Latest Jobs from Steve Cooper December 2009

Supply Chain Analyst
(Ref: 6224)
Solihull , West Midlands
to £30k
New & Urgent - Our client is a global organisation rapidly growing in the UK who provide Supply Chain Planning expertise, tools and solutions that optimise and improve their clients operations. Their customers include many major UK retailers and international blue-chip clients in manufacture and distribution.
The position is a very exciting blend of technical expertise and working with real world business problems to help clients reduce costs and increase service to their customers. Rapid growth in the UK and Europe means that they require excellent people who have good analytical skills and be confident in a client facing position.
You will be involved both on site and in our clients Solihull office supporting clients and helping deliver solutions that improve the operation of their businesses. This involves using state-of-the-art software ranging from an operational ordering tool through to strategic inventory and network optimization tools.
The role will involve analysing client’s supply chain using specialist tools, identifying problems and helping devise solutions to those problems. Expert training will be provided in supply chain network design, inventory management, demand planning, Six Sigma and SCOR. This includes working with some of the best supply chain consultants in the country with decades of experience.
Good technical knowledge is key for this role and the ability to apply it practically to solving business problems. Knowledge of optimization methods such as linear programming, heuristics and statistics is desirable in understanding the inner workings of the software which helps with explaining results to clients. From a technical perspective, skills in MS Excel and MS Access are essential with any programming or SQL experience desirable. All applicants must have an EU Passport or a UK working visa and must have a car and a valid driver’s license.
Please send CV to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

______________________________________

Web developer
(Ref: 6221)
Birmingham City Centre
c26k
New & Urgent - Based in a really cool workspace 3 storeys up in the buzz of New Street, Birmingham this small but perfectly formed Design Agency need to get a skilled Web Developer on board to get straight down to business on some exciting web projects. On the front end visual side you’ll definitely need CSS, XHTML, JavaScript and the back end dev side PHP (OOP/MVC framework experience a must) and MySQL There will also be significant use of WordPress, Drupal and phpBB.
Experience of the following would be an advantage but not essential: CodeIgnitor (Expression Engine preferable), jQuery, Prototype. Web APIs: Slideshare, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo, Delicious. Server management: Ubuntu, Apache. Tools: Coda, Adobe CS 3.
Please send CV with links to your online work to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Latest Jobs from Steve Cooper...

Creative Director
(Ref: 6220)
£30-35k
Worcestershire
New & Urgent - This Worcestershire based agency is a fusion of a graphic design and a corporate publications agency. Their work ranges from traditional marketing campaigns for SMEs to pioneering digital comms for big name companies They specialise in designing high quality magazines, newsletters and employee publications, many for blue chip organisations. You’ll need to be a highly experienced senior creative or creative director who has both traditional and Mac based design skills and you’ll also need to demonstrate a keen interest in, and knowledge of, digital solutions. Are you the ambitious, inspirational, outrageously creative, project focused and quality obsessed team leader my client is looking for? – If so get your CV and work samples over to me asap!
Please send CV’s to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk
Please send CVs via email as PDFs plus examples of your work.

______________________________________

Senior Designer – 12 months maternity cover
(Ref: 6219)
£neg
Worcestershire
New & Urgent - An experienced designer is required with a particular strength in publications for a 12 months maternity cover position. You’ll need to be creative with an eye for detail and able to work with pace, flair and passion. This Worcestershire based agency is a fusion of a graphic design and a corporate publications agency. Their work ranges from traditional marketing campaigns for SMEs to pioneering digital comms for big name companies They specialise in designing high quality magazines, newsletters and employee publications, many for blue chip organisations. For this role you’ll need proven experience of creative work on high quality internal comms, newsletters and employee magazines. Top notch Mac skills in CS3 and Quark will be essential. If this sounds like you get your CV and work samples over to me asap!
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk
Please send CVs via email as PDFs plus examples of your work.

______________________________________

Photography Manager
(Ref: 6217)
Birmingham
£20-23k - according to experience (F/T) + bonus

New - This leading makeover photography studio with big plans for expansion require an enthusiastic, dynamic individual to manage their Birmingham photography department. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated and creative individual to further develop their commercial and managerial skill sets.

The successful applicant will be responsible for administration, staff performance analysis and management, reporting, equipment maintenance and motivating a team of photographers to carry forward the creative direction of the photography department. The role will report directly to the Head of Photography.

