QUEST TO FIND THAT ONE IN A MILLION
There are currently more than 1.4 million temporary workers helping to keep the wheels of the UK's turning on a daily basis.But the search is now on to find just one among this million plus who could be crowned the UK's top temporary worker by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, the representative body for the UK's private recruitment and staffing industry.
Now in its eighth year, the 2008 One in the Million Award is the highlight of National Temporary Workers Week, the REC's flagship event which runs from June 2nd to 6th and celebrates the enormous contribution the UK's legion of temporary, contract and interim staff make to the UK economy.
This year's National Temporary Workers Week has an added dimension due to ongoing Trade Union pressure from more national legislation covering temps and for a European Directive on agency work to be agreed in Brussels. The risk is that these additional regulations could add substantial bureaucracy for employers and agencies which in turn could limit the opportunities that temping provides for workers.
The calls for more regulation are often based on the mistaken premise that temporary workers are systematically underpaid and exploited which is something that National Temporary Workers Week challenges. The experiences and feedback of the workers themselves confirms that temping and contract work provides flexibility and choice as well as giving those furthest away from the jobs market a stepping stone into employment.
For recruitment consultants and agencies, getting involved in National Temporary Workers Week - in particular, by nominating temporary, contract or interim staff for the coveted One in a Million title - is an opportunity to make a real difference by promoting the crucial contribution that agency work makes to the UK economy and labour market.
The overall winner will be selected from 15 categories so could come from any walk of temporary working life either in a role as a childcare or social worker, as a driver or industrial worker, or as an interim manager, IT or TEC contractor. Others could be challenging the stereotype for a particular job role or have made a successful transition from a temporary to permanent position.
The awards will include one new category for the MMC Contractor of the Year which follows the setting up of the REC's new Marketing, Media and Communications sector group.
But their eventual success can only be celebrated if recruiters across the UK bring them to the REC's attention. The current title holder Michael Ross, the Agency Office Worker of the Year, impressed the judges with his tireless work helping one of the regional directors of the Alzheimer's Society to such a degree, he helped change the whole administration system within the office.
Anita Holbrow, the REC's Director of Marketing said: "All 14 of our category winners last year were a real inspiration. There were so many other wonderful stories, such as our dustbin woman who certainly challenged the common image of a refuse collector and a supply teacher from Ghana who took one of the most demanding jobs of all - as a teacher in a young offenders' institute.
"All of them demonstrated great dedication to their respective areas of temporary work. We are absolutely positive there are many more incredible people like them who are worthy of such recognition. So it is all down to our members to put them forward for the award and celebrate their achievements."
Entry forms for the One In A Million Award can be downloaded by visiting the website www.tempweek.uk.com. For further information about the REC or to find a member near you, call 020 7009 2100.
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For more information, call Alison Henderson, Press Manager, the REC, 020 7009 2157.
Notes for Editors:
The One in a Million Award also includes two categories, which were introduced for the first time last year. They are:
- The Diversity Plus Award in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus, given to the person who has most challenged the traditional view of the type of person suiting a particular job because of their age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability or ethnic background.
- The Stepping Stone Award recognises an individual who has secured a permanent role on the strength of their excellence and ability in a temporary job.
- Other sector categories are Agency Driver, Agency Office Worker, Agency Industrial Worker, Interim Manager, Supply Teacher, Locum, IT Contractor, TEC Contractor, Agency Nurse, Agency Social Worker, Agency Child Care Worker and Agency Care Worker.
- The category winners will be selected by a distinguished judging panel comprising editors of recruitment and sector publications, category sponsors and senior REC staff. The One In a Million winner and all the other category finalists will be presented with their prizes by Pat McFadden, Minister for Employment Relations at a House of Commons reception on Wednesday June 4th.
E-mail: administrator@recruitmenttimes.co.uk
