Dear Subscriber,

Our mission statement reads ‘Exclusive Human Resources dares to be different.’ But how? I hear you cry. How can any recruitment agency be different to the hundreds already out there? Quite simple. By being innovative, unique, and by listening to what our candidates and clients actually want, not by giving you what we think you should have.

I’m sure you will agree that we’re all bored of the ‘same old’ recruitment agency sales tactics. You know what I mean – that Friday afternoon deluge of emails, selling you an HR Officer, or a temp to cover the maternity leave you don’t have. Then there’s the barrage of Monday morning sales calls, all claiming to know you personally, with the answer to the problem that doesn’t exist.

We asked the questions and then we listened. You told us you hate those pointless, generic emails, but enjoy reading about your profession. You also told us you want more region-specific, HR and business-focused information. You told us you love HR Blogs, employment law updates and health-related articles.

So here it is, the first monthly (e) newsletter from the HR recruitment consultancy that ‘dares to be different’. We hope you agree we are.

Mark Ions - Director

exclusivehr.com

ps - Make sure you always get our emails as they are intended. Add us to your address book!

October 2007 does not bring about as much change as we have seen in recent years. In summary, the changes are as follows:

• Increase in National Minimum Wage – The national minimum wage rises from £5.35 to £5.52 per hour (adult rate). A study by the British Retail Consortium said the wage hike is growing faster than average earnings and productivity, leading to compressed pay structures.

• Increase in Statutory Holiday Entitlement – Changes to the Working Time Regulations came into force on 1 October, guaranteeing full-time workers 24 days holiday a year. From 1 April 2009, this rises to 28 days. Recent statistics suggest that companies give, on average, 24.6 days per year.

• Flexible Working (Eligibility, Complaints and Remedies) (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2007 – Adding overseas adoptions, adoptions by relatives, people with residence orders, and private foster carers, and the spouse, partner and civil partner of a private foster carer, to the list of those people who are entitled to request a contract variation to care for a child.

• Equality Act 2006 (Dissolution of Commissions and Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Order 2007 - The Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission have merged to establish the Commission for Equality and Human Rights (CEHR).

• Data Protection Act 1998 comes fully into force – requiring full compliance from Manual filing systems in existence before 24 October 1998.

• Pension Rights – From 1 October, council workers who are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme whose jobs are outsourced under a TUPE contract will be entitled to a broadly comparable pension.

Jill Lee from the newly launched Business Link North East, discusses how the transformation in business support will benefit the region’s businesses and HR professionals.

Whether you’re launching your own company, you’re part of a human resources department within an organisation or you’re a consultant, we can work alongside you to add value and support in areas connected to HR.

From independent help identifying key training providers to support when developing health and safety policies and guidance on disciplinary procedures, we can work with you to save time and money and to help you increase effectiveness and productivity.

We realise most professionals can’t take time out from day-to-day responsibilities, so our advisers are mobile and will be more than happy to visit businesses at their convenience. We also have a number of access points throughout the region, making it easier for businesses to access the service.

Our website enables you to access key information at the touch of a button 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However if you would like to discuss any issue with one of our team we’re always at end of the phone.

As an HR consultant, you’ll be dealing with clients on a regular basis and there may be times when you identify areas where they need additional information and business support. The ability to help them find that support quickly and easily can create more successful customer relationships and new opportunities for your business.

So by building upon key relationships with the region’s HR professionals, we aim to develop and maintain a strong synergy with you to add value and be responsive to your customers’ needs. We can help you by enabling you to provide even more timely practical help and advice for your customers and clients.

For further information on how you can work with us to add value to your customers and your company, click here or call 0845 600 9 006.

How do you feel when you wake up in the morning? (a) Bursting with energy, eager to jump out of bed and embrace everything the new day has to offer? (b) Devoid of life-force, with an overwhelming urge to pull the duvet back over your head? (c) Somewhere in between, depending on how stressed you got yesterday? If it’s (a) – Congratulations. Have another cuppa and a quick game of Minesweeper while the rest of us read on.

If you want to spend every single day feeling full of the joys of spring, then you need to introduce a new word into your vocabulary: Wellness.

So many of us think that if we don’t get a cold this month, or if the niggling pain in our back has finally gone, then it must mean we’re healthy. But if you think like that, you’re short-changing yourself. Wellness isn’t just an absence of illness or symptoms. It’s a state of complete health, with a fit body and an equally fit mind, thanks to great nutrition and a balanced lifestyle. It’s the feeling of total wellbeing that allows you to live your life to the max and reach your full potential every single day.

Sounds too good to be true? You might think that in our complex, frenzied, 24/7 world, just getting through the day in one piece is a major achievement. And so it often is. But imagine how much better your day would be if you were full to the brim with vitality.

Next Month: Sabotage your Wellness in three easy steps.

Claire Hedley BSc MA Chartered FCIPD is a Personal Wellness Coach specialising in individual client support and corporate Health & Nutrition roadshows. For more information, call her on 07913 944708.

One NorthEast’s Regional Image team are inviting businesses across the region to play their part in raising the profile of North East England by becoming involved in the ‘Passionate people. Passionate places’ campaign.

The campaign harnesses the region’s best assets to position North East England as a great place to do business, live, work, study and visit. Any organisation, however big or small, can show they’re passionate about North East England by using the regional branding to help spread the word about the region.

Exclusive Human Resources have been fantastic supporters of the campaign and great ambassadors for the region, showing they are ‘Passionate about HR recruitment’.

Next Month: Show you’re passionate about North East England

To get involved and find out how you can benefit from the campaign, please click here or call 0191 229 6924.

Iain Ramsey, The Regional Image team, One NorthEast

hr circles blog by Tom Crawford, Deloitte and Touche LLP

Everywhere I go the hot topic at the moment seems to be Facebook. ie specifically should we let our people do it? I am mildy surprised by the amount of discussion and heat this subject is getting. I do feel somewhat qualified to talk about it as we've had some interesting and far reaching debates on the very subject. It seems to be a metaphor for all sorts of things including "how should we manage our people?" - the first anti Facebook debate is "our people spend too much time on it" well before there was Facebook there was Solitaire, "working lunches", traffic on the M1....

To read more click here

An Exclusive position...

HR Manager - Avecia

One of the world’s leading contract development and manufacturers of biologics for human healthcare products represented by a leading edge, bespoke HR recruitment consultancy – an exclusive mix found only in the North East.

To read all about this exciting opportunity please click here

Please email Mark Ions or call on 0191 438 7989

As you will have gathered, your opinions are very much valued and listened to. If you have any ideas for future additions of (e) news, or indeed you would like to contribute, please email me directly or call on 0191 438 7989.

Next month look out for Salary Survey information, compensation and benfits information, employment law updates and much more of what you want!

We hope you enjoyed reading this as much as we did compiling it.