To be 1 OR not to be 1?????
12-Feb-16
So here it is Valentine’s Day! The big VD ……….. (Doesn’t sound so great abbreviated like that!!!) – Why is it that so many people love it or hate it? Does it depend on your current relationship status? Is it just some of us are hopeless romantics and others of us are cynical? Whatever your response it is something you can’t get away from as its everywhere! I have to admit this year I’m well and truly going for it as I’ve met someone who has become my true partner in what has developed into a relationship of equals (much needed for independent me!!!). I guess it’s about being in a partnership with both parties happily immersing themselves in a journey whose destination is unknown but which has all the promise of being a hugely exciting roller-coaster lasting many, many years and thus have happily concluded that, in my case, 2 is infinitely better than 1!!!! So, it is with buzz of electricity that comes from the chemistry of being in exactly this right place at this right time that I wish you and whoever you partner (or not, as the case may be) – a happy Valentine’s Day which, to me, is not about the sloppy sentimentality of another hyped-up, sales-driven day but actually celebrates that most meaningful of individual human feelings that has the power of poetry behind it ............... lurv!!!!! Okay! Okay! Enough already of the sloppy stuff!!!) But why talk about this in our recruitment blog I hear you ask? Well maybe it’s all about what I spend every working minute of my busy day doing and that is finding the perfect match – person for position, position for person and never forgetting it’s a people thing and I just love what I do to pieces – way to go eh????" But sometimes this is not an easy process! How do you pinpoint that all important chemistry that sparks the perfect reaction from client and candidate? Well for me its starts with remembering that everyone is an individual! One-size recruitment does not fit all – ...
Statistics vital to your Company!
15-Jan-16
Although I’ve been in the recruitment business for longer than most of our clients have been on this planet – a full 43+ years!!!! – I have tended to lope in the background as I’m more of a numbers guy than your average person-facing archetypical Recruitment bod! That is … until today , as I have come across some impressive numbers, relevant to all recruiters and senior management professionals. These figures taken from the Recruitment Industry between June 2015 and December 2015 were so illuminating that I would really like to share these with you. Rather than bore you will pages of figures I thought a short-form quiz-type questionnaire that can be accessed using the link at the end of this blog would be more informative. Please indulge me on this for a moment as the point of making this into a quiz is that you will be able to gauge the reality of your company’s recruitment position against the National Average which has been collated by our professional body, REC, from literally thousands of inputs across the country to see how you compare with what’s going on recruitment-wise nationwide! This is an information-only type quiz which we don’t need you to return to us with their answers. However, the answer to the 10 questions are contained in the final line of the attachment in small type so you can collate your score quickly! For what it’s worth, marking the correct answer as 3 with the next closest at 2 and the third at 1, I reckon that anything above 24 out of a possible 30 shows that your Company is there or thereabouts recruitment-wise. Any figure below that could indicate that you could be seriously bucking nationwide trends! Whatever the result, please don’t take it too seriously BUT I hope you find it as illuminating as all of us did! Charles Tuthill Managing Director Now, click here for the Quiz - Download (to complete online you will need to download the PDF)...
The shopping face off!
24-Nov-15
What you need to know about Black Friday & Cyber Monday A big hello to all of our fabulous UEA and WEA blog followers, Sian and Shannen here to give you the low down on Black Friday and Cyber Monday as after all, who doesn’t love a good shop especially if you can grab a bargain or 10? Now we are all ardent shoppers in this office but this is the first year we have really heard of Cyber Monday although Black Friday we know well. I remember our office last year on Black Friday taking it in turns (as if it was a relay race!) to run around the Intu shopping centre on the hunt for bargains – after all we are mostly females in here and can’t resist a little shopping! Black Friday along with Cyber Monday are a new shopping and consumer phenomenon sweeping over the UK – so what’s the difference between the two? What is Black Friday? This Originated in the U.S. in the early 2000’s where their biggest retailers offered huge discounts and savings to retailers to push the sales up! But this has now infiltrated the UK, Scandinavia, Mexico, South Africa and France to name a few. Black Friday USA is on the 4th of November, which falls just after U.S. Thanksgiving Day and well and truly starts their Christmas shopping season! It has been a huge success and in 2014, Amazon sold an average of 64 items per second on Black Friday – that is some crazy shopping! Our Black Friday this year falls on Friday 27th November so put a note in your outlook or diary! What is Cyber Monday? Cyber Monday, on the other hand, came about in direct competition to Black Friday with online retailers big and small promoting an array of on-line bargains all of which can be purchased from the comfort of your own home. No waiting in lines, pushing through crowds and feeling hot and flustered instead your gifts delivered to you without having to even move off the couch – well apart from having to open the door and the box! Cyber Monday this year falls on Monday 20th November - so don’t ...