The successful applicant will preferably have people management experience and an excellent working knowledge of digital photography with a strong portraiture portfolio. You will have excellent administrative experience including working knowledge of Excel and other IT skills. You will be highly organised, proactive, have excellent communication skills and be capable of following instruction in addition to using initiative.

Please send CV’s to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk
Please send CVs via email as PDFs plus examples of your photography.

______________________________________

Digital Press Operator
(Ref: 6218)
Telford
£17-20k
New - This In-house design and print studio are looking for a full time Digital Print Operator to work within their Telford offices. You’ll need good digital press experience, preferably on a Xerox 5252 which they have at the moment but are changing to a Xerox 700 soon.
Please send CV’s to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

______________________________________

Creative Web Designer
(Ref: 6216)
Worcestershire
c£25k
This design agency is looking to recruit a proven Creative Web Designer. Based in near Redditch this small but busy design agency are getting busy in the digital area so you’ll need top notch skills with the full CS3/4 suite including Flash and Dreamweaver, HTML, CSS and knowledge of development/coding using PHP or .NET. If you have a portfolio of creative websites and proven industry experience please send your CV and links to your work.
Please send CV’s to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk
Please send CVs via email as PDFs plus links to your online work

______________________________________

Creative Designer
(Ref: 6215)
Shropshire to£25k
New - Creative Designer required for this in-house studio based in Telford, Shropshire. You'll need to be skilled in CS3 or 4 and have experience of working in an agency or in-house design studio working on brochure and printed material. If this sounds like you send CV and design examples to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk
Please send CVs via email as PDFs

Talented Copywriter

I've just interviewed an excellent Junior Copywriter who is available for freelance and permanent roles in the Midlands and Warwickshire.

If you'd like to see a full CV for this candidate contact: steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Funky Designer available...

Click to view the flyer full size.

Star Trek rocks!

I am an avid fan of Star Trek Next Gen, Voyager, DS9 and Enterprise I loved the original series, but was never as keen a fan as I was of newer stuff. So I was both unsure and excited about the new film and how it could be reborn by Lost creator J.J Abrams nearly a decade into the 21st century.

For those who haven’t boldly gone the cinema yet the movie is a prequel that begins before Spock and Captain Kirk first met but spins it in an innovative and gritty way. I don’t want to give it away but instead of telling a story where we can expect it's outcome they have completely reinvented Star Trek.

Setting the scene with young versions of Kirk and Spock the film shows Kirk as less cheesy and more gritty with a James Dean style and major attitude struggling to find his way in the world. The young Spock is similarly afflicted as he struggles to cope with his Vulcan/Human heritage. Bones is brilliant, Uhura is ‘as fit as’ and of course Simon Pegg as Scotty injects a massive dose of humour into the film, if a little late on.

Visually the film is stunning, the CGI is quite simply spot on setting a benchmark for not only further Star Trek movies but to other blockbuster movies. Set design is clean and precise, the cinematography style has a lot of lens flares and color shifts that again gives off a futuristic style yet doesn't polish it to the point of being tacky.

The action scenes are awesome and fast paced. I loved the Sky dive from space onto a drilling platform, then Sulu pulls out a Samurai sword that extended out like a light saber, ace! I also had to smile at the random guy in the red shirt who you just knew was going to buy it!

With J.J Abrams in the director's chair there is a young, new and dare I say it ‘sexy’ cast that are boldly going to go where no one has gone before.

While it's always a bit risky tinkering with a much loved piece of science fiction, J.J Abrams appears to have kept longstanding fans happy whilst introducing Trek virgins to the Star Trek universe by creating the first Star Trek for everyone. In my opinion he may just well have produced one of the best prequels of all time.

Steve Cooper

Recruitment Agencies need to adapt to survive recession

As a Linked In user I was reading the discussion about recruitment agencies needing to adapt to survive the recession.

Our stand on this at SCR is to continue to supply a first rate recruitment consultancy service, where we understand the needs and requirements of our clients. We are empathizing with our clients who are struggling through recession themselves. We are offering free help and advice to our clients with regard to redundancies including find work for any of their redundant staff. For those that are recruiting we are only presenting fully interviewed candidates (portfolios assessed where needed) who match the exact brief given. We have reduced our recruitment fee's and offer a further prompt payment reduction, please call for details.

