What transferable skills do you have to offer?

<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">Acorn by Synergie has signed up to Business in the Community&rsquo;s Opening Doors campaign, joining a growing number of businesses that are changing the way they recruit.</p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">&nbsp;</p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">The current labour market presents a challenge and opportunity for businesses. There are a record number of job vacancies, while three million people that want to find work face barriers to employment (ONS, 2022). We are committed to inclusive recruitment and hiring diverse talent.</p>
<p class="paragraph" style="margin: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;">&nbsp;</p>
<p>We do this in many ways, including;</p>
<ul>
<li>Partnering with many different organisations to help under-represented groups into work including people with convictions, the homeless and ethnic minorities.</li>
<li>Ensuring that we promote our roles via a variety of different channels for maximum reach.</li>
<li>Educating all our staff via inclusive recruitment and EDI training.</li>
</ul>
<p>To build on this progress so far, Acorn by Synergie has become an Opening Doors employer. Business in the Community&rsquo;s Opening Doors campaign seeks to make 2 million jobs more inclusive by 2025, by calling on employers to make changes to the way they recruit.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Bernard Ward, Managing Director said</strong> &lsquo;It&rsquo;s not right that so many people want to work but face barriers. Making our internal and client opportunities accessible to as many people as possible is a key business priority and Opening Doors has provided a framework from which we can review our good practices but more importantly identify areas for improvement&rsquo;.</p>

We are now an Opening Doors inclusive employer!

<h5 class="MsoNormal">The 'net zero target' refers to&nbsp;a government commitment to ensure the UK reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by 100% from 1990 levels by 2050. If met, this would mean the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by the UK would be equal to or less than the emissions removed by the UK from the environment.</h5>
<p class="MsoNormal">At Acorn by Synergie, we aim to be Carbon Net Zero by 2050.&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Scope 1, 2 and 3 are in the process of being addressed. We will be working with our parent company Synergie for a Group-wide response to Carbon Net Zero.</p>

Carbon Net Zero 

<p class="MsoNormal">Its new offering will sit alongside the UK recruiter&rsquo;s existing services and follows on from its decision to rebrand as Acorn by Synergie earlier this year, further reflecting its position in the UK as part of an international group of companies offering resources management and development services in recruitment globally.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">S&amp;You will focus predominantly on permanent specialist recruitment, as a specialist team of dedicated consultants sourcing exceptional talent for businesses looking for high-level employees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Paul Anscombe, who will be heading up the new brand, said:&nbsp;</strong>&ldquo;The landscape for recruitment has changed significantly in the past few years, which has in turn affected the way Acorn by Synergie, as one of the leading recruiters in the UK, now operates too.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&ldquo;A lot of boundaries businesses faced previously in recruiting talent have shifted since the Covid-19 pandemic, for example, and we have been compelled to change the way we work in order to best support our highly valued clients looking to spread their search further as a result.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&ldquo;Our consultants have a genuine desire to positively shape the futures of individuals we engage with and maintain a focus on helping our clients build successful, sustainable businesses via the recruitment of exceptional talent,&rdquo; <strong>Paul added.</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&ldquo;S&amp;You will help us achieve this for our clients by drawing further on our position as an internationally renowned organisation with a global reach, entirely focused on the recruitment of niche and top-level talent.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">S&amp;You will take care of Specialist Recruitment and Executive Recruitment specifically for clients operating in accountancy and finance, technology, legal, health and life sciences and other premium sectors.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The new brand will build on Acorn by Synergie&rsquo;s existing relationships to gain an in-depth understanding of the cultural and hiring needs of a wide range of existing and new business clients looking for strong applicants at the top of their game professionally.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Bernard Ward, Managing Director at Acorn by Synergie, said: </strong>&ldquo;The demand from our clients to support them with their executive recruitment needs has grown in recent years to the point where the work required of us has become greater than our current business model allowed.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&ldquo;We have taken the decision, therefore, to separate the work we do for clients seeking higher levels of expertise on an increasingly international scale out and deliver this area of the business under an entirely separate brand.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Acorn by Synergie is one of the UK&rsquo;s leading recruiters with a global outlook and 40 branches operating nationwide, with its own CSR and sustainability strategy in place too. It was also recently recognised for its commitment to supporting the emotional wellbeing of its employees as winner of the Wellbeing at Work title at this year&rsquo;s Wales Business Awards.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Bernard added:</strong> &ldquo;We know from experience that partnerships thrive on honesty and transparency, and the foundation of our success to date lies in those strong, long-lasting relationships we have worked so hard to forge over the years. The launch of S&amp;You is yet another way we are working to maintain clarity with our highly valued clients and adapting the way we work to better suit their ever-changing needs.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information on S&amp;You and the services it provides, visit&nbsp;www.sandyou.co.uk&nbsp;</p>

