Category Archives: Uncategorized

At Intersect Global 2015 has started just as we left off before Christmas shut down, we are pleased to report increased numbers of permanent vacancies and job offers being made within the construction and civil engineering sectors.

It seems that this trend is set to continue with the Construction News reporting today that the UK construction industry will need an additional 223,450 jobs over the next five years to handle expected output growth to 2019, according to new research.

It will need to recruit an average of 44,690 people each year between now and 2019 to meet demand and deliver average annual output growth of 2.9 per cent, according to the latest Construction Skills Network report from Experian and the CITB.
The marks an increase from the annual requirement of 36,400 projected in 2014 and 20,050 in 2013.

The research also forecasts output and employment growth in all areas of the UK for the first time since 2008.

Annual average output growth between 2015 and 2019 is expected to be greatest in Wales (5.9 per cent), followed by Greater London (4.2 per cent) and the South-west (3.8 per cent).

If you would like to consider your career options or would like to hear about the latest vacancies with leading contractors please give one of our consultants a call on 020 76820668.

Office workers returning after the festive season are experiencing higher stress levels, with half of the UK’s workforce (48%) revealing they are closer to burning out than they were just five years ago.

The research, conducted by Regus, surveyed over 3,000 of the UK’s business people about their work environment, and found that the top triggers of workplace stress are lack of exercise, feeling understaffed and job insecurity.

Finding ways to alleviate stress, many workers believe one way is a break from the main office, with 68% finding a change of scenery such as working from another location to be a good stress reliever.

In fact, having the freedom to occasionally work away from the main office is seen as a key factor in achieving a good work-life balance with two thirds (66%) of respondents believing workers with this flexibility are happier.

The experiences of those with the flexibility to work away from the office supports this, with three in five (62%) saying they are more content.

In addition, 53% of those surveyed believe that freelance workers, with their freedom to change location and set their own hours, are less stressed than regular staff.

Richard Morris, UK CEO at Regus comments: “Stress levels are mounting in the workplace as a result of various factors; workers feel deskbound and under-resourced.
“Dedicated workspaces offer the flexibility to work in a variety of locations. This is the future of work, and brings a number of benefits including improved productivity and employee well-being.”

If you are feeling over worked and under valued and would like to assess your career options please get in touch with one of our experienced consultants on 020 76820668.

Intersect Global have a range of exciting opportunities with leading construction and civil engineering contractors.
Not all of our live vacancies are listed on our website.

Haggling for more money or a better benefits package during the negotiation process of a job interview gets you nowhere, according to research from Huthwaite International.
The survey of 1,300 people in 52 countries also discovered successful negotiators make less than half as many counter-proposals as the average bargainer.
Instead research into the company and role proved key, with successful negotiators spending 120% more time seeking relevant information to understand their other parties’ strengths and weaknesses, the pressures placed on them, and what a successful outcome would be for their business.
Haggling is avoided, as it rarely results in a compromise between both parties, and can eventuate to an unsuccessful outcome.

Janet Curran, Head of Thought Leadership at Huthwaite International, believes that the amount of money you can ask for in a job interview can only be defined by how well you have sold yourself in terms of your fit for the role. “How much research you have done in determining what the going market rates for the job are and how this particular employer rates in terms of the salaries they are prepared to pay are all important factors,” she states.
Curran also adds that asking for a “better package from your employer does not necessarily mean asking for more money. There may be other ways in which you can get investment from your employer, which can add value for both you and them.
“Benefits like flexible working and working from home can add value for both sides. Asking for training to develop new skills that will benefit you both in the long-term may also be an alternative,” she concludes.

Almost one quarter (23%) of the UK workforce did not use all of their paid holiday allowance in 2013, according to new research.

The findings from Canada Life Group Insurance found that although this figure is down slightly from 2012 (25%), questions remain over attitudes towards work/life balance in the UK workforce.

Their previous research highlighted the continued problem of presenteeism in the UK workforce, as 93% of employees go into work when ill. The findings also show this aversion to taking time off extends to paid annual leave, with only 77% of workers taking their full holiday entitlement last year.

Paul Avis, Marketing Director of Canada Life Group, comments: “These findings are the latest in a long line that suggest the UK workforce is under increased pressure from their employers to always be present at work.

“Whether for sickness or holiday, employees are still feeling that they are unable to take the leave that they are entitled to. Despite a marginal improvement on last year, it is clear that employers need to do more to counter beliefs among employees that they can’t take time off.”

Of those who didn’t take their full allowance, almost two fifths (37%) compensated for this by carrying some of their holiday allowance forwards into 2014. This is down significantly from 2013 when almost half (49%) carried their remaining days over, suggesting many employees are simply throwing away their annual holiday entitlement.

Avis continues: “Failure to encourage a healthier work/life balance among employees will have a detrimental effect, not only for the individual who will feel increasingly worn-out and stressed, but also for the wider market. Taking sufficient time off to rest and rejuvenate is critical to driving productivity across the labour market.”

London has been voted as the most desirable city to work in the world, according to a survey by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and totaljobs.com.
The survey analysed the respondents of more than 200,000 people from 189 countries and almost one in six of those involved (16%) expressed a longing to work in London, ahead of New York and Paris.

The UK was only beaten by the United States with 42% of respondents noting it as their country of choice to work in compared 37% choosing the UK.
Canada was also a popular destination for international jobseekers with 35% of those surveyed stating they would consider moving there for work.
The study also discovered that Britons were less likely to want to move abroad for work. On a global basis, less than half of Britons would make a move abroad whereas almost two thirds of workers in other countries are willing to relocate for a job.

