Moaning Cabin staff could spell the end of British Airways!

As the British Airways strike gets underway I’m sitting here watching the news and wondering if the company will survive the actions of its own workforce.

We’ve just experienced the worst recession since the 1930’s and as a business owner who has recently had to go through the pain of loosing a business that I’d grown and nurtured for many years, I’ve now picked myself up, dusted myself down and started again.

What on earth do the cabin crew think they are going to achieve my carrying out this industrial action? Public opinion is not behind them and their actions could damage British Airways beyond repair.

British Airways needs to tighten it’s belt like any other business at the moment and the workforce need realise that. I’ve learnt some hard lessons due to this recession and one of them is that if you want to ride out turbulent economic times you need to make some hard decisions which wont be pleasant but need to done otherwise you’re up shit creek!

These whingeing, whining bastards should just be grateful that they’ve got a job! If it were up to me I’d just sack the bloody lot of them, and get some fresh new people in who would be glad of the opportunity to have a job!

New gr8 Website launched!

Take a look at the latest jobs on the new website:

www.gr8recruitment.co.uk

Latest jobs from Steve Cooper...

Wedding Co-ordinator
(Ref: 6231)
to £20k (depending on experience)
Hampshire
New & Urgent - This fabulous manor hotel is currently close to the completion of a £20 million re-development transforming the hotel and golf course in to one of the South East’s premier resorts.
Further developments includes luxury accommodation, new pro-shop, bars and restaurants, additional leisure facilities and improved conference and banqueting facilities for weddings and corporate functions.
Due to this exciting expansion of the resort the hotel are currently looking to recruit an experienced Wedding Co-ordinator with the drive and ambition to handle over 150 wedding sales. Your responsibility will be to drive all wedding business revenues inline with budgeted targets and to drive resort show rounds for all weddings and ensure the entire sales process from enquiry to booked event is converted inline with budgeted targets. You will be responsible for all client contracts and billing and you will be expected to attend all wedding fayres. You must be a proactive, highly organised and a confident individual with exception sales skills, commercial acumen and a full understanding KPI systems and targets. You will be responsible for managing wedding databases and all sales processes ensuring ratios for generating appointments and closing wedding business is achieved.
To apply for this exciting position you will need to have a proven sales background and experience in a hotel wedding/events sales environment, if this sounds like you email your CV now!
Please send CV’s to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

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Sales & Marketing Executive
(Ref: 6223)
From £25k (depending on experience)
Worcestershire/ West Midlands

New - This award winning live communication and video production company who work with a range of clients from large iconic brands to smaller local companies are looking to recruit a Sales & Marketing Executive. This role will help help grow business and build upon existing client base. The role is slightly Jekyll & Hyde – very process driven but yet brilliant with people too. The job role will include: Working directly with our MD you will be involved in planning & executing the new business strategy and marketing plan. Maintaining the CRM database Contacting prospective clients to promote the company. Where appropriate make appointments for our Managing Director to meet up with the prospect. Managing the production and distribution of marketing materials, our web strategy and our e marketing plans. Putting together presentations to prospective clients. Conducting research into prospective clients. Compiling paperwork for meetings. Some telesales work, however with bigger campaigns you would manage an external provider. Producing reports and working our CRM database. Manage and track our customer feedback after all jobs have been completed

Please send CV’s to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk
Please send CVs via email as Word/PDFs

Designer/Artworker

(Ref: 6232)
Hampshire
To £25k
New & Urgent - An exciting position is available for an experienced Designer/Artworker within the studio of a multi award winning advertising agency based in Hampshire.

They are looking for a true all-rounder. A creative designer who is also happy to prepare files as print ready artwork. These may be new jobs to design and lay out, existing work that needs preparing for print or amendments to existing work. It will be in a variety of print media such as leaflets, ads, mailers, brochures, exhibition panels and monographs. Candidates will need to have experience and creative ability but also be meticulous and organised way so that work goes through strict approval processes and to print in a faultless manner. The skills required are with InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and QuarkXpress. This position will suit someone with design/advertising agency experience.
Please send yourCV with work samples to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

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Junior Designer/Artworker
(Ref:6229)
Birmingham
3 month contract – to £16k pro rata
Urgent - Junior Designer/Artworker required on a 3 month contract basis initially who can help with artwork to start with then design on varied campaigns. You will be required to develop existing designs to artwork stage using CS4 with a level of creative design included. The client would want you to develop and design concepts of your own for presentation to clients and also come along to client meetings. If you’re a good creative all rounder with 1-2 years experience in a creative studio environment this could be right up your street.
Please send yourCV with work samples to:
steve@stevecooper-crs.co.uk

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Web developer
(Ref: 6221)
Birmingham City Centre
c26k
New - 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 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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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!!