Life’s a lesson, then you learn something new!
19-Nov-15
Growth...this is our mantra. Being part of a local independent business that has enjoyed 38 successful years trading within the local area; it can be easy to relax into the role of single branch business with the loyal support of your local clients (to be fair we have probably done so on occasion) however times move on. Recently we made the decision to expand into a new geographic location and with the launch of our new sister company, Windsor Employment Agency; a new and unique set of challenges were presented which required us to review our skill sets to decide if we had the talent internally to cope with such change, or did we need to go into the market to source the skills required? I myself have always been involved in both the operations and marketing aspects of the business, however our review highlighted the requirement for a more dedicated marketing function and this was a role I wanted. The result? The need to train and improve my skill set by enrolling in a Diploma in Professional Marketing and a year I shall never forget. The requirement to dedicate such a large amount of your time and effort, coupled with a full-time job, is not something I would advise for the faint-hearted. Long hours, lost weekends and a slightly annoyed family (to say the least) are all part-and-parcel for the mature student; however, would I do it again? Most definitely. Looking back; pushing myself out of my comfort zone opened my mind to the prospects available and the relationships formed in the hard slog of the classroom are ones that I never would have made in my day-to-day role. Studying and working alongside like-minded individuals really underscored the needs and requirements in today’s busy workplace and gave me new energy and perspective on how to achieve the goals you set yourself. My advice? Well, firstly think long and hard about the time and dedication required to achieve your qualification, and if you still wish to take that step, I offer my pearls of wisdom: ...
The Windsor branch, our story so far…
20-Oct-15
It’s been a while since I have blogged on our escapades but here we are 9 months in and Windsor Employment Agency is well and truly on the map and flourishing! And what a wonderful opportunity I now have to reflect on the last 9 months of establishing this new branch for the business. So much has happened, yet it is still hard to believe that we have been around for 9 whole months! Where did that time go?! One thing I do know is that if my Manager asked me when I started this venture “what does the branch look like to you in 9 months’ time?” I would have probably had a mild panic attack and laughed nervously….internally visualising myself with a red and white spotted neckerchief of goods over one shoulder and a sign around my neck saying ‘looking for work’. Looking back my most poignant memory was sitting in front of an empty whiteboard thinking right “where do I start?!” I had my phone, my computer and my wonderful assistant Shannen…all we needed now was jobs and candidates! It was do or die … so I started doing! So I started picking up the phone and talking to people. An interesting concept when you have no jobs to send candidates to and no clients to send your candidates to – but I put this conundrum to the back of my mind and went for it! I knew we had a good offering of sound experience and the support of clients already in the area that I had worked with at our Uxbridge Branch. On top of this I had the solid support of our team in Uxbridge who were on hand to do anything they could to help us and so I started sourcing reputable clients; who needed agency support and identifying top candidates who were committed to their job search in the local area. And low and behold things started to happen. One thing I realised is that if you don’t pick up the phone to speak to people then you will not get anywhere! ‘So’ I hear you say ‘what things started to happen?’ Well firstly, I remember that our ...
As summer approaches and many businesses navigate ongoing uncertainty, the demand for temporary workers continues to rise - and it’s not hard to see why. From SMEs to larger organisations, teams across the UK are turning to temps to help manage workload peaks, cover absences, and provide short-term flexibility at a time when permanent hiring is often stalled.We’ve seen this trend play out first-hand as local businesses come to us for fast, reliable temporary support — not just for holiday cover, but as a strategic response to wider hiring challenges.So, what’s driving the surge in temp demand?1. Hiring Freezes & Budget ConstraintsMany companies are still facing internal sign-off delays, spending reviews, or formal hiring freezes — particularly in mid-sized and larger organisations. Even when there’s a business case for extra resource, getting permanent headcount approved can be slow or blocked altogether.Temps provide a way around that. They allow businesses to bring in much-needed help without committing to a long-term hire or navigating layers of red tape.2. Workloads Aren’t Slowing DownDespite caution on the hiring front, the work keeps coming. From customer demand and internal projects to compliance deadlines and seasonal peaks, businesses still need to deliver — and often with fewer people than they’d like.Temporary workers are a practical, scalable way to plug those gaps quickly and keep teams moving.3. The Summer SqueezeWith school holidays just around the corner, many teams are about to feel the impact of reduced headcount even more. Summer absence cover — particularly in office-based roles — is often underestimated, but when multiple people are away at once, the effect on service levels, morale, and output can be significant.Booking holiday cover early ensures the best availability — especially for specialist or part-time needs.4. Temp-to-Perm is Becoming the New NormalA growing number of companies are using temporary contracts as a low-risk way to ...