In the current climate, we are only able to assist candidates with backgrounds and experience that exactly match the general requirements of our clients. We are unable to help candidates with limited experience or those looking for a career change. We meet our candidates face to face in a full registration interview, offering feedback to improve CV, portfolio's or interview techniques. We take a proactive approach to find new opportunities for those candidates we register.

In the Discussion there was talk about a CV service, where I assume candidates post CV's which are forwarded directly to companies without a sifting process for a reduced fee. I can see no benefit in this to anyone. As a candidate you'd have no control over your CV and to whom it was sent including all of your personal information and it could go to your current employer. As a client you'd be inundated with e-mails and calls from unsuitable candidates as people try to spread their job searches, this is based on the numbers we are dealing with on a daily basis. It would be a nightmare for all concerned. I'm interested to hear if anyone has any comments on this scenario

We are all highly experienced Recruitment Consultants in the Creative/Marketing sectors, who are hoping this high level of service along with our expertise will see us through the recession.

Ann Downs

ann@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Oink Oink!!

This is hilarious! It's nice to see that the creative skills of packaging designers is not going to waste in these challenging times. Also it's good that the media is now getting hysterical about something else rather than the downturn.

Don't do it Ann - only 3 days to go!

As I prepare for the Easter Break by brushing the hot-cross bun crumbs away and trying to resist eating the Creme Egg (Carl’s just bought) until the end of lent on Sunday. I feel the need to make a comment about how quiet recruitment can be at this time of year.

There is a lot of talk about the recession effecting businesses and recruitment at the moment.

BUT it is traditionally quiet over Easter, for a couple of reasons:

Firstly: Year End 5^th April 2009. Business budgets are decided including marketing and recruitment spends. When I’ve worked in other sectors I’ve known companies scramble to recruit through March to make sure they spend their recruitment budget to prevent cuts in the next financial year. Unfortunately I’ve not seen this trend in the Creative & Marketing Sector but companies tend to reassess business including shortfalls they may have in their staffing requirements. I think this will be particularly beneficial for candidates with digital experience whether creative, marketing or technical.

Marketing spends – there should be some clearer indications of how much has been allocated. I don’t think for one minute that everyone is going to spend huge amounts through 2009 but there has been so much uncertainty this year, that some guidance should see some decisions been made about campaigns. This should have a knock on effect – as agencies and studios are briefed with work, those who have consolidated, will need extra staff to complete work, whether freelance or permanent.

Secondly - the kids are on holiday so parents take time off. It’s the first major break in the year and lots of people take time off, whether it’s the same as the schools or tacking a week either side. This includes decision makers, making it a difficult time for general business & recruitment.

So I’d like to think that towards the end of April, we will see more marketing budgets been spent and more freelance & permanent vacancies appearing.

Back to Easter and my cravings for Chocolate... just how many calories are there in a Crème Egg?

Hope you all have a lovely Easter Break.

Ann

ann@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Interesting rates!

As interest rates remain at 0.5% for a second month you may be 'interested' to read this about the highs and lows of interest rates 1694-2009

21st Anniversary Red Dwarf on Dave – Smeggin’ brilliant!

To celebrate the 21^st birthday of the excellent Sci-Fi cult comedy, Red Dwarf Dave are screening a new 3 part special over Easter.

As a one time singleton the pleasures of Dave helped me through many a lonely evening. While relaxing on the couch in my boxer shorts eating Doritos, drinking Stella and farting I whiled away the hours watching re-runs of Top Gear, Mock the Week, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and of course Red Dwarf!

If you’re not familiar with Red Dwarf here’s a quick run down…Curry loving Dave Lister is the last human being in space, with only his spaceship's senile computer, Holly for company – until Holly provides a hologram of his dead room mate, Arnold Rimmer who he detested. There’s also a humanoid creature that evolved from the ship's cat and a cleaning-obsessed robot called Kryten. That's the lot of Dave Lister, trapped aboard the mining ship Red Dwarf in this clever and sometimes poignant cult sci-fi comedy. 



The amazing thing about Red Dwarf is that it always triumphed over its TV sitcom budget. Reverse universes, exploding spaceships, genetically engineered life-forms and ruthless killer mutants – over eight series the makers took us across the universe, three million years from home…yet never left their earthly characters behind.

