Government’s £4m campaign to encourage ‘staycations’ a flop?

It seems that the Government’s attempt to encourage UK holiday makers to stay at home and holiday in the UK has not had the desired effect according to a recent poll by Holiday Extras. It suggested that 53% of those going on holiday prioritise a vacation abroad rather than one at home.

The campaign is focussed on the positive impact of staycations, and encourages holiday makers this year to take advantage of what the UK has to offer. This will play a part in boosting the UK’s tourism industry and hopefully have a positive effect on the economy. 

Following the global economic crisis whilst support is required in all economies including the UK’s, staycations yield positive results in terms of their effect on tourism, hospitality and the UK economy.

This campaign caused slight controversy as it discouraged holidaying abroad and for resorts that rely on tourism for their economy this could have detrimental effects. However it is the current economic situation that has caused this increased trend in holidaying at home and people wanting more value for their money. Simply the campaign suggests that adventure, activities and relaxing breaks can be found in the UK and that in fact “Holidays at home are GREAT”.

With major historic events as the Olympics and the Queens Diamond Jubilee happening very soon hopefully we don’t need to worry too much about drumming up popularity for staying in the UK!

Relocation, Relocation, Relocation: Moving Abroad for Work

In the last few years there has been an unprecedented rise in professionals relocating to different continents, despite the international economic crisis.

So, why is this big move such a good idea?

With the exception of the obvious positives of working abroad such as being in a new and exciting city, improving your standard of living and, of course, the better weather there are significant advantages to working abroad.

Money is certainly an incentive; "nearly half of employees around the world would think about moving abroad for a pay rise". But the reasons to relocate go beyond just the financial aspects.
Undeniably the export and import of high calibre individuals has a positive effect on a country. Hong Kong is a particularly interesting case. A recent report by The Daily Telegraph has shown that due to its ageing population and low birth rate Hong Kong is in desperate need of workers of a wide range of skills and calibre: "The Government of Hong Kong is speeding up plans to lure skilled foreign workers as it predicts a massive labour shortage".This refers to a huge range of jobs, not just executive positions however it is still no less important to note. Other countries seeking skilled workers from abroad are Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, India and Russia. Although in many cases this could apply mostly to construction and engineering specialists it does play a significant part in the development of a country and its economy. In addition it supports other industries such as leisure, hospitality and tourism necessitating the need to import experienced executives in these sectors.
Employees with international experience is of value to potential employers, it provides a distinctive edge and can open up other possibilities and opportunities and improve an individual’s reputation and employability.

Despite the obvious pros it is not a decision to be taken lightly. It is certainly something you need be sure of, get support from family and get the family involved as it is likely they will be moving too. Seek practical help and importantly have a clear understanding of what you are moving to, not just the new job but also the language, cost of living, culture and laws of the new country. And of course it does not have to be permanent, as Colin Smith, the general counsel in Hong Kong for hedge fund managers Orchard Capital Partners Limited commented; "I often wonder why people don't take the opportunity to move abroad more often - if you don't like it you can always go back" .
The BBC news article gives tips on up heaving your life and how to make the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Counter Offers

In Executive Search we see shocked companies making counter offers all the time. Counter Offers are to be expected, especially at Executive Level. No company wishes to lose their top players. Almost half of all employees recieve a counter offer when they hand in their resignation and as such throughout the interview process we always ask our candidates how they would react to a counter offer, as it is usually the case that a company will try to keep them, at least as an interim step. However, in our experience acceptance of a counter offer is never a good idea.

You will feel flattered or pressured (or both!) by your company pulling out all the stops to keep you. These are colleagues you will have known potentially for many years, some of them will be your friends, you will feel emotionally invested in accepting their counter offer or you will feel guilty if you do not. Remember why the new position appealed to you, and the opportunity you might be missing by taking a counter offer. When you accept a job offer after a lengthy interview process you go through the pyschological motions of leaving your current role. You will already have weighed up the pros and cons of leaving your current company and your resignation is the culmination of that decision.

The Counter Offer is usually a reactive step which sadly doesn't work. An increased salary or new title is usually your next promotion and pay rise early, and if you were worth this to your company they would have paid you this much and raised your profile without you having to quit first. Despite treating you very well in the immediate future your current company will consider you a risk and in our experience they are usually making contingency plans. It is easier and cheaper to keep you for more money for now. In 4 out of 5 cases, counter offered employees still leave within 12 months. It buys the company time ie: longer than your notice period to find a replacement. The company ultimately will view you as an untrustworthy employee. Your commitment will be in question and any company cutbacks are likely to begin with you. You will have to prove yourself again, as if you were a new employee.

If you decide to take the counter offer, you must remember that your resignation will not be forgotten. If you decide against the counter offer aim to leave on good terms and thank the company for the opportunities that they have offered you whilst in their employment.

Celebrating the Diamond Jubilee

February 6 marks the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne. We are certain that everyone is as excited about the Queens Jubilee as we are, and we think that there is plenty to be excited about! This is MSE's round up of the events surrounding the Jubilee, and our favourite? Not everything has even been announced yet!

To get you in the mood to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Elizabeth II on the throne, thats nearly longer than Queen Victoria, the previous longest serving monarch and (Elizabeths Great Grandma!) you might want to read 60 facts you never knew about our queen!

The Governmenthas announed an extra bank holiday for the nationwide celebration, planned for the first weekend in June to mark the Jubilee. Lord Mandelson said it would be a "truly historic occasion" which would allow the British people to show their "pride and affection" for The Queen.

The borough of Greenwich is set to recieve royal status. The honour recognises Greenwich's global significance as the home of the Prime Meridian, Greenwich Mean Time and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are at present just three Royal Boroughs: Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston, and Windsor and Maidenhead. All reflecting longstanding Royal associations.

Spice girls reforming? During an interview on the Australian TV show "Sunrise," Mel B dropped a major hint that the '90s girl group is reuniting for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebration.

The Duchess of Cornwall has challenged schoolchildren to come up with the modern equivalent of Coronation Chicken for the queen. Representatives from the top four winning schools will be invited to Buckingham Palace in June to see their recipes turned into canapes by royal chef Mark Flanagan.

Planting of 1 million trees across the UK by the Jubilee Woods project. The Woodland Trust – the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity – has set itself the ambitious task of planting the million trees to celebrate the Queen’s accession to the throne as part of a year of tree planting that will see six million planted across the UK in the trust’s Jubilee Woods project.