AN EXPANDING recruitment company with branches in Flint and Wrexham has launched a specialist technical division. The creation of Gap Technical will enable the Gap group to extend its reach into new markets. Sectors being targeted will include fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), engineering, pharmaceutical and scientific, aerospace and construction. Specialist recruitment consultants are being hired for each market and will use their industry knowledge and expertise to match highly skilled candidates to suitable vacancies. Martin Willemsen is heading the Gap Technical team. The 33-year-old, of Hartford in Cheshire, is in the process of recruiting a team to drive the new division forward. A northern base has been set up in Warrington, and a southern office could be opened in the coming months. Martin said: Its early days in what is a long-term project, but Im really excited by the challenge. The key challenge over the next few months is to develop a credible offering and establish the Gap name in some new sectors. Having the good name of Gap in our title will be an invaluable asset as we look to do this. Gary Dewhurst, managing director at Gap Personnel, said: This is an exciting move that once again demonstrates Gaps ambition, drive and determination to grow despite the economic doom and gloom. The Gap name is well known in industrial recruitment particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, food and drink, waste management and distribution. Launching a specialist technical division will enable us to bring a strong offering to new sectors. Gap Technical will be based on our core values of responsiveness, customer service and integrity. In 2011 Gap had a turnover of about 60m. The company covers more than 1.5 million shifts a year and employs 165 specialist recruiters and contract managers.
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An influential business group called Friends of the Supergrid held its first conference last week in Brussels to further their objective of a Europe-wide renewable-powered electricity grid. This is a huge undertaking, connecting the national grids of EU countries together via “SuperNodes” to enable massive amounts of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels by 2050. Friends of the Supergrid President, and CEO of Irish company Mainstream Renewable Power, Dr Eddie O’Connor stated, “There are now no technical barriers to the delivery of a European Supergrid.
QUT student Jodie Lee already had a remarkable passion for accounting before meeting leading Brisbane accountant Dan Carroll. But after hearing him give a guest lecture on campus late last year, her interest reached fever pitch.
Jodie was so taken with Mr Carroll’s enthusiasm and knowledge that she put in a special request to be matched with the Grant Thornton audit and assurance partner in the QUT Career Mentor Scheme for 2012.
“His knowledge and the way he spoke really blew everyone away in the lecture,” the Strathpine student said.
“It really motivated everybody.
HORSE owners are this month being invited to have the tyres on their horseboxes or trailers checked for free. People are being offered the complimentary check by Mold Barry During the spring many horseboxes and trailers will make their first trip after being stored away for the winter. Not all people are aware that tyres can deteriorate when left unused for extended periods of time. Also because some trailers and horseboxes are only used occasionally, often for limited miles, they remain on the vehicle for longer. This can be a problem as tyres become time expired after seven years.
The Taoiseach is in New York as part of his United States visit to mark St Patrick’s Day. On Monday the Taoiseach met with Duncan Niederauer, CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, before giving his address and ringing the opening bell.
In his address, the Taoiseach said “It’s a great honor for me to ring the opening bell on Ireland Day at the New York Stock Exchange.
“This is an annual occasion when the eyes of the world are on Ireland and I’m pleased to be associated with the launch of Ireland Inc on Ireland Day 2012.
“It is a real source of pride to me and to all Irish people that so many of our countrymen and women have helped to build this city and its institutions.
“Here on Wall Street the Irish footprint is clear whether you look at the trading floor, the brokerages, banks, even the business media, our Irish family stretches the globe… a 70million strong diaspora who have been strong advocates for the Irish economy and the Irish people.”
The Taoiseach spoke of Ireland’s economic recovery, and some key strengths of the Irish economy. He said “Ireland is
BIG BUMP: Pfizer CEO Ian Read saw compensation nearly triple to $18 million in 2011, his first full year heading the drugmaker. That includes $1.7 million in salary and stock and option awards of $12.5 million.
SOME PROGRESS: Read has cut costs, restructured Pfizers massive research operation, gotten some new drugs approved and slowed the decline in revenue since cholesterol blockbuster Lipitor got generic competition.
INVESTOR ISSUES: Shareholders at the annual meeting on April 26 vote on several proposals to allow votes between meetings and give them a say on board members pay.
Dozens of progressive businesses from all over South London gathered on Friday at the Green Business Expo sponsored by SOS Office Solutions, Wandsworth’s leading supplier of environmentally-friendly office products. The event had trade stands, seminars, a “speed networking” session – a kind of speed dating for businesses, and a selection of green raffle prizes donated by local companies.
Held at the Riverside Business Park and graced by Wandsworth’s Mayor, Cllr Jane Cooper, it demonstrated that even in a difficult business environment, becoming a greener company makes financial sense.
Trish Smith, MD SOS Office Solutions (left) and Mayor Cllr Jane Cooper, (right) at SOS Office Solutions Green Expo 2012.
Irish rock star and philanthropist Bob Geldof has raised $200 million for the African private equity fund ’8 Mile’, in a major move away from seeking debt forgiveness for the poverty stricken region to a new emphasis on promoting private enterprise.
‘Africa is now a continent of extraordinary business and investment opportunity,’ Geldof said in a statement reported by eyewitnessnews.co.za.
TOKYO (AP) – Japans industrial production rebounded 4 percent in December from November and household spending increased for a second month, suggesting the still-weak economy is gaining some steam after last years tsunami disaster and flooding in Thailand that disrupted manufacturers supply chains.
Output of automobiles, cell phones and semiconductors drove the gains last month after production fell 2.7 percent in November. Manufacturers project further production increases in January and February, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Tuesday.
But Japans unemployment rate edged up to 4.6 percent and Junko Nishioka, economist at RBS Japan Securities, cautioned that the economic outlook was “mixed.”
While she was heartened by the 0.5 percent uptick in family spending, Nishioka said prospects for Japans vital manufacturing sector remained tentative amid weak export demand.
“The pace of recovery will be slow,” she said.