So now - much to my girlfriend’s disgust I will be slobbing on the sofa over Easter in my boxers watching Red Dwarf – Back to Earth on Dave. Maybe I can persuade her to do the same! - Steve Cooper

The Damned United – another good character role for Michael Sheen

With the new movie about Brian Clough ‘The Damned United’ coming out this weekend I thought I’d write a few words on the actor Michael Sheen who stars as Cloughy! He’s now played some of the most impersonated and well known characters in British sport, TV and politics. Ranging from his well known portrayal of Tony Blair in ‘The Queen’ and as David Frost in ‘Frost/Nixon’ (where was his Oscar?) on the big screen. Michael also had a fantastic part portraying the tragic and complicated life of the loved ‘Carry On’ legend Kenneth Williams in the BBC 4 television drama Fantabulosa!

He seems to have a talent for playing these type of characters without falling into the trap of slipping into a ‘Spitting Image’ style impersonation.

What’s next for Michael, well if there’s ever a film about the life of Simon Pegg he’d be a dead ringer!

March/April Newsletter

For the latest new and views from the world of creative & marketing recruitment check out the Steve Cooper Recruitment Newsletter.

Click on the thumbnail image to view at full size.

Surviving Recession Guides by the BBC

Just catching up with the news on this rainy lunch time when I came across a couple of great article on the BBC news website.


Firstly there is one for companies, including; general advice, delaying tax payments, how to handle redundancy, securing a bank loan, winning contracts and securing payments from other firms How firms can cope with recession.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7842650.stm

Secondly a guide to the help you can get if lose your job. It gives sound practical and guidance about action you can take should if you are made redundant. The articles covers saving, mortgage, redundancy, debt, pensions as well as job hunting. Full guide to where to get help if you lose your job.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7886759.stm

Design Week’s 2008 Salary Survey now available

It’s an interesting read and looks like the Regions are fairing better than London. We were asked to submit figures along with other recruiters about 6 weeks ago. You can see by the article that the emphasis for all recruiters is not to look to the past but to the future and how clients and candidates can get the best out of the economic downturn.

Here are a few brief comments on current times.

- It is more of a client lead market place – we are aiming for a fair salary for skills

- There is increase in both quantity and quality of candidates – ideal time to recruit high quality candidates.

- Candidates should take time to prepare CV’s & portfolios – first impressions count

- Digital is in demand as ever increasing business is moved online.

- Freelance – we’ve not seen a turn around yet but believe it will, to counteract consolidation.

To read the full article and see the salary survey for 2008

Ann Downs

ann@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Hot Wyred!

Well here I am (that’s me on the left), aching, but happy after my 5k run on Sunday through the Wyre Forest nr. Kidderminster in a not too disgraceful time of 32mins 14secs. The run was organised on behalf of the British Heart Foundation www.bhf.org.uk. I’m glad to report that I made it without the aid of oxygen or resuscitation, although I have to admit that with the last third of the run being all uphill (which no-one told me about beforehand) I did start to hallucinate to the point that everything seemed to be in slow motion and I swear I could hear the theme from ‘Chariots of Fire’ as I crossed the finishing line. I must say, thanks to my running mate Simon, we made a fine sight as we cut through the swathe of runners at the beginning - only for the swathe to cut back about ten minutes later. Seriously it was a good morning’s run and heroically (or stupidly) we’ve vowed to do it again very soon, so watch this space. I’m sure you’ll agree the photo portrays our lion-hearted ‘cry God for Harry’ determination to finish – before we collapsed exhausted over the line minutes later.

Carl Whitehouse

carl@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Remember your job isn't that bad!

Alfa 8c

I know I bang on about how unreliable my GT is (it's in the shop as write this) but you just have to listen to the sound that the Alfa 8c makes!!

As Jezza said on Top Gear - this car is a piece of art!!

Credit might be crunching but our standards remain high.

During this challenging time for business, it’s tempting for recruitment consultancies to cut corners in an effort to quickly get CVs in front of clients who are looking for staff. Some recruiters may not interview candidates thoroughly, or submit CVs that have only a passing resemblance to the job spec provided by clients. This is done to speed up things or beat other recruiters to the draw. However, we feel that by concentrating on the ‘recruitment process’ and ensuring our candidates are interviewed well by our REC trained staff before we send out CVs, we will continue to give clients the best service possible. With markets contracting, we believe it is more important than ever that we demonstrate our in-depth expertise in understanding and responding fully to the needs of our clients. Carl Whitehouse: carl@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Branding Consultancy required for Museum of Liverpool

National Museums Liverpool has launched a search for a branding consultant to create a lasting brand identity for the newest icon to appear on the city’s waterfront: the Museum of Liverpool.

