but employed by over 80% of the fastest growing 100 agencies, the technology will provide several benefits for clients and candidates alike:

-           Identification of more candidates for each vacancy through the use of revolutionary AI search technology

-           Reducing the time to fill for the vast majority of vacancies, even in the current ‘candidate dry’ market conditions

-           Allowing the team more time each day to undertake critical client and candidate communications and enhance even further the company’s reputation for excellent service

Additionally, one of the Directors of the company, Elaine Courtney has been shortlisted in this year’s Downtown in Business ‘Livercool’ awards as Recruitment Consultant of the Year – a highly prestigious accolade to even be shortlisted for, and much sought after badge of honour.

Stuart Reed, Director at Courtney Recruitment commented on the new technology they’ve invested in, saying ” Our unique process to source the best candidates and place them into their ideal roles will be quickened to serve clients better and will allow us to achieve our strategic goals over the coming years through streamlined processes and delivery. Plans are already in place to add further technology early in 2023 to simplify the recruitment process further and generate more candidate interest in the each of the roles we are working on. We’re also delighted with Elaine’s nomination, and are very proud of her for being shortlisted“

Elaine Courtney, Director of Courtney Recruitment commented “We are so proud of how far we’ve come in recent years, since it all started, and to be nominated for an award is a privilege. Going national seemed like a dream when we started out, but now we’re here and loving that our ambition and drive, and that of our team, has helped us achieve this long term goal. I’d like to thank my hard working team though, as well as our clients, who have stayed with us long-term, as that in itself is recognition that we’re doing things right.”  

To find out more about Courtney Recruitment check out LinkedIn or visit courtneyreedgroup.co.uk/recruitment

Elaine Courtney shares insights into the world of recruitment at Liverpool John Moores University, with the Lord Mayor of London & the Chamber of Commerce Business Growth Programme

It’s been a busy time for Elaine Courtney, Director of Liverpool’s Courtney Recruitment as she has been invited to speak as an expert at numerous events, panels, and meetings over the last month.

Elaine commented “It’s been great to get out into the business and student community and use my time to give something back to the future generation as well as input into the future of the Financial and Professional Services sector, as I work with some many clients and candidates in this sector.

“It’s fantastic to be able to be part of, and make a contribution to, the conversation and subsequently the plans that go into place to support our students, our local SMEs and also our Corporates.”

Starting with a request from Liverpool John Moores University, Elaine was asked by HR Lecturer, Helen Klepper to present to a group first year HR students on 21^st February to give them an overview of the recruitment marketplace, CV skills and recruitment processes, as well as tips on how to approach getting a job themselves once they complete their course.

Helen commented “The HR Team within the LJMU Business School works with local businesses to ensure that our students not only develop their academic skills but also prepare themselves for employment. We are grateful to Elaine from Courtney Recruitment for not only speaking to our first-year students about recruitment, interview skills and employability but also taking an active part within our online employability event in which we built relationships between students and local employers. We hope to continue our ties with Courtney Recruitment and thank you for your contribution and enhancing the student experience.”

Secondly, Elaine was asked to present at LJMU’s ‘HR Networking & Employability Event’ on 28^th February which was led by Senior Lecturer Dr Patricia Jolliffe PhD, MA HRM. The purpose was to give the students an insight into some of the career path options that are available to HR professionals, whether that’s in the private sector, public sector or 3^rd sector. It enabled students to ask professional questions about their roles and discuss the pros and cons of working in their current and/or past HR sector. It provided a safe and comfortable space for professionals to share and students to learn and connect.

One of the hosts at the event Dr Deborah Callaghan commented “It was really interesting, informative and personal. The students will have massively benefit from Elaine’s advice and wealth of experience.”

The third invitation was extended to Elaine as a guest at a prestigious a roundtable discussion about ‘People and Purpose’, organised by Professional Liverpool and the Growth Platform, in the presence of Vincent Keaveny, the Lord Mayor of London and other respected business leaders held at Griffiths & Armour on 24^th February.

Elaine discussed and led on her thoughts and experience which contributed to the Lord Mayor’s agenda which was to discuss how to achieve a purpose-led and people-focused UK Financial and Professional Services sector; the conversation was focused on how we as a business community can do more to facilitate and support socio-economic mobility. Elaine shared her thinking around ways in which she feels the larger business in our city could pull together to really work closely with not only graduates, but school and college leavers, people of varying background and educational attainment levels to help bridge the gap between education and the working world.

The final event took place on 10^th March and was the Business Growth Platform Programme organised by Liverpool Chamber of Commerce. The morning event was a great turnout and Elaine covered the following:

• The current employment marketplace is tricky – But there are things you can do
• How do I define exactly what we’re going to need when we take someone on?
• What should a recruitment process involve?