Uxbridge Employment Agency Named Finalist in the Hillingdon Business Awards!!We are thrilled to announce that we have been named a finalist for the Business Service Company of the Year at the Hillingdon Business Awards 2025! This recognition means the world to us, as it celebrates our commitment to providing personalised recruitment services to our local community for over 45 years.Being a family-run agency, established back in 1978, we have always believed in the power of local expertise, personalised service, and long-term relationships. Our journey has been about more than matching people with jobs—it's been about contributing to the prosperity of businesses in Middlesex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and the surrounding areas. We've always taken immense pride in building these relationships, and this nomination is a testament to all that hard work and dedication!A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Clients and CommunityThis achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our clients and the wider community. Many of you have been with us for years—some even decades—and it’s your trust and loyalty that allow us to do what we love. This recognition belongs to all of us. Thank you for being part of our story and for letting us be part of yours.As Charles Tuthill, Managing Director at Uxbridge Employment Agency, shared: "We are honoured to be recognised as a finalist in this year’s Hillingdon Business Awards. This recognition is a testament to our team’s dedication to honesty, integrity, and the personal touch we bring to every client and candidate relationship. We look forward to continuing to make a positive impact within our community and supporting local businesses in their growth."What This Means for UsBeing recognised as a finalist is not just a proud moment, but also a motivation to continue improving and serving our community. We have faced challenges, like many other small businesses, but our investment in new technologies and creative ...
We believe in the power of great connections. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that our referral scheme has just doubled! Now, you can earn a £100 voucher for referring top talent to us. It’s our way of saying thank you for helping us find the best professionals in the area.How It WorksSpread the Word: Know a colleague or friend looking for a new opportunity? Refer them to us for any permanent role.Successful Placement: Once your referred candidate is placed and successfully completes their probationary period, you earn a £100 voucher!Easy Participation: Anyone can enter! Simply include links within our signatures, job adverts, and social media to share with your network.Why Participate?Increased Reward: With the referral bonus now at £100, there’s never been a better time to share great opportunities with your network.Support Your Friends and Colleagues: Help your connections find the perfect job while earning a reward for yourself.Contribute to Local Business Success: Your referrals help us attract and place the best talent, strengthening businesses in our community.Frequently Asked QuestionsWho can participate in the referral scheme? Anyone can participate! Whether you're a client, candidate, or simply someone who knows great talent, you can refer individuals to us.How do I make a referral? You can make a referral by sharing our job adverts, links in our email signatures, or social media posts. Make sure the candidate mentions your name when applying.When is the referral bonus payable? If the referred candidate is placed permanently with a client of ours, then the £100 voucher is payable once the referred candidate successfully completes their probationary period. If your referral to us is placed within a a temporary role, then they need to work in booking for a minimum of 4 weeks if working over 20 hours per week, eight weeks it working under 20 hours per week. What type of roles are ...
In today's dynamic business environment, the value of recruitment partnerships is more crucial than ever. With digital platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and various job boards, it might appear that companies can easily find top talent on their own. However, recruitment agencies continue to be invaluable partners for companies in the UK, leveraging their skills and experience to fulfill business needs and drive future success. Let’s delve into why businesses benefit from these long-term relationships.Expertise and SpecialisationRecruitment agencies are experts in their field, bringing specialised knowledge about various industries, job functions, and hiring trends that may be beyond the scope of a typical in-house HR department. Many agencies focus on specific sectors, such as IT, finance, healthcare, or engineering, giving them a deep understanding of the particular needs and challenges within these fields. This specialisation allows them to effectively match candidates with the right skills and cultural fit for each role, ensuring a high-quality recruitment process.Access to a Larger Talent PoolOne of the most significant advantages of a recruitment partnership is access to a vast and diverse talent pool. Agencies maintain extensive databases of candidates, including those not actively seeking new roles but open to the right opportunities. These passive candidates, often overlooked by conventional hiring methods, can be valuable additions to any organisation. Recruitment agencies also have robust networks that can uncover hidden talent, increasing the likelihood of finding the ideal candidate who fits both the job requirements and the company culture.Time and Resource EfficiencyThe recruitment process can be incredibly time-consuming and resource-intensive. It involves creating job descriptions, posting vacancies, screening applications, conducting initial interviews, and managing communication with candidates. For small and medium-sized enterprises, and even large ...
