Fexible Work - more than just a question of being family friendly

This article, written by Fiona Severs of Lexington Gray, for The Lawyer Online may be viewed at:

http://www.thelawyer.com/flexible-work-­-more-than-just-an-issue-of-being-family-friendly/1009863.article.....more

General Counsel Position - Central London

Plum job for part-time pensions lawyer

PENSIONS LAWYER 3 DAYS PER WEEK - CENTRAL LONDON

A rare opportunity for a pensions lawyer to balance work and family commitments.

A highly respected, mid-sized, multi-award-winning London-based law firm is looking for a part-time lawyer to join its growing pensions practice. Working 3 days a week (one of which could be worked from home)and enjoying genuine opportunities for career progression, the role has more regular and flexible hours than most.

Joining the non-contentious team, the role involves advising trustees, companies and insurers on all aspects of occupational pensions schemes - from day to day issues such as the application of scheme rules, to one off events, such as the merger of two pensions schemes.

The successful candidate will have at least 3 years' experience of good quality pensions work (ideally gained in the City) and a strong academic record. They will be enthusiastic about contributing actively to the group's business development activities and will have the skills to network and build strong relationships. Well organised and able to work to deadlines, they will have good oral and written communication skills and an ability to give practical, clear advice.

Lovely, friendly team completely committed to making flexible work a reality and with a competitive salary (£75,000 - £95,000 pro rated and depending on experience)- what's not to like?

If you are keen to maintain your legal career and spend quality time with your family please e-mail fiona.severs@lexingtongray.co.uk.
 .....more

Public sector employees not wanted in the private sector.

According to a survey of 500 companies carried out by Barclays Corporate and the Financial Times, ministers hoping to limit the impact of spending cuts have been dealt a blow as more than half of private sector companies in the UK say they are not interested in hiring people who have lost their jobs in the public sector......more

Internships - hot news?

Internships were in the news quite a bit yesterday but for different reasons.

A few weeks ago the Government launched its equality strategy, pledging that every Whitehall department would 'work to pormote diversity, for example through internship schemes to widen access to the Civil Service for those who are currently under-represented, such as ethnic minorities and diabled people'......more

Diversity is a thorny issue

This week a review on gender equality in Britain's boardrooms is due to be published by Lord Davies of Abersoch.  The former trade minister is expected to recommend that a fifth of directors in FTSE 350 companies should be women by 2012, rising to a quarter shortly afterwards.  It is understood that the imposition of statutory quotas has been rejected but could return to the agenda if companies do not achieve sufficient progress. .....more

Returning to work? Helpful advice from The Guardian

A break from the workplace, for whatever reason, can mean a difficult path pack to a fulfilling career.  The Guardian ran a helpful live Q&A session online on 7th February with a panel of experts, including Fiona Severs of Lexington Gray. .....more

Crafted a killer CV? Now look carefully at your covering letter.

 .....more

Females want to fight fairly for their place on the Board

 .....more

Double dip recession - how can companies prepare?

 .....more

The impact of a turbulent market on Legal Recruitment

The following article was written by Fiona Severs of Lexington Gray and was first published in Recruitment International in January 2011 and is reproduced with kind permission (http://www.recruitment-international.co.uk).....more

Employers complain of a talent shortage but is it their strict recruitment criteria that are to blame?

Companies and recruiters complain regularly about  a shortage of talent and yet employment data from the  UK government  suggest that the pool of skilled people seeking work is actually increasing.  So who's right?.....more

Hope of recovery bolstered by increase in hiring rates

A survey of recruitment companies reported in the Financial Times today demonstrated that hiring had risen at its fastest rate for at least six months as employers gained confidence in January......more

Women appointed to boards make them more colourful and beautiful?

Josef Ackerman, chief executive of Deutsche Bank and one of Europe's most prominent bankers said that more women should be appointed to top executive roles......more

It’s snow joke

With large parts of the UK suffering under snow and ice in the last week many businesses have been counting the cost. The House of Commons was informed that figures produced by a leading insurance company, RSA, indicated that the cold weather could be costing the economy as much as £1.2 bn per day......more

A cure for commuter pain?

 As papers carried the news today that overcrowding on the railways is going to get 'substantially worse' and with many commuters still smarting from rail and tube strikes earlier in the year and the announcement last month that the cost of season tickets would rise by 10 per cent or more than the retail price index over the next five years, you could be forgiven for wondering whether there was an alternative to the daily commute......more

Want to boost morale and retain your top talent?

MAKE YOUR ORGANISATION AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE BY ADOPTING A FLEXIBLE WORKING POLICY

Research conducted earlier this year by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) took in the views of 1,167 workers and indicated that the most highly rated benefit by UK employees by some margin was flexible working arrangements (47%).  Perfomance-related bonuses came second on the list (19%)......more

Recruitment slows to lowest rate for 14 months

The latest Report on Jobs from the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG indicates that October saw the slowest rise in staff placements for 14 months......more

Flexible workers - is the private sector missing the point?

 .....more