Welcome to our NEWS PAGE where you can keep up to date with all the latest Selection Matters and job market info!
07/02/12 - Testimonial
Over the last 7 months Selection Matters have successfully placed in excess of 10 Candidates with the organisation. The roles placed for us have varied from Administration, Technical and Professional. 2 of these candidates were for my own HR Team, and I can honestly say that they have been real assets to the Department. The team at Selection Matters have always operated quickly and efficiently, and have often placed roles where other local agencies have experienced some difficulty, We have always been kept up to date on all activity, and the team do a great job in marketing the candidates strongly focusing in on the true strengths and predetermining areas for questions being able to offer information and substance for any reservations held. I would recommend Selection Matters for all areas of recruitment, their personal touch and dedication will always deliver results.
Amanda Bowen - HR Manager, iSOFT
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06/02/12 Some Good FAQ on Diamond Jubliee Holiday – Xpert HR Jan 2012
There will be an extra bank holiday in 2012 and this will be on 5 June. However, this is not the only change is it? What other changes will there be to bank holidays this year?
The Government has announced an additional bank holiday for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. This is Tuesday 5 June. It has also moved the spring bank holiday from the end of May to Monday 4 June, meaning that there will be an extended bank holiday weekend in the same way that we had for the royal wedding in 2011.
Does this mean that all employees will be getting another day off work during 2012?
No, not all employees will get another day off work. Contrary to popular belief there is no statutory right to have bank holidays as leave, although there is an exception for employees covered by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971.
Don't the Working Time Regulations 1998 entitle employees to bank holidays?
No. The Regulations give employees a statutory right to 5.6 weeks' leave per year, but they do not specify when that leave must be taken. It will be down to agreement between the employer and its employees whether or not that leave falls on bank holidays.
How will employers be able to tell if their employees are entitled to the extra day for 2012?
This will be down to the wording of the contract. Employers need to check their contracts to see if their employees are entitled to the extra day.
How will the contract wording determine whether or not employees are entitled to take the additional jubilee bank holiday as a day of leave?
As an example, if the contract says that employees are entitled to a specified number of days or weeks of annual leave "plus bank holidays" (for example 20 days' holiday plus bank holidays) they will be entitled to take the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday as leave.
What about if the contract specifies the bank holidays that the employee is entitled to take as leave, for example it says "the usual bank holidays" or "eight bank holidays" or it lists the bank holidays by name?
In this situation there will be no contractual entitlement for employees to take the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday as leave as it is not one of the usual or eight bank holidays.
Of course, depending on its business, in this and other situations where employees are not contractually entitled to the additional bank holiday off work, the employer may decide to grant the additional bank holiday off anyway, regardless of what the contract says, as a gesture of goodwill.
That will be feasible for some employers, but many will want or need to remain open, for example employers in the retail, catering or care industries. Will those employers have to pay their employees more if they work on the extra bank holiday?
There is no statutory right for employees to receive a higher rate of pay on a bank holiday. In the absence of a contractual provision to the contrary, employees will be entitled to receive their usual salary for working on the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday. If there is no written contractual term on this issue, the employer should look at its custom and practice in respect of previous bank holidays.
One of the problems for employers that do not grant the extra bank holiday is that more employees could phone in sick or take unauthorised absence. Are there any steps that they can take to help prevent this?
It should help if employers clearly communicate the position with regard to the extended bank holiday weekend to employees well in advance. They should also make clear to staff how they will deal with absence over this period, for example that they will be taking steps to monitor it and that employees will be expected to account for their absence. This should act as a deterrent to employees who are considering taking unauthorised absence or reporting absence as sick leave when this is not genuine.
To sum up, employers should be looking at their employment contracts well in advance of the Diamond Jubilee bank holiday weekend to work out if their workers are entitled to the additional bank holiday off work. If they are going to be obliged to work, employers also need to ascertain if workers will be entitled to a higher rate of pay.
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19/01/12 Low cost recruitment!
