News

IFSEC international is Europe's only large scale security event in 2017 and the event is taking place at the ExCeL London between the 20th and 22nd June 2017.

IFSEC International gives attendees exclusive hands-on access to over 10,000 security solutions, live product demonstrations, and networking with over 27,000 security professionals.

Visiting IFSEC International is a great way to remain up to date with the latest aspect of security from access control and video surveillance to smart buildings, cyber, border control and much more.

If you would like to find out more about the show, you can visit their website here: http://www.ifsec.events/international.

To register as a visitor, click here.

J is for Journey

Everyday you are on a journey – a journey of you, a journey of life, a personal journey, a career journey. We never forget that at SER and we know that when you come to us for assistance, we have to help make certain parts of that journey easier for you so you can focus on other aspects of your life.

It is no secret that looking for a job takes a lot of time, making sure that the job really is right for you, making sure that you will be truly happy there. Here at SER we can take away that strain, we can have a conversation with you, truly understand your needs and requirements, and then you can leave it in our hands to find you the right job for you, you can then spend the time with your family and friends that you want.

It is the best of both worlds when one part of your journey works well with another.

Submit your CV today and we can begin to help you on your way

Your Career, Your Future,
Your Choice.

New research from Gas Safe Register (GSR) has revealed that almost 5 million people across the UK are putting themselves at risk from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, gas leaks, fires and explosions by employing illegal engineers.

GSR found that nearly 1 in 5 people who employed a tradesperson to work on a gas appliance did not check their ID Card or qualifications.

GSR has released 4 years worth of data from its investigations team, which searches out unqualified and unregistered gas fitters across the UK.

The team found that 65% of gas jobs carried out by illegal gas fitters were unsafe, while 1 in 5 gas appliances were so dangerous they had to be disconnected immediately.

The results identified that people selected and employed a trades person based on recommendations from friends and family members, and trust them based on their personal presentation or how official they look, rather than their qualifications.

Original article and images taken from: https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/news/news-2017/almost-five-million-households-at-risk-from-illegal-gas-fitters/

As specialist recruiters to the Building Controls Industry, SER will be in attendance at the BCIA Awards 2017, which will take place on the 11th May at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.

Paul Murphy and Marc Hudson will be in attendance at the awards, which are now in their 11th year.

The BCIA Awards are recognised as the most exclusive event in the building controls calendar. The awards recognise and reward excellence in the building controls industry providing entrants with a fantastic opportunity to showcase their top products and projects from the past 12 months.

There are eight categories which include; Independent Building Controls and BEMS Installer; Best Service and Maintenance Provider; Technical Innovation of the Year - Projects; Technical Innovation of the Year - Products; Energy Management Award; Contribution to Training; Engineer of the Year and Young Engineer of the Year.

We will post some pictures from the awards night in the coming days.

Good luck to all the entrants.

PHEX exhibition is taking place next week between 17th & 18th May 2017 at Alexandra Palace in London.

PHEX+ is now the largest dedicated installer and contractor event staged in the UK.

At the show you can expect to meet over 90 leading manufacturers, suppliers and trade associations in attendance.

They hold 3 events throughout the year at Alexandra Palace in London, Manchester and Chelsea.

To find out more about the show, visit their website: http://www.phexshow.co.uk/

Should you wish to attend and you are yet to register, you can register here: https://registration.n200.com/survey/2gj9a7r5uw9qo

BESA (Building Engineering Services Association) has responded enthusiastically to the boost to vocational training which was announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in his recent budget.

The Chancellor announced £500 million to develop new 'T Levels' in 15 vocational categories including engineering and construction.

T Levels are designed to be the technical equivalent of A Levels, which will help to prevent students who wish to pursue a non-academic path from being disadvantaged in the eyes of future employers or dissuaded by their parents.

Tony Howard who is BESA's training director has welcomed the move and said it would underpin the work the association is doing to help building – engineering employer address skills shortages by developing a range of new trailblazer apprenticeships in England while also driving forward training standards in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

T Levels are to be developed between 2018 and 2022.