The world’s first national museum devoted to a regional city, the £72m Museum of Liverpool is the largest newly-built national museum in Britain for over a century. Expected to attract more than 750,000 visitors a year when it opens in 2010, it will be a free family visitor attraction complete with exceptional learning and community resources.

The successful applicant will support National Museums Liverpool – which currently runs seven venues including the Walker Art Gallery and the International Slavery Museum – in creating and implementing a long-term strategy to successfully raise the profile of the new museum to local, national and international audiences.

Joanna Rowlands, director of marketing and communications for National Museums Liverpool said: “The Museum of Liverpool is the major physical and cultural legacy of the city’s year as European Capital of Culture in 2008. We are looking to work with a partner who can help us to communicate the museum’s unique offering to local people and those coming from further afield.

“We will be working with the selected consultant in the lead up to the opening of the museum in 2010 to create an all-encompassing, comprehensive brand and devise a programme to implement that identity over a period of approximately 12 months.”

As a first stage, branding consultancies and agencies are invited to express their interest by responding to the branding brief by 10am on Friday 27 March, after which six companies will be shortlisted to progress to a second stage.

The first stage of the process includes submitting credentials and detailing how you would approach responding to the brief. For further information and to download the brief visit Creative Match

Ann Downs

ann@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

The first Mac!

Ahhh... I remember the days, squinting at the tiny black and white screen on my state-of-the-art Mac Plus! Check out Steve Jobs as he demos the first Macintosh in 1984!

In 2009 the mac is of course the digital canvas for Designers and Artworkers the world over. For the latest Creative Jobs visit Steve Cooper Recruitment at www.stevecooper-crs.co.uk

The Power of Posters

Being extra creative in the these difficult times is really important when it comes to outdoor advertising. Check out these fantastic outdoor campaigns from the UK and around the world.

The waiting game...

Ok, we all know that with current market forces being what they are, employers are in the driving seat if they have design and marketing vacancies to fill. But while they have a much expanded candidate base to choose from and the luxury of more time to pick and choose who they would like to see, it’s worth pointing out that this can, in certain circumstances, work against them when a final choice is made.

What do I mean by this? Well, candidates who are in the unfortunate position of being made redundant or whose job is under threat and have been for that first, second or even third interview are willing to be patient for a decision to be made – but for only so long. Employers who find a candidate they really like but who then decide to carry on interviewing ad infinitum ‘just to be sure’ can find that when they eventually come back to their favourite candidate, that person has got fed up and no matter how desperate they are for a job are put off by a delay in being chosen. It sends the wrong message about the company out to other potential candidates too, who may feel that this ‘prolonged procrastination’ is endemic in the way the company treats it’s staff generally.

So although it’s generally thought to be a buyer’s market, once the right person is seen, try to tie up interviews as quickly as possible and make a decision within a reasonably short time afterwards. After all, you might be waiting a lot longer for the right person to come round again.

Carl Whitehouse

carl@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Come on lets have some positive reporting about recruitment!

On the Chris Evans Radio 2 Show on Thursday 4th March, during the business section Kevin Green, Chief Executive from the REC (Recruitment & Employment Confederation) was interviewed about salaries. Although the title of this section was 'How to ask for an increase in your salary' the interview progressed into more ‘doom & gloom’ being reported on unemployment predictions for the future. With Kevin Green informing us that salary levels have dropped the fastest for 11 years and they are 10% lower for those getting new permanent, contract & temporary jobs. Also, that there will be a long slow movement downwards within the UK, with 3 million unemployed by early next year. So when can we look forward to getting back to nearly full employment like we are accustomed to? End of 2011!!!!

OMG!!!! lets all just give up now!!!!!

We are all aware there are less jobs about but here at Steve Cooper Recruitment Ltd we are slowly but steadily recruiting both experienced Creatives and Account Handler types within the Creative & Marketing Sectors. Other sectors of recruitment must be seeing some positives.