Problem: Do you find recruiting staff time consuming and don't have the time to trawl through all of the CV's you are getting but can't afford the recruitment agency fees?
Solution: CV's Direct! We advertise the job on all of our job boards, we go through all of the CV's and you then only recieve relevant CV's! All of this for a fraction of recruitment agency costs!
Follow this link for more information http://www.selectionmatters.co.uk/cv-direct.php
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01/12/11 New offices
Great news, we are going to be opening 3 new offices in the new year in Birmingham, London and Milton Keynes. Watch this space!
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28/11/11 Business Wealth Club Business Awards
On Friday 25th November we attended the Business Wealth Club Awards dinner and w
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21/11/11 Charity Auction for BYHP
We would like to say thank you to everyone that helped support our Charity Auction to help raise funds for BYHP. The auction took place on Friday 18th November at the George and Dragon in Chacombe. There was a great turnout of people and we managed to raise a WHOPPING £2,000! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
09/11/11 Banbury Woman In Business Awards
We would like to say well done to our Office & Marketing Manager, Melissa Boyles for becoming a finalist at the Banbury Woman In Business Awards
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28/10/11 New Recruitment Consultant's
We are very pleased to announce that we have not just 1, but 2 new Recruitment Consultant's joining our ever growing team in November. Sam Thornton will be joining us on 14th November and Jasmin Budd on 28th November. Congratulations to both of them and we look forward to welcoming you into the team.
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19/10/11 - AWR Training Semiar
Do you know about the new 'Agency Worker Regulations' that came into force on 1st October? If not we are offering a free training seminar to take place on 2nd November.
If you would like to attend or require more information please contact our Office and Marketing Manager, Melissa Boyles on 01295 236364 or email her on melissa@selectionmatters.co.uk.
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18/10/11 Charity Auction
Selection Matters Ltd is running a charity event with The George & Dragon in Chacombe to help raise funds for our chosen charity BYHP (Supporting young people with housing needs)
CHARITY AUCTION @ GEORGE AND DRAGON, CHACOMBE
18TH NOVEMBER @ 7:30PM AUCTION TO START AT 9PM
FOLLOWED BY LIVE MUSIC!!
We are looking for any donations that we can auction off, whether it is great or small your help would be greatly appreciated!! If you have a product or service you would like to donate please contact Melissa on 01295 236364 or email Melissa@selectionmatters.co.uk
And you never know we might even be able to put our Director Duncan Cooper up for auction for a day’s service where you can do with him as you please (within reason)!!
For more details on BYHP please click here
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13/10/11 Zenos!
In the space of a few short years Zenos have grown from a small training company with 25 learners to become the UK's leading provider of IT Apprenticeships, part of the UK's leading vocational training plc and the largest Microsoft Training Academy in Europe.
With headquarters in Aynho Banbury, and a network of Zenos training centres that cover the country, Zenos currently trains thousands of young people every year.
A national network of more than 30 Zenos training centres deliver a unique Apprenticeship programme, funded by the SFA, to young people aged 16 to 24 wanting to take their first steps in a career in the IT industry.
Zenos students achieve a pass rate in excess of 95% for their IT Systems Support & Services, and IT Software Development programmes.
Listed below are the current vacancies we have with Zenos .
Employment Liaison Executive x3
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04/10/11 Welcome Wednesday's
Every Wednesday our doors will be open for all candidates looking to register for temporary work. You don't need to make an appointment just drop in between 9am-5pm. Please bring your CV and your passport or birth certificate. Any questions please give us a call on 01295 236364. If you know anyone else looking for work bring them along with you!
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29/09/11 Newsletter - be in with a chance of winning shopping vouchers of your choice!!
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22/09/11 Oxford contact details!
As you may or may not be aware we are opening our Oxford branch on 1st October 2011. Below will be our contact details at Oxford.
Selection Matters Ltd, 7200 The Quorum, Oxford Business Park North, Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2JZ
Tel: 01865 920112
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12/09/11 Newsletter - Our story so far....
Attached is our fortnightly newsletter, some interesting links this week!!