According to BESA, every £1 of taxpayer's money invested in apprenticeships at level 2 and 3 pays back £26 to £28 in long-term economic benefits and 83% of apprentices believe their career prospects have improved as a result of securing a place on an apprenticeship scheme.

I is for Interviews

Interviews are crucial to the job application process – whether they are by phone, video or face to face. They help to convey parts of your character that a covering letter and CV can not. They help the candidate and client find out if they will fit with the company culture.

There are too many people who fall at this crucial hurdle; they see interviews as a daunting and very uncomfortable process in which they need to struggle their way through.

With this download of simple tips you will be able to conquer the nerves and make interviews a far less fearsome proposition.

When we put you forward for a job, we will check that you have everything you need to have a successful interview, and if there is anything you are not certain about ask us – we can help you.

Tel: 01254 781300

Your Career, Your Future,
Your Choice.

H is for Hired.

Again, you probably predicted that letter H would be something along these lines. We all know that hired in the recruitment world means, being selected by a company and becoming a member of their staff.

Effectively, SER are there to help you get hired.

We know the people who are doing the hiring in the industries you work in, so we can line you up to the correct job, in the correct company, at the right time for you.

Why should you use a recruitment agency like SER to help you get hired?

• You no longer have to take the time and energy doing it yourself – the chances are you already don't have enough time in your day to do everything you want to get done anyway, so looking for a new position will eat into more of that time.

• It means you won't have to liaise with 15 different agencies, which will cut down on the phone calls you receive, cut down on the amount of emails you receive and make it easier for you to deal with.

• We offer you a professional approach and also a greater understanding of what is required for a position within your industry.

• You are dealing with specialists - you will no longer find yourself having conversations about a job that clearly isn't right for you.

We understand the industry, what is changing, skill shortages and most importantly the companies within it.

Your Career, Your Future,
Your Choice.

G is for growth and goals.

We couldn't decide which word was more appropriate, so for the letter G, we are going to cover 2 topics.

In letter A we covered career advancement, and now we are covering career growth. Are they the same thing? The simple answer is no. They are very different. Career growth depends on career advancement. Career advancement are the things you do for yourself, whether that is attend CPD sessions to continually improve your skills and knowledge. Career growth then comes when you have enough knowledge and experience to be able to take the next step, whether that is within your current company or whether that requires a move to another company.

When we speak about goals, we mean the targets that we set ourselves to achieve career growth.

The goals are usually the reason we take part in career advancement which will lead with career growth. Goals are often more achievable when they are based over a shorter term. A good way to look at goals and to set them, is by ensuring that they are SMART – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound. Career goals are often asked about during an interview and so it is important that you know what your goals are.

SER is aware of these important stages throughout your career and we are here to help you when the time is needed.
Contact us to find out about the available opportunities we have that could be the next step for your career growth.

Tel: 01254 781300

Your Career, Your Future,
Your Choice.

An article written by James Brockett, and featured in the April edition of WWT Magazine, has identified that a survey from trade union Prospect revealed almost 9 in 10 scientists and engineers are dissatisfied with government preparations for life outside the European Union.

The survey was completed by 2750 Prospect members and found that 69% of respondents agreed that uncertainty about the timing and impact of the Brexit process had impacted negatively on their organisations ability to fulfil ongoing functions and plan or undertake long term projects.

This research was released to coincide with the launch of a booklet which details the implications of Brexit for funding, collaboration and skills in UK science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

This research revealed concern about Brexit among STEM Professionals.

64% said they feel less secure in their employment since the EU referendum.

23% said they are confident that their organisation has the staff and skills to inform and support government negotiations on Brexit and take on new responsibilities that Brexit may bring.

77% of people who responded see continued access to the single market as a priority.

80% prioritised freedom of movement and 90% wanted guaranteed rights for EU nationals to stay in the UK.

11% said they were planning to leave the UK up to and after Brexit.

A further 22% of STEM professionals said they would consider leaving in the future.