As a recruiter within the Creative Sector (4 years with Steve Cooper Recruitment Ltd) with over 15 years recruitment experience, I agree we need to be as realistic as possible with candidates looking for work, but ‘come on’ we need to give unemployed candidates and those looking for new jobs - some hope. I agree with the statement from Kevin Green that for the last 10 years the employees have driven the recruitment process, including salaries and now the power is in the hand of the employer. I am informing our registered candidates of this switch but also reassuring them that as a Professional Recruitment Consultant, with the backing of a Professional Creative Recruitment Agency, that I will be using my expertise to negotiate a positive outcome for them. Good professional Recruitment Agencies should be automatically doing this for their registered candidates.

For employers this is a fantastic time to be growing teams, there is a huge increase of quality/experienced candidates available at the moment. As professional recruiters within the creative sector we’d advise employers to pay the right market value for candidates, to prevent the new employee continue to search to obtain a fair salary.

As the Chris Evans show is a positive, upbeat show I’m sure Chris would be with me when I say…….

Lets all stop looking on the black side and start celebrating the successes!

Ann Downs

ann@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

Safari 4 looks cool!!

As an avid Apple fan I'm downloading the Beta version of Apple's new Safari 4! I'll be checking out and reporting back soon :-)  Steve

Creative Match

Check out our Design Jobs & Creative and Marketing jobs on Creative Match

BBC iPlayer Money Programme - James Caan's Jobs

I'd recommend catching up with this programme if you are currently searching for work, under the threat of redundancy or a business trying to survive recession, as there maybe some useful pointers you could pick up.

Last weeks Money Programme concentrated on both sides of recession and redundancy and how to secure a new role and why businesses have to make redundancies.

The programme underlined the need for businesses to offer unique services, a good example of this was the collapse of general store Woolworths - many of whose products could be bought cheaper on line or from other sources. There was some sound advice on how to survive recession for small businesses by holding on to key employees.

There was a good point made, that it is the job not the person that is being made redundant.

Although there was no mention of the Creative/Marketing sector, which is our speciality, there was some good advice about getting your CV to work for you, being proactive, re-training and staying positive through such a difficult time. A couple of people they'd interviewed and advised, had got new jobs during filming and the others were optimistically still searching. I was a little disappointed that the panel of experts didn't appear to be current/recent recruiters, or strapped for cash like the majority of people who are searching for work following redundancy are.

With over 15 years experience as a Recruitment Consultant I have see a huge variety of CV. I think the easiest advice I'd give with regard to your CV is make it clear, to the point and make sure there are no spelling mistakes. As we don't always see our own mistakes, ask someone else to proof read it, both for spelling errors and to make sure it is clear what your previous jobs have entailed. Don't forget your contact details it's surprising the number I've seen without this information.

Generally with surviving the recession and job searching my advice is to be as positive and proactive as possible, which I felt was the message from The Money Programme James Caan's Jobs.

Have a look at our website, www.stevecooper-crs.co.uk, to see details about using our services along with a variety of current Creative & Account Handling vacancies.

Ann Downs

Watchmen - at last a comic book movie for grown-ups!

If like me you've been to see most of the super-hero blockbusters movies with your kids and wanted a bit more, then Watchmen could be the film for you.  

Although the Spiderman, Xmen, Fantastic 4 and Batman films are hugely enjoyable, with the expected over the top CGI effects and tight costumes that you'd never be able to take a pee easily in, they always leave me feeling a bit short changed with it comes to seeing the baddies get their comeuppance!

Watchmen is directed by Zack Snyder who brought us the brilliant 300 and is based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore. It takes place in an alternate 1985 teetering on the brink of nuclear Armageddon. The film follows a group of former vigilantes as tensions heighten between the United States and the Soviet Union as an investigation of an apparent conspiracy against them uncovers something even more grandiose and sinister.

Watchmen may be the nastiest blockbuster ever devised! It’s action sequences are pornographically violent. Violence is the major theme of Moore’s book exploring the animalistic thrill of crushing one’s enemies. It luxuriates in snapping bones and literal explosions of gore. It's here that the gulf between comic and movie becomes most clear.

Watchmen is still going to be the ultimate tough sell: there will be those who view the film as a bewildering mishmash of underexplored themes, thinly sketched characters and noisy, excessive violence. They're probably right! any work of popular art which demands prior knowledge must be deemed a failure. And yet, there’s something admirable about the entire enterprise: its ungainly size, its unrelenting weirdness, its willful, challenging intensity. For long term fans however will Watchmen will be a hugely pleasurable experience.

