Conference Directs 'The Way Forward' For Recruitment

The National Recruitment Federation held its ‘biggest ever' Annual Conference today in Citywest Hotel. Attended by 250 delegates from around the country the conference was a huge success.

Officially opening the Conference entitled 'Recruitment 2011 - The Way Forward' Minister for Small Business John Perry TD complimented the recruitment industry for its determination and commitment to the job industry.

Minister Perry said: “Following this weeks' Jobs Initiative announcement I am confident that we will see real results in the area of job creation. In the past 6 months the recruitment industry has identified growth in permanent placements in some sectors and there has never been a better time to look for a new job.

He added: “While the economy may take a while to recover companies are starting to re-hire and there is a genuine increase in job mobility. This is also evident in the fact that agencies themselves are hiring recruitment consultants to meet the demands of employers. The area of temporary work has also increased and this is evident in the results of a recent survey carried out in Q1 by the NRF.”

Referring to impending legislation on temporary agency workers due later this year, the Minister emphasised the importance of maintaining cost competitiveness in the economy. In this context, he strongly encouraged the Social Partners at national level to reach agreement on a derogation from the equal treatment principle in respect of agency workers employed on short-term contracts.

The conference focused on the dynamic tools and skill sets the industry needs to embrace in order to approach the coming year with confidence. Interaction from the audience via the use of mobile technology enabled instant feedback and reaction to the topics being discussed. Impending changes in legislation due to come into effect in December this year was one of the main concerns of the delegates. The NRF expert in this area Mr. Frank Collins gave a full update as to where Ireland is sitting with this new directive. The Industry is calling on the unions to play their part to minimise the amount of job losses. This can be avoided by the union’s agreement to a derogation in equal pay to agency workers. Representatives from the Department of Enterprise Trade & Innovation also attended the Conference.

A line up of speakers from around the globe informed on trends, legislation, and what the future holds for the Recruitment Industry in Ireland. Chairing the Conference was Peter Cosgrove Vice President of NRF. NRF President Colin Donnery gave an overview of the Industry and revealed the results of the recent surveys carried out by NRF. Global conference speaker Ann Swain from Apsco UK reported on recruitment trends from around the Globe that may have an impact on Ireland in the future.

Following on from Tony Goodwin, Antal International and Author, was Jonathan Campbell, Social Media Trainer. Jonathan gave the delegates practical tips on how to get the best use out of the latest technology in social media.

Keynote speaker Kingsley Aikins MD of Networking Matters and past CEO of the Worldwide Ireland Funds ended the day on high note. Renowned speaker Kingsley captivated the audience with his speech on both disapora issues and networking. Kingsley will jet out straight from City west to Washington DC in order to participate in a Conference with Hilary Clinton where he is one of the main speakers.

(BMcN)