Mike Booker of totaljobs.com believes that the results of the survey “cements London’s reputation as a truly global city”.
“Not only does it offer a wealth of job opportunities in a range of industries, but it boasts some of the world’s top cultural attractions, so it’s no surprise that people across the globe want to come and work here,” he explained.

“In light of this report, employers must take a more global approach to recruitment. As the workforce is so mobile, companies will have to compete globally to attract the best talent, making sure that they target the right groups and differentiate their recruitment strategy,” he added.
64% of participants revealed that broadening experience was the first reason they considered a role abroad and BCG Senior Partner, Rainer Strack, believes that “the geographic barriers to employment are coming down, including in the minds of some of the most talented and highly educated workers”.
“This is opening up significant opportunities for individuals and for the many countries and multinational companies that are facing talent shortages of one sort or another,” he concluded

The Global Infrastructure Investment Index, published by Arcadis today, ranks 41 countries by their attractiveness to investors in infrastructure.
Since the first index in 2012, the UK has risen three places (see table, attached) up to 10th and is the third-highest ranked European country in the Index, after Sweden (5th) and Norway (6th).
In order to gauge each nation’s appeal, the study looked at criteria including the ease of doing business in each market, government policy, tax rates, the quality of the existing infrastructure, GDP per capita and the availability of debt finance.
The UK managed to break into the top 10 following improvements across all of these business indicators, while Arcadis also found that an improved financial and taxation environment has increased its appeal to investors.
Optimism has returned to infrastructure investment in the UK, with the government planning to increase capital spending by £3bn per annum from 2015, which will lead to an additional £18bn of investment by the end of the next parliament.
Arcadis UK head of infrastructure Steve Bromhead told Construction News: “The government needs to provide long-term clarity over infrastructure policy and look at the over-prescriptive nature of regulation in several key sectors.
“We will see investment from all over – particularly China, the Middle East, and the US – but the government needs a clear policy on infrastructure.
“It does not matter whether it is the current policy or Sir John Armitt’s alternative proposal, for example; the most important issue here is consistency and clarity to provide security for infrastructure investment
“Otherwise we risk experiencing a stasis in infrastructure investment and .economic growth due to lack of investor confidence.”

Over half (54%) of Brits have admitted answering work calls while in bed according to a new survey.

The survey from professional call answering service, alldayPA found that UK staff even struggle to switch off on Holiday with 41% of those surveyed answering business calls while on a break and 40% breaking up a trip to the pub to take a work call.

Almost a quarter revealed they were capable of handling more than one piece of business at a time as 24% claimed to have taken a call while on the toilet while three percent had taken a call while on a rollercoaster.

Men were the most likely to pick up a call while in bed with 40% saying they have done so compared to 27% of women.

Reflecting on the survey results, Gareth Jeffery, operations manager at alldayPA says, “We know that technology means we can be connected to work 24/7 but none of us expect employees to start taking calls on roller coasters!

“It’s clear to see from this survey that employees are embracing technology to get on top of their jobs but, looking at the results, there has to be a concern over the quality of work being completed over the phone when so many people are taking calls in the middle of social activities.”

London was the only region in the UK where the construction industry grew during the recession according to the Chartered Institute of Building
The report, “The Real Face of Construction”, said construction output in the capital grew more than 20 per cent in cash terms between 2007 and 2013 and made up more than 20 per cent of the British construction industry by the end of the period. London was the only region to grow in that time once inflation was taken into account.
The report also highlights an alternative way of measuring the size of the industry, developed by Dr Stephen Gruneberg at Westminster, which would put it at 15.3 per cent of the economy – £250bn – rather than the 6.3 per cent gross value added attributed to it in official statistics.
The official construction GVA figure just counts work done on site and does not include other inputs into construction, such as the work of consultancy and design, real estate activities plant rental and manufacture of building material, which are included in the figures for other industries in order to avoid double counting.
The report accompanies a guide for MPs and prospective parliamentary candidates on the importance of construction to the economy.
Chris Blythe, chief executive of the CIOB, said: “Construction is often simplistically viewed in terms of employment statistics and visible work on building sites, but this overlooks the increasingly high-tech nature of an industry that is leading on innovation and contributing directly to national productivity.
“The quality of our buildings has a lasting impact on the wellbeing of individuals and communities across all regions and sectors.
“Much political and media attention focuses on house building and, while this is an extremely important issue, it actually accounts for a minority of total UK construction output. We would like to see discussions become integrated into a much wider agenda. The decisions made today will be felt for decades and generations.”

Plans for Crossrail 2 have stated to take shape and procurement could start as early as 2018.
Transport for London has launched a second consultation for a ‘regional option’ of its proposed Crossrail 2 mega scheme.
A new station in Chelsea, stops at Hackney or Dalston Junction and an extension from Alexandra Palace to New Southgate are all now possible scenarios for the ambitious scheme, the core of which is a tunnel from Wimbledon in the south-west to Tottenham in the north-east.
The new announcement follows last summer’s consultation, in which TfL asked for feedback on two options: a metro route and the regional route, the latter of which has now been adopted following overwhelming support (96 per cent) from around 14,000 respondents.
As part of that consultation, various options to link to existing Network Rail stations in the Home Counties and to Cheshunt and Alexandra Palace in the north were also mapped out.
London mayor Boris Johnson said the newly revised plans mean Crossrail 2 could be up and running by 2029, up to four years ahead of schedule.