Blog

Since the start of the pandemic last year, the use of technology, software and innovation to adapt to the ‘new normal’ has skyrocketed. From the boom in use of applications such as Microsoft Office, to the creation of new apps to make virtual business work seamlessly, the need for comprehensive and experienced IT and Tech talent has never been so high.

As Autism Awareness Week drew to a close last week, we reflect on how businesses can break down existing barriers to help support neurodiverse talent through the hiring and onboarding process and begin making positive change.

This time last year, when the UK had just gone into lockdown for the very first time, nobody would’ve predicted that we would still be in a similar position one year later. Upon reflection, there’s a huge amount that all of us have learned within that time, with many of us having reassessed our priorities and worked towards achieving healthier, happier and more productive lifestyles.

Knowing what to wear to an interview can be a difficult process at the best of times, but in this ‘new normal’ of Zoom interviews, it can be downright confusing.

With over 27 million people in the UK having now received their first vaccination against COVID-19, employers are beginning to feel more hopeful that their workforce will be able to safely return to the workplace in just a few months’ time. However, there’s been increasing debate about whether employers should expect employees to be vaccinated before returning to work – and for agency workers, discourse gets a little more complicated.

During the Chancellor’s spending review late last year, it was announced that national living wage (NLW) was to be increased by 2 per cent for those aged 25 and above, and a whopping nearly 9 per cent for 23 – 24-year-olds - a new group to be entitled to NLW.

It’s been a challenging time, but as we start forging a new path – one of recovery – the light at the end of the tunnel gets a little brighter every day. To round up the end of National Careers Week, we turn to a few of our recruitment specialists here at Cathedral Appointments who have some great words of wisdom to help you either take those first steps onto the career ladder or take that next step up.

Sadly, the news has broken that the gender pay gap reporting will indeed be delayed by another six months, taking us up to October before we again see any implementation of mandatory transparency around existing gender pay gaps which, in turn, will help to educate leaders into why closing the gender pay gap is not only important, but imperative to our societal and economic wellbeing.

We are moving into a much more virtual, lucrative, empathetic and ethical world. Here are some of the key positive trends we are expecting to see from the Financial Services world this year, and hopefully beyond, for candidates and employees alike.

The pandemic put a large spanner in the works for many employees looking to move up in their careers. From having to shift their whole working experience to online, to entering a volatile and unpredictable jobs market – it’s an understatement to say that it’s not been an easy time.

This National Apprenticeship Week, we explore why taking on an apprentice or setting up a rolling apprenticeship scheme might the perfect next step for your business in this era of the ‘new normal’.

I am delighted to be part of the Inspiring Girls Project, working with year 9 girls to help them explore their future potential and choices.