NES Infrastructure & the Built Environment

NES NEWS ROUND UP   

NES Employee of the Year claims £5,000 prize  

Specialist technical, engineering and IT recruitment firm, NES, has named its group payroll and billing manager, Margaret Long, employee of the year and awarded her with the £5,000 top prize at its inaugural award ceremony.

The event, attended by staff from across the company’s 21 international offices, saw NES employees – support staff as well as recruiters – recognised for their efforts during 2008 and claiming several additional cash prizes of £1,000...read more.

Institute of Measurement and Control welcomes NES 

The Electrical, Control and Instrumentation division at NES is proud to be acknowledged as a Companion Company of the Institute of Measurement and Control - demonstrating its commitment to the industry and the people that work within it.

Hundreds of enterprises - large, medium and small - have become Companion Companies since the scheme was launched in 1992.

For NES, becoming a Companion Company will enhance its business profile, increase its reputation and ensure that clients and candidates recognise NES as an active member of the industry in which they operate...more

NES examines Dragonfly Consulting Ltd case

The contracting press went into overdrive following the recent High Court decision regarding ‘Dragonfly’ and, as often happens on these occasions, contractors can be confused about the messages that are being sent out.  

NES Group commercial director, Stephen Rookes said “to ensure that our own contractors are fully briefed on the impact of the case and the steps that they need to take to reduce any exposure to tax/NIC or penalties, we asked a leading IR35 expert (and ex-HMRC tax inspector) John Hill of John Hill & Associates to provide an overview of the relevant issues and to give practical advice on what our contractors need to consider going forward...read more.

Why credit crunch cut backs must not affect your staff training programme 

NES AIM Academy – the specialist training division of recruitment firm, NES – has issued advice to companies who think that cutting back on training is an easy way to reduce costs during an economic downturn. Their advice: don’t do it without looking at the bigger picture.

Whilst the training budget is often near the top of the list when costs need to be brought under control, the short-term benefits of not investing in training may be counter-productive in the longer term according to NES AIM Academy Training Services Manager Emma Nixon...read more.

Rational FX - www.rationalfx.com - is an independent foreign exchange company based in the UK that provides competitive commercial rates for both private individuals and businesses. This article is the first in an ongoing series of currency updates by Gary Field, corporate dealer at Rational FX.

The pound has touched an all-time low against the euro in the third week of December, meaning that the euro zone currency is now worth just under 92 pence (17/12). Euro notes and coins were physically introduced in 2002, although the currencies of the initial 11 member countries were first joined in 1999 when their value was fixed in euro terms. There are now 15 euro zone countries, with a total of 320 million inhabitants. But why is the currency so strong now and what does it mean? ...read more.

NES Australia - expanding your horizons 

NES Global specializes in the placement of infrastructure professionals throughout Australia, bringing with it over 30 years of global recruiting experience for this sector.

NES Global has a broad client base across the building, civil and infrastructure sectors, including:

• Developers
• Consultants
• Multi disciplinary contractors
• Suppliers

We are always looking for building, civil and infrastructure professionals for major projects throughout Australia and overseas, for both permanent and contract positions...read more.

YOUR CAREER: How to increase your earning potential 

With the existence of much-publicised skills shortages, it comes as no surprise that the skills of a well-qualified professional are highly sought after. This is why some might find themselves ‘drifting’ somewhat from project to project, with consistency in terms of job offers, and earning an acceptable income with gradual promotional opportunities, but without ever necessarily achieving their maximum earning potential: the difference between having a job and having a career. 

Without an accurate appreciation of your employment value and the confidence to apply yourself in order to achieve this, you could find yourself being paid comparably less than other similarly qualified individuals. To make sure you don’t find yourself in this unfavourable position, it is up to you to take full control of your own career and do everything in your power to achieve a salary or rate that is reflective of your capabilities...more.

TOP 10 TIPS...for career management during a recession   

1. Expect the worst!

What is the worst case scenario? Think about this and act before it happens. This doesn’t just mean keeping a look out for new work while you still have a job…it means tightening the purse strings if necessary and cutting down on non-essentials wherever possible if you think there is a chance of redundancy. Making a plan of action could help you to remain calm and focused with seeking alternative employment opportunities...read more.

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