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09/09/11 Our story so far....
As some of you may be aware Selection Matters has recently celebrated their 2nd birthday. It all started 2 years ago in Duncan and Izabela’s spare bedroom which was converted into an office. The early days were tough but exciting with working 15 hour days to get our company name “Selection Matters‟ out there. After 6 months we decided to move to the office where we are now on Cherwell Business Village.
We have gradually increased our workforce by employing another Recruitment Consultant and more recently a Team Leader and Marketing Manager.
As one of Oxfordshire’s leading recruitment agencies, we employ a proactive and innovative approach when recruitment or career development is on your mind. We cater for permanent, contract and temporary jobs in Banbury and the surrounding areas.
Now after a couple of years in business we have a large client list and a huge number of job seekers on our database which is increasing rapidly. Duncan and Izabela would like to thank all of you job seekers for all of your support in the last 2 years.
Selection Matters has grown so much in the last 2 years and the next year is going to be even more exciting with more growth planned now we have a strong workforce in place to drive the business to another level.
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06/09/11 EXCITING NEWS!!
After 2 years of hard work building Selection Matters we are now expanding and opening a branch in Oxford on 1st October. More details will follow shortly!
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24/08/11 National Minimum Wage Increase - October 2011
The Government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations for this year’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates. The following rates will come into effect on 1 October 2011:
- The adult rate (which applies to those aged 21 and over) will increase by 15p from £5.93 to £6.08 an hour.
- The rate for 18-20 year olds will increase by 6p from £4.92 to £4.98 an hour.
- The rate for 16-17 year olds will increase by 4p from £3.64 to £3.68 an hour.
- The rate for apprentices will increase by 10p from £2.50 to £2.60 an hour. This rate applies to apprentices under 19 years of age working under a contract of apprenticeship or on the Government’s Apprenticeship or Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme, and apprentices aged 19 or over working under a contract of apprenticeship or on the Government’s Apprenticeship or Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme but who are in the first 12 months of their apprenticeship.
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18/08/11 Newsletter
Attached is our fortnightly newsletter, please take the time to read it! You won’t be disappointed!
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15/08/11 Case Study
The following is a success story that we wanted to share with you. We do aim to help all our jobseekers into work however this is not always possible, this story is aimed to give you guys that are still looking some hope that the job market is not as bad as everyone thinks.
Selection Matters had an enquiry from iSoft (a global software company based in Banbury) in May this year. iSoft were looking to restructure their preferred supplier list for recruitment hence they sent 2 Human Resource vacancies out to a total of 8 recruitment agencies including the agencies they had used historically and some new ones, Selection Matters included.
We worked hard to source the right candidates for iSoft’s specifications, we successfully achieved interviews for 4 candidates. iSoft held 17 interviews in total. From those 4 interviews 2 of our candidates made it through to the second round where it was down to 4 hopefuls in total.
We strived to make sure our candidates were properly prepared throughout the entire process and we were rewarded as both our candidates were made offers of employment therefore meaning Selection Matters had filled both positions. Not bad considering there were 2 positions in total and 7 other agencies involved in the search!
We have since been welcomed onto iSoft’s new preferred supplier list. In the last few weeks we have gone on to fill another role for this prestigious employer, that role was Process Improvement and Quality Specialist and we are hopefully on the cusp of filling another great role with the software giant.
Selection Matters thanks iSoft for their business, the candidates for representing us so well and we hope that other jobseekers can take heart in the fact that Banbury”shire” is a thriving business hub that does yield good job opportunities.
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10/08/11 Selection Matters 2nd Birthday
We celecrated our 2nd Birthday on 4th August! Its been a challenging 2 years but we are still going strong! So here is to the next 2 years! Cheers :)
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08/08/11 Our new Temporary Division Team Leader started today! Zara Payne-Davis, a massive welcome to the team! You can email Zara at zara@selectionmatters.co.uk
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21/07/11
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21/07/11 Keep up to date with our news by joining us on facebook and twitter!
