For The Want of a Nail

Unemployment is unexpectedly down, manufacturing output is unexpectedly up, interest rates remaining at an all-time low and new order enquiries - confounding all the expectations of the 'experts' - are on the increase. So why all the faffing about over recruitment?

All over the UK employers are emerging from the recession and looking to bolster their talent pools once more. History holds many lessons, but how many have retained the knowledge heeded them? This first of a two-part article looks at the implications of how employers have responded to the serious challenges of recession.

Are UK organisations totally desensitised to inefficiencies? How much does your organisation have to lose in hard cash or productivity before your CEO, Chairman, MD genuinely makes talent a priority?

There's lots of things that are going to effect your 2008. If work is one of them, then there are ways in which you can take some control of how the year goes. This two-parter looks at the hiring issue from all of those that are touched by it....

Ownership of hiring performance is one of the key issues that organisations are having to address. Should it remain with the HRD, or is hiring and retention now so critical that it demands a dedicated resource? Part two of this three-part feature takes a closer look at the ownership question.

Hiring practice is as much about who to keep as it is about recruitment. What is driving the BBC's redundancy programme: red tape, hard cash - or its ongoing 'battle' to maintain its Charter Status?

Hiring, recruitment, talent management, whatever you're inclined to call it, traditionally falls under the remit of Human Resources. Fine back in the days when it was a case of Eeny, meeny, miny, moe and a few administrative formalities.....

Too many policy makers are in danger of falling into one of two camps: skills shortage denial, or believing training will save the day. One denies what is undeniable whilst the other misses the point of this campaign...

Skills shortages are a threat, but there's a bigger one for employers a lot closer to home

If you’ve ever had a job when you’ve wondered why on earth one or more of your colleagues was hired by the firm, you’ll get this.

When still head of the CBI, Sir Digby Jones visited my Nottingham offices to hear some of the early case studies that I had begun to gather as the forerunner to For The Want of a Nail