Acorn by Synergie launches new brand S&You

<h5 class="MsoNormal">For many, this year has felt like we&rsquo;re living through a scary film, and the jobs landscape is looking very different to how it was a few years ago.</h5>
<p>So to help you with the sometimes hair-raising task of navigating your job search, we&rsquo;ve put together some helpful tips to ensure you&rsquo;re not scaring off potential employers!</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Don&rsquo;t feel trapped</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">You probably have loads of skills that you use every single day, so why put yourself in a box? Some of the skills every manager wants to see include communication, time management, organisation, teamwork and problem-solving &ndash; so don&rsquo;t be afraid to look for jobs in other sectors and industries, transferable skills are yours for the taking!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Make your CV hauntingly good</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are lots of people now applying for the same roles, so it&rsquo;s essential your CV is more out of this world than underground. We&rsquo;ve all been told that looks don&rsquo;t matter as much as substance, however, your CV is your marketing tool and the first impression the employer has of you. There are lots of free tools, advice and templates available online so take full advantage. The trick is to keep it short, compelling (making sure you list those essential skills) and leave the employers wanting to know more.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Can you be found in the shadows?</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">We&rsquo;re living in an increasingly virtual world, therefore it&rsquo;s vital that employers and recruiters are able to find you online &ndash; so make sure your social media profiles are all updated, and that your CV is visible. Also, don&rsquo;t be afraid to ask for help from your peers and contacts, LinkedIn is a great tool for this, by building close links with professional recruitment consultants you can help them to understand your strengths and requirements.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">There is no magic wand</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">Finding the right role may take time, so be persistent as well as focused, honest, listen to feedback (those knock-backs are there to help us learn and grow) and develop a career plan which will help you carve out your perfect job.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="MsoNormal">Creep it real and get expert help</h3>
<p class="MsoNormal">It&rsquo;s important to know that you&rsquo;re not alone and there is help out there if you need it! So reach out to those contacts you&rsquo;ve built up, think about your transferable skills and get that CV out of the zombie zone!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&nbsp;</p>

Tricks and treats for a successful job search 

<p class="MsoNormal">A UK recruiter is set to help tens of thousands of people with mental health problems access life-changing support in 2023 after a series of daring fundraising feats by its staff which raised &pound;30,000 for the mental health charity, Mind.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Colleagues at Acorn by Synergie have spent the company&rsquo;s 30th year in business climbing mountains, running half marathons, getting down and dirty at mud challenges, cycling the length of Wales, organising golf challenges and more.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The money they have raised will go towards supporting Mind&rsquo;s Infoline in answering more than 3,525 enquiries this year or to ensure its &lsquo;Side By Side&rsquo; website can remain an open, safe, and supportive space for more than 642 hours, allowing around 35,010 people to interact on the site in the process.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Bernard Ward, Managing Director of Acorn by Synergie, said:</strong> &ldquo;It's been another challenging year for everyone as we emerge from the pandemic only to be hit by the rising cost of living, and the number of adults and young people experiencing mental health problems is unsurprisingly on the rise.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&ldquo;Our team felt strongly that no one should have to face mental health problems alone, deserving respect and the best support available, and as such we appointed Mind as our chosen charity during our 30th year in business.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Acorn by Synergie is one of the UK&rsquo;s leading recruiters with a global outlook and 40 branches operating nationwide, with mental health awareness and support remaining at the top of the company&rsquo;s wellbeing agenda.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In rolling out associated activities, its Mind fundraising initiative has also helped contribute to Acorn by Synergie&rsquo;s pledge in signing the Mental Health at Work Commitment, which it also achieved in its 30th anniversary year as a demonstration of its intent to actively achieve better mental health outcomes and a genuine longer term positive impact on all employees&rsquo; wellbeing too.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&ldquo;As an organisation deeply focused on the emotional wellbeing of our own employees, supporting this cause has pulled us closer as colleagues whilst also boosting the physical and mental wellbeing of those taking part in the various challenges involved too,&rdquo; <strong>Bernard added.</strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Staff from Acorn by Synergie have raised &pound;30,000 for Mind to help mark the firm&rsquo;s 30th anniversary in business</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&ldquo;We&rsquo;re incredibly proud of all of our colleagues at Acorn by Synergie that have joined forces to mark its 30th anniversary in such a poignant and meaningful way, therefore, but more importantly who have raised an incredible amount of money that is going to make a real difference to thousands of people&rsquo;s lives in the process.&rdquo;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is estimated that only 1 in 3 adults with a common mental health problem are currently getting treatment in the form of talking therapies, medication or both, and around one in six people currently experience a mental health problem of some kind each week in England.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mind has spent more than 60 years working to improve the lives of all people with experience of mental health problems, through public information campaigns, government lobbying and the 1000+ services Local Mind&rsquo;s deliver in communities across England and Wales.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Rebecca Hastings, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Mind, said</strong> &ldquo;We are so grateful the Acorn by Synergie team not only for their fundraising efforts, but also for encouraging one another to have conversations around mental health.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">&ldquo;The pandemic, and now the cost-of-living crisis, has had a devastating effect on the nation&rsquo;s mental health, especially for those of us with existing mental health problems. It is vital that everyone has access to the right support, advice and information when they need it. The money raised by staff at Acorn by Synergies will help support our Infoline, and the campaigning we do to ensure that the one in four of us who experience a mental health problem each year, do not face it alone.&rdquo;</p>