Her overall conclusion to the event was that qualifications don’t always make a candidate suitable, and no experience doesn’t always mean the candidate is unsuitable, which is a key message she urged all employers to take away from the event. Elaine commented, “Hire for attitude, train for skill”

To find out more about Elaine, where she will next be speaking and how Courtney Recruitment can help your business recruit or help you achieve your career goals in accountancy or office support roles, check out LinkedIn or visit courtneyreedgroup.co.uk/recruitment

Leading Liverpool Recruitment company warn of historically steep rise in permanent and temporary job vacancies

Liverpool’s Courtney Recruitment are strongly advising businesses to reassess their offering in what is an historically competitive marketplace as we enter 2022. A candidate-short arena means employers are rethinking how they attract, onboard, and retain excellent employees.

Recent reports by the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) indicate three key findings, including steep increases in permanent placements and temporary billings, candidate availability falling, and substantial pressure on starting pay.

Elaine Courtney, Director at Courtney Recruitment said “We work with many businesses across the region, recruiting as and when they need to hire. However, the conversation, and process has changed of late. It has become very apparent that the shortage of people looking for work now has driven a need to adapt recruitment practices significantly, in terms of timescales and sourcing methods. What is more noteworthy is that job seekers seem to be looking more closely at their next potential employer, and more carefully considering if this is the type of company they want to join; the job seekers are also more vocal in the conversation regarding remuneration.”

The recent REC report highlighted the following:

Starting salaries for permanent workers and temporary hourly pay continued to rise rapidly in December, with the respective rates of inflation holding close to record-highs. Panellists frequently mentioned that starting salaries and wages had risen as demand for staff continued to outstrip supply.

Elaine continued “This, coupled with a fiercely competitive market means we are encouraging businesses to be clever about their employee attraction packages, the interview process, the onboarding process, and importantly as well their staff retention efforts. To gain any advantage, employers need to think about how to become an employer of choice, and about how to ensure that they can offer job seekers not just a job but a satisfying role at company that feels like the perfect fit. It's like a whole new playing field out there now, and something for which the Courtney Recruitment and Courtney Executive team are happy to help businesses strategise to ensure successful placements”

Courtney Recruitment, established in 2015 and their sister Courtney Executive brand launched in 2021 work with large and small businesses via their unique twenty-six stage process to place candidates from office support staff through to Directors and Senior Leaders, with a 97% fill rate, much higher than the industry standard. And with the need to work smarter and move quickly to fill vacancies, the Courtney team are encouraging those struggling to find suitable candidates to rethink their strategy and seek advice from a recruitment expert.

Elaine concluded “Even if you are not ready to recruit just yet, my advice is to start your planning now, start earlier than you typically would, seek advice from someone who understands and operates within the employment market on a day-to-day basis on how to adapt your recruitment strategy and implement it now!”

Christmas Celebrations at Courtney Recruitment

To conclude an incredibly successful year at Courtney Recruitment during which the team expanded and larger prestigious city centre offices were occupied, Courtney Recruitment have a full December schedule of festive fun planned.

Starting on 1st December, at the new offices in the Honeycomb Building, Edmund Street in Liverpool, the team have been decorating the offices to set the tone for the rest of the month. 2^nd December has seen the first official team meeting in the new offices, with Christmas themed hot chocolates and goodies for everyone. Christmas jumper day on 10^th and team night out on 11^th follows before 14^th sees donations being made to Radio City’s Mission Christmas to ensure every child wakes up on Christmas day to a present. This will culminate on 22^nd December with a Christmas brunch with festive games and a team Secret Santa before the team take a well-earned Christmas break.

Elaine Courtney, Director of Courtney Recruitment said “We are a close-knit team, and as a team we decided to really go the whole hog to celebrate Christmas together. The programme of events was decided by the team, including our newest recruits who joined as part of our expanding team. Mission Christmas has always been something close to our hearts and we are proud to be supporting for yet another year, as it’s heart breaking to think there are children who may wake on Christmas day to no presents. We also strongly believe in the importance of a happy team, as without them we wouldn’t be able to achieve the ongoing growth we are experiencing, so really celebrating Christmas with a full schedule of celebrations is important as a thank you to the team who have worked so hard all year.”

Courtney Recruitment continue to grow and expand into prestigious City Centre offices

After continued significant growth and demand from clients, The Courtney Reed Group who last month launched their new division Courtney Executive has this month expanded into larger new offices in the prestigious Honeycomb Building on Liverpool City Centre’s Edmund Street.

The offices have been designed to accommodate the growing team as well as facilitate client and candidate visits in a friendly, spacious environment, designed by their own staff to their requirements.