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Selection-Matters-Ltd/153550745754
http://twitter.com/#!/JOBS_IN_BANBURY
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14/07/11 Selection Matters on BBC News - check out this link
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14146169
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13/07/11 New member of the Selection Matters team
After a long hard slog to find a Temporary Division Team Leader for the company we would like to welcome Zara Payne-Davis on board. She will join in early August and we would like to say congratulations and a huge welcome and we hope you will be very happy with us!
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30/06/11 BBC News
Selection Matters had the BBC at the office yesterday to film us and some of our clients for an article about 'Employers attitude to work'. As you can imagine it was a manic day in the office, everyone was a bit nervous especially Duncan one of the company Directors who was the one being filmed. It will be shown on the 6pm and 10pm News next Wednesday or Thursday. So keep your eye out and make sure you are watching! _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
30/06/11 How to write a good CV
30/06/11 Widespread job losses in the retail sector http://www.rec.uk.com/press/news/1627
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13/05/11 Need some interview tips? Watch this..
13/05/11 Write a CV that works, 3 simple tips!
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04/05/11 Do you love Mondays, NO? Take a look at this http://selectionmatters.co.uk/jobsearch.php ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
11/04/11 Oxfordshire Business Awards – Selection Matters has made the semi-finals of “New Business of the Year” We have made it down to a select few and the final 3 hopefuls will be announced on 6th May. Duncan and Izabela, company directors were interviewed by Paul Lowe, Chairman of the Oxfordshire Business Awards and Ops Director of Darbys Solicitors LLP. We all have our fingers crossed that we make the Final so Duncan and Izabela can treat all the staff to a wonderful evening on 17th June when the winners are announced. For more info about the awards see: http://www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk/default.aspx
11/04/11 Oxfordshire Business Awards – Selection Matters Director, Duncan Cooper has made the semi-finals of “Young Business Person of the Year” Duncan has made it down to a select few and the final 3 hopefuls will be announced on 6th May. Duncan was interviewed by Paul Lowe, Chairman of the Oxfordshire Business Awards and Ops Director of Darbys Solicitors LLP. We all have our fingers crossed that Duncan makes the final so we can attend the glitzy dinner on 17th June. For more info about the awards see: http://www.oxfordshirebusinessawards.co.uk/default.aspx
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15/02/11 FSB urges Bank of England to hold interest rates http://www.fsb.org.uk/News.aspx?loc=pressroom&rec=6927
15/02/11 The Government must extend the National Insurance Contributions holiday http://www.fsb.org.uk/News.aspx?loc=pressroom&rec=6940
15/02/11 Join us on FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1320060947#!/pages/Selection-Matters-Ltd/153550745754
15/02/11 OR maybe you're a Tweeter http://twitter.com/#!/JOBS_IN_BANBURY
15/02/11 We are members of the Federation of Small Businesses http://www.fsb.org.uk/ Have a look at how they give small business like us a much BIGGER voice!
15/02/11 EMPLOYERS, our target audience is HUGE! Much bigger than other local agencies! We have 12.4 million candidates across our portfolio of job sites. FACT!