£30,000 raised for Mind 

<h5>Acorn Recruitment, one of the UK&rsquo;s leading recruitment agencies, has today announced that it has renamed as &lsquo;Acorn by Synergie&rsquo;.</h5>
<p>The rebrand has been implemented to better reflect Acorn&rsquo;s position as part of Synergie, an international group of companies and institutions offering global human resources management and development services in recruitment, temporary employment and permanent and executive solutions.</p>
<p>Bernard Ward, Managing Director of Acorn by Synergie, said of the rebrand:</p>
<blockquote>&ldquo;Since this business launched some 30 years ago, Acorn has grown to become one of the most recognised, trusted, and ambitious recruitment partners in the UK &ndash; in fact, it is ranked within the top 1% of all leading UK recruiters.&nbsp;
<h5>&ldquo;And today, Acorn by Synergie is now a multinational organisation with globally renowned foundations, an international perspective and an turnover of around &pound;2.billion. The work of our long-established and highly esteemed branches throughout the UK is complemented by Acorn by Synergie colleagues based as far away as Australia. The working world that we operate in, and the client and candidate base we are able to reach &mdash; not least since the Covid-19 pandemic &mdash; has grown significantly since our business started too.&rdquo;</h5>
Bernard added&nbsp;&ldquo;Acorn origins will always belong here, in Wales, and the local and highly personalised levels of knowledge, expertise and overall service that our clients, candidates and colleagues have come to expect from us remain an integral part of who we are, and what we do. There will be no change operationally to any of our existing divisions or branches, and we will remain visible on high streets up and down the UK.&ldquo;In becoming Acorn by Synergie we are also acknowledging the fast-growing and continuously developing nature of our workforce, there is much to be celebrated when it comes to our achievements in the past 30 years, but also much more to come for us as Acorn by Synergie too.&rdquo;</blockquote>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

Acorn Recruitment rebrands to Acorn by Synergie

<p class="__intro"><span class="Intro">You&rsquo;ve made up your mind; it&rsquo;s time to start looking for a new job, or another level in your career, so what is the next step?&nbsp;</span>You no doubt take to your favourite online search engine to find the perfect job, but before you can even start sifting through the available positions, you need to recognise which of the millions of recruitment agencies is the right one for you.</p>
<p>It&rsquo;s important to find an agency who understands the sector in which you wish to work. Therefore, if you work in a specialist role you need to find an agency which covers that area and works closely with major employers in that field.</p>
<p>The advantages of using a specialist division</p>
<ul>
<li>Specialist recruiters are proactive in their search for roles, which means jobs are advertised with them before going on to traditional job sites, so if you are going specialist, you could get in first above other candidates.</li>
<li>You are also less likely to go up against hundreds and thousands of other applicants, which will increase your chances of getting to the interview stage.</li>
<li>Specialist divisions are specifically placed to offer the best job opportunities.</li>
<li>You can benefit from focused guidance and support during the recruitment process.</li>
<li>They are more likely to meet your requirements.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you are looking for a more general role, choose a recruitment agency who manages job vacancies for people at all levels and from a variety of industries.</p>
<p>The advantages of using a generalist recruitment agency</p>
<ul>
<li>Increases your choice of industries and companies.</li>
<li>Consultants may send your CV to jobs you might have otherwise not considered.</li>
<li>They can give objective feedback on your application and how to promote yourself.</li>
</ul>
<p>At Acorn you get the best of both worlds, as we are a multi-specialist recruitment agency with a wide range of specialist divisions like construction, nursing and IT, plus many others, supported by a large network of branches across the UK.</p>
<p><strong>When you are conducting your job search, make sure to use a recruitment agency which is accredited to governing bodies such as REC (the Recruitment and Employment Federation) and has been awarded quality marks.</strong></p>