Courtney Recruitment was set up by Elaine Courtney and Stuart Reed to offer a unique, consultative, recruitment partnership service to businesses looking to expand their team, a service for which demand has soared in Liverpool and beyond. This is likely as a result of the result the company creates, since its inception the company has delivered above industry level 97% fill rate for vacancies.

Stuart Reed, Director at Courtney Recruitment said “We are an ambitious and thriving company and wanted to future proof our ongoing growth with the move to larger offices which can accommodate our growing team and client base. We are excited to be moving and look forward to further expanding our own team as we move into 2022, a year which definitely looks bright for the ongoing success of The Courtney Reed Group”

Elaine Courtney, Director of Courtney Recruitment added “As with everything we do, it’s our amazing team which makes things happen, they are so driven to get the job done, and to do it right. They will not ever compromise on quality, and they really do ‘live’ our guiding principles. As we grow, it allows us to continue that very inclusive culture that we have, where we talk to our team about what they would like, so they feel comfortable and happy at work. The move to larger offices has allowed us to accommodate people’s wish lists, whether that be to be by a window, facing the door, creating the staff breakout area, or even inputting to our doggy area as we become a true home from home for our staff’s canine companions! The new office address is 2^nd Floor, Honeycomb, Edmund Street, Liverpool, L3 9NG, and to find out more please visit:  https://courtney-staging.pixeltreemedia.co.uk/

Successful Recruitment company launches global executive search division led by veteran expert Peter Hunt

Following a period of steady and significant growth and demand from clients, The Courtney Group has this month launched its brand-new executive search and head hunting division ‘Courtney Executive’.

Led by veteran head-hunting expert Peter Hunt, who has over 25 years’ experience in senior level executive recruitment in the national and international market, Courtney Executive will specialise in senior level appointments in the banking, finance and accounting and legal sectors.

Courtney Recruitment was set up by Elaine Courtney and Stuart Reed to offer a unique, consultative, recruitment service to businesses looking to expand their team or fill existing roles across Liverpool and beyond. Since its inception the company has delivered above industry level 97% fill rate for vacancies. With such exacting standards and a desire to fulfil client needs, Courtney Executive and bringing Peter on board as new Director was the obvious decision.

Elaine Courtney, Director at Courtney Recruitment commented “Our clients talk to us on a regular basis and as is always the way we work, we listen to them. They have a requirement for senior level appointments and wanting to offer our clients a quality solution launching our new division - Courtney Executive Recruitment, following Peter’s appointment as Director, is an exciting part of our ongoing growth plans. We welcome Peter’s immense experience in the domestic and international markets and welcome clients old and new looking for a head-hunting service.”

Peter Hunt, Director of Courtney Executive said “Elaine and Stuart have demonstrated their desire to provide an excellent service to both clients and candidates alike and I’m delighted to come on board to lead the development of the Executive Search division as it launches. I look forward to getting started and assisting in the appointment of crucial hires in businesses from SMEs to International companies.”

To find out more please visit https://courtney-staging.pixeltreemedia.co.uk/executive-recruitment/

Industry-leading Courtney Recruitment continue to expand and support businesses across the Liverpool City Region

Courtney Recruitment was set up by Elaine Courtney and Stuart Reed to offer a unique, consultative, recruitment service to businesses looking to expand their team or fill existing roles across Liverpool and beyond.

The business has seen phenomenal growth and having doubled in size over the last 3 years, continue to expand their own team and will shortly be moving into larger, state of the art offices in Liverpool City Centre. As a well-established business, much of their success and growth has been through recommendation and repeat business, a testament to the trusted partnership they have built with clients and candidates throughout the Liverpool City Region over time.

The team, who between them have over 50 years combined experience in the recruitment industry, pride themselves on the work culture they have created, which is not only family (and dog!) friendly, but offers duvet days, day one lunch with the Directors, an open door ‘no idea is a daft idea’ environment and staff socials, as well as the more traditional staff training and development and private medical care.

Courtney Recruitment’s approach includes consultation with both clients (to define exactly what is required in terms of skills, experience and cultural fit) and candidates (to listen to what the candidate really wants from their next career move). Their unique and a 26-stage process means they can report an industry-topping 97% fill rate for vacancies.

Elaine Courtney, Director at Courtney Recruitment commented “With my passion for people and recruiting for my candidate’s long-term career, or my client’s business growth plans, the success of our company is wholeheartedly down to my team. I’m always proud to see them do well and encourage them to develop. When starting our business out from home in a make-shift office I never dreamed we would expand as we have and continue to do so. I’m always on the lookout to speak to those interested in a career in recruitment, as well as clients and candidates, as this perfect 3-way match is the best way I can ensure we continue delivering the excellent service we do.”