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07/02/11 Call Centre applications spike http://www.recruiter.co.uk/call-centre-applications-spike/1006973.article
07/02/11 Travelodge creates 700 jobs http://www.recruiter.co.uk/travelodge-creates-700-new-jobs/1008299.article
07/02/11 Apprenticeships key to building hospitality talent http://www.recruiter.co.uk/apprenticeships-key-to-building-hospitality-talent/1008433.article
07/02/11 Employee responsibility http://www.recruiter.co.uk/employee-responsibility/1008466.article
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26/01/11 Government urged to make growth plans clear http://www.recruiter.co.uk/government-urged-to-make-growth-plans-clear/1008359.article
26/01/11 Shrinking economy calls for urgent action on fuel duty http://www.rec.uk.com/press/news/1403
26/01/11 Shock GDP figures http://www.rec.uk.com/home
26/01/11 Work experience crucial for young jobseekers http://www.rec.uk.com/press/news/1404
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18/01/11 Employers still cautious? http://www.rec.uk.com/press/news/1390
18/01/11 Is anyone else just a little bit scared? http://www.recruiter.co.uk/is-anyone-else-just-a-little-bit-scared?/1008140.article
18/01/11 IT jobs surge expected http://www.recruiter.co.uk/it-jobs-surge-expected/1008235.article
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12/01/11 Taken from the front page of Banbury Guardian Business Focus, Thursday, December 9, 2010
BANBURY’S job market is improving according to one of the town’s recruitment agencies. Selection Matters Ltd, based in Southam Road, Banbury, has seen firms starting to employ again. Duncan Cooper, director at Selection Matters, said: “We have seen a steep increase in vacancy activity in Banbury and its surrounding areas. “As business owners we have all fought our way through a hard recession and come out the other side energised. “A new wave of optimism and resolve seems to be sweeping the region’s employers.” Selection Matters has more than doubled its staffing levels since it started up in Banbury a year ago. Mr Cooper said: “Our increase in staff is thanks to Banbury’s businesses having the confidence to make appointments that will elevate their business and make the memory of recession a distant one. “We ourselves have banished the word from the office. We are predicting a prosperous 2011.
Read PDF Article or Read Online
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11/01/11 Jobseekers, there is more to using a recruitment agency than meets the eye http://www.rec.uk.com/jobseeker
11/01/11 We recommend the following businesses http://www.selectionmatters.co.uk/links.php
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04/01/11 If you are a small business owner, The Federation of Small Businesses are a business organisation you should be making the most of. Check them out http://www.fsb.org.uk/
04/01/11 REC forecasts that 2011 will be a mixed year for jobs http://www.rec.uk.com/press/news/1357
04/01/11 Networking - How to create value for others and boost your own career http://www.recruiter.co.uk/networking-–-how-to-create-value-for-others-and-boost-your-own-career/1007900.article
04/01/11 What's wrong with work? http://www.recruiter.co.uk/what’s-wrong-with-work?/1007901.article
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Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! See you in 2011
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23/12/10 Unemployment falls as job market picks up http://www.banburyguardian.co.uk/news/local/unemployment_falls_as_job_market_picks_up_1_2197947
23/12/10 Severe weather has cost Oxford £10m so far http://www.banburycake.co.uk/news/8750735.SNOW___Severe_weather_has_cost_Oxford___10m_so_far_____/
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23/12/10 A great place to liaise with like-minded business people http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1320060947#!/home.php?sk=group_161697080527250
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22/12/10 Increase in VAT thresholds could create up to 35,000 jobs in small firms http://www.fsb.org.uk/News.aspx?loc=pressroom&rec=6799
22/12/10 Join us on FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1320060947#!/pages/Selection-Matters-Ltd/153550745754
22/12/10 OR maybe you're a Tweeter http://twitter.com/#!/JOBS_IN_BANBURY
22/12/10 We are members of the Federation of Small Businesses http://www.fsb.org.uk/ Have a look at how they give small business like us a much BIGGER voice!
22/12/10 EMPLOYERS, our target audience is HUGE! Much bigger than other local agencies! We have 12.4 million candidates across our portfolio of job sites. FACT!
22/12/10
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21/12/10 Workplace terms misunderstood http://www.recruiter.co.uk/workplace-terms-misunderstood/1008047.article
21/12/10 One in five plan to change jobs over pay http://www.recruiter.co.uk/one-in-five-plan-to-change-jobs-over-pay/1008049.article
21/12/10 Adapting to public sector shifts http://www.recruiter.co.uk/adapting-to-public-sector-shifts/1007936.article
21/12/10 Forecasting tomorrow's world today http://www.recruiter.co.uk/analysis/forecasting-tomorrows-world-today/1007780.article
21/12/10 JOBSEEKERS, add your CV here to aid your search http://www.totaljobs.com/
21/12/10 JOBSEEKERS, add your CV here to aid your search http://www.reed.co.uk/