Top tips for picking the right recruitment agency

A graduate's guide to landing your first job

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<h2>A New Prison Employment Initiative</h2>
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<h3>The Reconstruct Programme is a platform designed to provide a solution.</h3>
Acorn by Synergie have set up a simple way for you to pledge your support to supporting people with convictions into employment.
<p>In partnership with the HMPPS (Prison Service), Acorn Recruitment Ltd are working with people with convictions across South Wales and Bristol via the three Welsh Prisons and HMP Bristol.<br>We go into each prison every month to work with those in their last 12 weeks of sentence that have shown a willingness to engage and are interested in a construction role.</p>
<p>Over a series of face-to-face sessions, we are establishing what skills, motivations and location areas are relevant for each individual. Our goal is to then try and assist with employment and training opportunities for each.</p>
<p>The individuals we are working with have an incredible amount of potential and in a lot of cases have construction skills that would make them a real asset to any business. There is also a tremendous motivation to turn their life around and give their all to the right company and profession.</p>
<strong>How does it work?</strong>
<h5>The key concept is strength in numbers. The bigger the network of companies pledging their support the more chance there will be an opportunity.</h5>
<p>By creating a collective of like-minded organisations based across the country we can help give confidence to these individuals that there is a chance for them to succeed and put something back into their communities.</p>
<p>Individuals could be based in a variety of various locations and could have a range of different skills. We have met Health &amp; Safety advisors, qualified tradespeople, and energy assessors through to those looking for an opportunity as a general operative or apprentice. Because of this, we feel this works best as a collaborative solution with a large network of companies big and small pulling together to make it work.</p>
<strong>What about CSCS cards?...</strong>
<p>CSCS training is now being delivered within the prisons, so candidates looking to get into construction are leaving with a full CSCS card.</p>
<p><strong>Acorn by Synergie are charging no fees for this service and there is no obligation to employ anyone via Acorn by Synergie</strong></p>
<h2>I&rsquo;m not sure I could commit&hellip;</h2>
<p><strong>That&rsquo;s the beauty of the network. The only commitment you have to give is to be open-minded and if you have a potential opening for an individual that falls into your area or line of work then you would consider them.</strong></p>
<p>We appreciate that employment (especially in construction) is often down to timing and location. With enough of us within the network, we believe that it gives the best chance of employment being secured.</p>
<p>Being part of the network also means that Acorn by Synergie will carry out the front-end work. We will take the responsibility of going into the prisons, meeting people frequently and working with the teams to get them work ready.</p>
<p><img src="https://www.acornpeople.com/media/4159/reconstruct_logos.png" alt="Reconstruct Logos (1)"></p>
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<h2>Key benefits to my company?</h2>
<p class="__intro">If your business chose to be part of this network it would include these benefits:&ndash;</p>
<ul>
<li>It is free to join</li>
<li>Business featured on dedicated network web page supporting people with convictions into employment</li>
<li>Social media promotion of your support</li>
<li>Shows you are supporting social value in the form of improving social mobility</li>
<li>Fantastic evidence to include in tenders and case studies</li>
<li>An easy way for you to do something massively rewarding and worthwhile without having to allocate a lot of resources to it</li>
<li>A fantastic way to identify new talent to assist with skills shortages</li>
<li>Positive PR for your business</li>
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<div class="usercontent"><strong>The pledge &ndash; What we would ask of you&hellip;</strong>
<p class="__intro">In short&hellip; very little, but we would look for the following:&ndash;</p>
<ul>
<li>Provide us with a rough idea of the locations and types of roles that you might employ</li>
<li>Be willing to receive an email about a candidate that matched your brief above</li>
<li>Be able to feedback to us if you didn&rsquo;t have any upcoming openings for that individual</li>
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<h4><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px;" data-metadata="&lt;!--(figmeta)eyJmaWxlS2V5IjoiYTY0bGNsdXRxNG1tSXY5a1B1eVA2dyIsInBhc3RlSUQiOjgxNTA2Nzc2OCwiZGF0YVR5cGUiOiJzY2VuZSJ9Cg==(/figmeta)--&gt;">&nbsp;</span></h4>
<h4>If this initiative fits in with your Social Value Strategy please Lawrence Beach. Thank you.</h4>
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