I can't wait!!

Recession, what recession? I'm eating chocolate!

Chocolate eating is on the rise in the current economic slowdown according to Birmingham based confectionery giant Cadbury.

Consumers were tucking into more chocolate at home in the recession.

Chocolate seems to benefits as people stay at home. Chocolate sales are holding up well as people buy multi-packs, stock up the larder, and stay at home.

Cadbury, the world's second-largest confectionery group, behind newly merged global leader Mars-Wrigley, sells chocolate and also chewing gum brands such as Trident, and has seen overall global confectionery growth starting to slow over the last six months.

The Birmingham-based group said its worldwide global chocolate sales were up 6 percent in 2008, with its flagship Dairy Milk brand 11 percent up in the full year after a 9 percent rise in the first-half.

The group had seen a particularly strong second half of 2008 in Britain, helped by the re-launch of its Wispa bar and its new Creme Egg Twisted product.

This helped push the group's British chocolate market share up by 0.5 percentage points to nearly 30 percent, almost back to the level seen before a salmonella-linked product recall in 2006 sent Cadbury's market share down.

This compares with other major players in the market such as the privately owned U.S. group Mars on 25 percent and Swiss-based Nestle on 16 percent.

SUCCESSFUL RECRUITING AND HOW TO ACHIEVE IT

Anyone who looks in the back pages of Creative Review, Design Week or The Drum these days can’t miss the fact that there are now a lot of recruitment agencies to choose from, all of which seem to offer similar services in the Midlands and South West.

So which one to choose? How can you be sure they’ll come up with the goods and end up actually saving you money in the long term?

Steve Cooper Recruitment has now been successfully placing top quality people with clients since 2001 and prides itself on providing a personal, friendly service to clients and candidates alike.

We’ve developed long term relationships with clients precisely because we can help them square that tricky circle: finding the best-qualified people for the job, who’ll fit in with the team, and finding them fast.

What we need from you

The majority of clients who come to us need high quality people and they need them now. But matching the right people to the right roles means finding out as much about the job and company as we can.

So to get the best from your consultancy it’s vital to spend time discussing the job skills, person spec and company culture to give a complete picture of what’s required. That way, a good consultant will save you time by not sending inappropriate candidates for interview.

What you need from us

A good recruitment consultant will know the sectors he or she works in well, and appreciate how positions fit within an organisation so that vacancies and candidates can be perfectly matched.

At Steve Cooper Recruitment we understand the needs of the companies and the candidates who work within the advertising, marketing and creative sector. We all have not only in-depth recruitment experience but have also worked extensively in the sector ourselves. We are all fully recruitment-trained and qualified. We conduct face to face interviews with candidates to understand their backgrounds and requirements, and offer to visit clients if necessary to get a full understanding of the company culture, role and person required.

What’s it worth?

What do you get when you pay a recruitment agency? The team at Steve Cooper Recruitment has over 30 years recruitment experience between them, and what goes into placing a candidate is well worth the fee.

The right people at the right time: we are continually interviewing people, so when you call us to say a key member of staff has just handed in their notice or you need a freelancer tomorrow, we are able to respond, instantly if necessary, with a selection of relevant, suitable candidates.

…for the right salary: we can advise what you should be paying to attract the right people for the job.

Advertising that attracts: we’ll advertise the job in accordance with all current discrimination laws and in the right places, in print and online, to attract the largest number of appropriate candidates.

Only the best will do: we’ll reject unsuitable candidates before they even get to you, and e-mail you a short list of only relevant candidates.

Do the homework: We arrange interviews and prepare candidates with as much information about the job and company as possible. Once the interview is over, we’ll get feedback both client and candidate and update both parties.

Signed, sealed, delivered: when the good news comes we will assist with the job offer, resignation stage and start dates. We will also help tackle counter-offers if they arise.

…all for a competitive fee that’s only charged if the placement is successful – what do you have to lose?

Steve Cooper Recruitment works with permanent and freelance vacancies in creative, studio, marketing, account handling, PR and events management in the Midlands and South West. Whether you’re a client or a candidate, visit www.stevecooper-crs.co.uk or call 01527 591277 to find out more.