The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
City recruitment firm sees revenues double
Dundee recruitment firm Entrust Resource Solutions (ERS) more than doubled its revenues last year.
The firm specialises in life sciences and healthcare talent acquisition. Due to Covid, demand for recruitment services rose directly from existing customers.
A fifth of the company’s £4.6 million sales came from new customers. The revenue figure was a 110% increase on 2019.
Chief commercial director Austin Clark said: “There is no doubt that the circumstances of 2020 have demanded an incredible level of agility and flexibility from those engaged in the search for effective diagnostics, treatment and vaccinations.
“ERS has proven its inherent ability to respond with equal dexterity to a vastly changed landscape where there has been a significant increase in demand for life sciences and associated healthcare contractors.
“We’re incredibly proud of the results we’ve achieved for our UK-wide client base and the part we continue to play in this unique situation.”
The company specialises in what it terms a “bench to board” resourcing activity.
This involves recruiting for contract and permanent roles at all levels within the life sciences, healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors.
Entrust has been responsible for placing contract and permanent personnel across the UK who have worked in response to Covid-19.
This includes staff focused upon the development of diagnostics and testing, the manufacture of lifesaving technology, laboratory skills and the development of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Recruitment specialist Brian Creegan has joined the company as interim managing director.
He said: “The projected growth of the Scottish life sciences sector is phenomenal and represents an outstanding opportunity for the country. Our challenge is to work closely with industry, government and academia alike, to ensure that the talent exists to make this a reality.”
Adevelopment coach has shared plans to inspire business leaders to make an immediate impact in their organisations.
Cami Alexander, who has worked at DC Thomson for seven years, is one of the expert speakers at this month’s Courier Business Briefing.
She will reveal some tips to help managers with soft skills in the online event at 8am on February 18.
The briefing, sponsored by Thorntons Law and supported by Skills Development Scotland, has the theme of “managing people in a global pandemic”.
Cami said the goal for her 10-minute talk was to impart some positivity amid the difficulties of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It’s about giving people a good news message,” she said.
“I will be drawing on some of the positive things people have done and also about how we can learn from Covid-19 to build back better.
“I am hoping to impart a few ideas that people could go and try out as they do not require any training or money. They will be things that can enhance people’s experience and working relationships.
“I hope the audience will feel empowered.”
Cami hopes her advice will empower her audience to take immediate steps to enhance the way in which they work.
She will share some of the soft skills managers require in supporting a team of people. She said: “It’s about bringing our human qualities into the workplace, and developing businesses that do not just run like machines, but are adaptable, flexible communities drawing on the creativity, commitment and ingenuity of their people.
“I’d like people to leave thinking ‘I can do this now’ using tools that are easily accessible.”
The Courier Business Briefing aims to inspire local businesses to grow, invest in their people and compete at the highest possible levels.
This includes the need for leadership, morale and growth.
Other speakers are Thorntons Law managing partner Craig Nicol and Kathryn Hill, an employer engagement adviser for Skills Development Scotland.
To register for the free online event visit thecourierbriefings.co.uk
Farmers are turning to technology to keep track of their livestock’s emotional state in a bid to improve animal welfare standards.
An app is being trialled which allows people to log emotionally expressive behaviour exhibited by dairy cows, veal calves, pigs, laying hens, broiler chickens and ducks.
Farmers are presented with a list of about 20 key descriptive terms tailored to each species, which are a mix of positive and negative emotions. A sliding scale will be provided to decide how strongly a statement applies.
The data is then sent off and integrated into a larger pattern to be matched against other farms.
“Good physical health is vital for good welfare but there is clear consensus among the scientific animal welfare community that factors such as enjoyment, contentment and positive excitement play an equally vital role in ensuring that an animal has a good life,” said Professor Francoise Wemelsfelder, from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), who created the app.
“QBA (Qualitative Behavioural Assessment) not only provides a way to assess these factors, it also opens up the conversation about what positive emotional wellbeing for an animal truly looks like.
“Because we believe fundamentally that animals are not simply production systems to be managed. They are sentient creatures that must be cared for.”
Supermarket Waitrose has licensed the app for trial and development for two years, and will begin rolling it out across 1,800 of its supplier farms from next week.
James Bailey, executive director at Waitrose, said: “This is a huge development for the industry as it is the first time any retailer has explored welfare measures based on the concept of an animal’s freedom to express positive emotions.
“For the UK to continue its position as a leader in farming standards, it’s critical that we recognise farm animals as sentient creatures capable of experiencing a range of emotions and positive experiences.
“By acknowledging this, working hard to understand what those positive emotional expressions are and how they can be unlocked, we can lead the industry into a new and more confident era of farm animal welfare.”
Organisers of Scotland’s largest agricultural event – the Royal Highland Show – say they remain optimistic about hosting a show this year.
The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS), which organises the four-day show in June at Ingliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh, say they are doing everything possible to plan for a safe show.
In a statement, RHASS director of operations, Mark Currie, said the society was working with the Scottish Government to “help inform and develop guidance” that would allow it to hold a “great event”. The show is due to take place on June 17-20.
“On Wednesday February 3, our new Members
Pavilion was transformed into an NHS vaccination centre and with the encouraging news of the successful vaccine rollout we remain optimistic about delivering the best show possible this year,” added Mr Currie.
He acknowledged the cancellation and postponement of other major agricultural events and said: “Whilst they have chosen to cancel or postpone, they will have done this within the context of their own local situation.
“We are fully aware and appreciate that, with the ever-evolving nature of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a chance that the Royal Highland Show may not be able to go ahead. However, at this moment in time we remain positive and thank you all for your continued support.
“If we were to cease planning now but received positive news from the Scottish Government in the coming weeks, we would be in no position to hold a show, so we are working hard to ensure we make the most informed decision we can at the right time.”
Cancelled events include the Black Isle Show, Turriff Show, the National Sheep Association’s Scotsheep event and the Royal Northern Agricultural Society’s Spring Show and Countryside Live event.
The largest agricultural event in the UK – the Royal Welsh Show – has also been cancelled because of uncertainty over Covid-19. The show was due to take place in Llanelwedd, Powys on July 19-22.