With the Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo just around the corner, register now for the highly anticipated event. The free to attend expo, for which Business Link is a proud partner, will take place on Wednesday 27 April 2022 at The Bentley Hotel, Lincoln, providing everything you require for a great day of networking and business generation. A well targeted event aimed at the Construction, Property, Business, Investment, Finance, Professional Services and related B2B markets, exhibitors include Aspbury Planning Ltd, Belvoir, Business Lincolnshire, BSP Consulting, Delta Simons, the Federation of Small Businesses, J Tomlinson, NatWest, Willmott Dixon, and YMD Boon, to name a few. To see the full list of who is exhibiting click here. Opening at 9am, the expo will also host a workshop from Team Lincolnshire and Business Lincolnshire. Running from 10:15 – 11:45, it will demystify the procurement process and explore the potential which public sector contracts could bring to your business. Team Lincolnshire ambassador Neal Wheatley, director and general manager of RG Carter Lincoln Limited, and Barry Taylor, regional director at Parker Technical Service, will be sharing insightful first-hand experiences on winning a major Lincolnshire County Council contract for the construction of the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone and how supporting the local economy is a core value within the RG Carter Supply Chain Commitment. Sign up to the free workshop here. As the exhibition closes, it will roll directly into an informal, open buffet style network lunch – tickets for the lunch are just £25 plus vat and can be ordered and paid for directly online. Spaces for the lunch are limited, so order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Tina King, of Business Shows Group, said: “It’s been a long time in the making thanks to the pandemic, but we are finally nearly there, The Property & Business Investment Lincolnshire Expo is gearing up to be one of the best to date!” To attend the event, register for free here. To generate opportunities by exhibiting at the event, click here. Purchase tickets to the networking lunch here. Meet more potential clients in one amazing cost effective day, than it would take months out on the road.

The University of Leicester has launched a new summer internship programme, designed to boost graduate employment in the regional economy. This fully-funded internship scheme is one in a series of projects to commemorate the University’s Centenary. Citizens of Change internships will take place between Monday 4 and Friday 29 July 2022, and are targeted at middle-year undergraduate students. Students will be given the opportunity to undertake a community-focused project in a Leicester or Leicestershire based organisation for a total of 140 hours over the four-week period. Rob Fryer, Director of the Career Development Service at the University of Leicester, said: “Alongside the Leicester Graduate City Project internship, the Citizens of Change programme will undoubtedly benefit both the local economy and the University’s talent pipelines. “And with our focus on employability, these internships will help to boost students to secure ongoing work and create a pathway towards their chosen careers.” The benefit to business are that salaries costs are completely covered, providing access to talented undergraduates to support projects and add real value. Fahad Manier, from city-based personal trainers Team Fighting Fit, said: “These internships are really valuable for both the business and the students involved. As a community engagement initiative, these funded schemes really help to promote local business and make a difference to the lives of the people in Leicester.” Organisations who host projects with a focus on community engagement and/or impact are invited to submit expressions of interest. Categories of interest should align with the University of Leicester’s strategic goals, including; health and wellbeing; innovation; environmental sustainability; equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI); or research. If you are an organisation interested in participating get in touch with Mariyah Mandhu, Project Manager (Internships) on mm977@leicester.ac.uk by Friday 29 April 2022.

The latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: Midlands survey highlighted a further steep expansion in permanent placements in March, and one that was the sharpest since the end of 2021. Meanwhile, temporary billings rose for the twenty-first month in a row. The rise in permanent salaries eased for the second month running to the softest since last September, though inflation of hourly pay rates for temporary staff accelerated to a four-month high. Finally, skilled staff shortages contributed to the sharpest reduction in permanent candidate availability since last October. The KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: Midlands is compiled by S&P Global from responses to questionnaires sent to around 100 recruitment and employment consultancies in the Midlands. Further rapid rise in permanent placements The rate of growth in permanent placements across the Midlands quickened at the end of the first quarter. The increase was rapid overall and the sharpest seen since last December. Recruitment consultancies indicated that placements had risen following stronger demand for permanent staff from clients amid sustained shortages. The increase in the Midlands was the fastest of the four monitored English regions. March data pointed to a continued increase in temporary billings in the Midlands. The rate of expansion quickened from February and extended the current sequence to 21 months. Respondents suggested that clients were becoming increasingly confident to fill vacancies with temporary staff, while there was some evidence that more temporary workers were available. Growth in temp billings in the Midlands was the second-fastest of the monitored regions, behind London. Permanent vacancies increased at a marked pace in the Midlands during March. The rate of increase quickened for the second month running and led to the sharpest rise in permanent vacancies for four months, yet was the slowest of the four monitored English regions. Demand for temporary staff also rose steeply in the latest survey period. The pace of expansion accelerated from February to the quickest since last August. Sharper decline in permanent candidate numbers The Midlands saw a further reduction in the supply of permanent candidates during March. The rate of the decrease quickened to the fastest since last October. Anecdotal evidence suggested that people in work were reluctant to move at present, while some recruiters cited shortages of suitably experienced staff for permanent roles. At the national level, the reduction in the availability of permanent staff was quicker than that seen in the Midlands. Recruitment consultancies indicated that temporary candidate numbers decreased at a marked pace in March. That said, the pace of reduction slowed from February to reach the softest for ten months. A number of respondents indicated that skills shortages had contributed to the lack of available staff for temp roles. Permanent salary growth eases for second month running Permanent salaries for new joiners in the Midlands increased for the thirteenth month in a row in March. While historically elevated, the rate of inflation eased to the softest since last September. A combination of a lack of suitable candidates and pressure on recruiters due to higher costs of living were behind the increase in permanent salaries. The rise in permanent salaries in the Midlands was the slowest of the four English regions covered, however. Pay rates for temporary staff rose sharply during March. The rate of inflation accelerated for the first time in four months and was the quickest since November 2021. Recruitment consultancies indicated that candidate supply shortages had been a leading factor behind higher pay rates. Moreover, the increase in the Midlands was the second-quickest of the four monitored English regions, behind the North of England. Commenting on the latest survey results, Kate Holt, people consulting partner at KPMG UK, said: “The Midlands saw a rapid rise in job vacancies during March, albeit at a slower rate than the North, South and London regions. “The dwindling supply of candidates is frustrating employers, not just those that are looking to grow, but also those simply trying to replace staff who might have left through the pandemic. This presents more worry for businesses, many of which are already tackling a myriad of challenges, not least the incredible rise in operating costs as inflation rises. “The Midlands has long been known for its resilience and job seekers in the region should take hear that the market is creating attractive opportunities for candidates. Unfortunately, many businesses may struggle to offer competitive enough salaries that can meet expectations.” Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the REC, said: “We can clearly see that labour and skills shortages are driving inflation in these latest figures. Starting salaries for permanent staff are continuing to grow rapidly, partially due to demand for staff accelerating and partially as firms increase pay for all staff in the face of rising prices. “Record COVID infection levels are also pushing up demand for temporary workers, particularly in blue collar and hospitality sectors, underpinning the ability of temps to seek higher rates. “However, the overall number of permanent placements being made has stabilised in recent months. This is no surprise after a period of historically high growth, and in the face of more economic uncertainty. “Even so, the jobs market is very tight. Businesses will need to broaden their searches and be creative in making their offer to candidates more attractive, in consultation with recruitment experts. But government can help by incentivising investment in skills and people during the inflation crisis.”