Helpful insights from our experts

If your business has a seasonal shift in demand or workload it can be important to get the right staff in place, for many the thought of hiring temporary workers from abroad can seem overly complicated and stressful. At RE we have built a specialist team to help you find the right seasonal staff to suit your needs and ensure that your busy time isn’t filled with undue stress and legislation issues.

How to find staff for seasonal work
Finding the right staff for seasonal work can be difficult and confusing. For many people who may need to find staff for their busy season, the recruitment process is completely new and often a legal minefield.

Finding the right staff depends completely on your industry and your needs. If you need a small team and can recruit locally, this is often the easiest job. However, if you need to bring a large number of people during harvest time or poultry season, you could be forced to look further afield and take advantage of the Seasonal Workers Visa Route.

If you are considering the Seasonal Workers Visa Route, you may need specialist advice and guidance to ensure you are compliant with the law. That is why RE Recruitment has built a specialist team for this job.

A specialist and dedicated team
Since 2007, we have built a dedicated Seasonal Division. This specialist team has helped place thousands of seasonal workers across the country in a wide range of roles in the poultry, agriculture, and horticulture sectors, as well as the manufacturing and warehousing industries.

We have built a system around reaching out to candidates who are eligible to work in the UK through their settled status, gained before Brexit, and who have since returned to their home country. These candidates are often happy to work on short-term contracts in the UK as the wages are often better than they can receive day to day.

In addition to supplying those with settled status into the UK, in 2021 RE was granted the Seasonal Poultry Visa licence by DEFRA as one of two UK-based providers to support labour challenges in the sector. This further substantiates our credibility as a compliant and robust operator.

What seasonal work do you place?
The majority of the season work we fill is in the poultry, agriculture, and horticulture sectors, as well as the manufacturing and warehousing industries across the UK.

Thanks to this experience, we have unparalleled knowledge about what it takes to source and place foreign nationals in seasonal roles. Because many of our clients are in the remotest parts of the UK, we take on all of the logistics for them. This can include chartering flights, organising and checking accommodation and welfare for the workers, and dealing with mandatory legislative protocols.

How to ensure you meet your legal needs
We have a history of working with clients in highly regulated supply chains and have developed a complete door-to-door experience to cover all welfare and compliance needs.

Our in-house compliance team is on hand to provide support and even undertake audits on behalf of the client to ensure everything is fit and correct. This ensures our clients can be as stress-free as possible at an extremely busy time.

If you are interested in hiring seasonal workers and need help finding the right staff, you can speak to a specialist member of our team who will be happy to guide you through the process and explain everything you need to know, from sourcing staff to hiring and even housing temporary staff.

Extension to the Seasonal Worker Visa Route
The UK government has announced an extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route for another 5 years from 2025 to 2029, following an independent review.

The number of visas available to the horticulture sector in 2025 will be set at 43,000, with another 2,000 visas for poultry. The Government has acknowledged the continued need to provide strong support to the industry and allow them to forward plan their staffing requirements in the coming years.

Each year approximately 60,000 seasonal workers are required for these roles, of which fewer than 5% are British, 60% are migrant workers on 6-month visas from the Seasonal Worker visa route, and the remainder are EU workers with Settled Status and Ukrainians on extended visas*.
Investment in automation and increased training and recruitment of domestic workers is planned so that the demand for migrant worker visas will be reduced over this 5 year period.

At RE Recruitment we support the poultry and horticulture sectors across the UK with their recruitment needs, including skilled and unskilled workers from the UK and overseas. To learn more about our team, click here.

For more information about how we can support you, get in touch on 01242 505400 or email us on hello@rerecruitment.com

*Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-review-into-labour-shortages-in-the-food-supply-chain-government-response/independent-review-into-labour-shortages-in-the-food-supply-chain-government-response

Assisting with the day-to-day running of a busy kitchen is a great stepping stone for kickstarting a culinary career. You’ll gain valuable experience within the kitchen, as well as basic safety, cleanliness, and cooking skills. Offering a wealth of opportunities for career progression and high salaries in the future, there’s so much more to being a kitchen assistant than first meets the eye.

Discover everything there is to know about being a kitchen assistant, including key responsibilities and duties, and the skills and qualifications required to succeed in the role.

What are the Duties of a Kitchen Assistant?
A kitchen assistant, also known as a kitchen porter, works under the supervision of a chef or kitchen supervisor. Kitchen assistants can be full time or part time and they typically work in hotels, restaurants, and other catering establishments. The overall role of a kitchen assistant is to help with the daily running of a culinary workspace, ensuring that kitchens are kept clean and can operate efficiently. You’ll need to follow strict health and safety procedures, as well as standard food hygiene practices.

Typical duties of a kitchen assistant include:

Using culinary equipment such as mixers, mincers, knives and cutters
Washing, peeling and chopping fruit and vegetables
Cutting meat, skinning and gutting fish, and plucking poultry
Preparing starters, salads, desserts and beverages
Serving food and assisting chefs with any other meal preparation tasks
Reviewing inventory and ordering food items
Unloading deliveries and organising the stockroom
Checking best before dates and rotating stock
Cleaning kitchen appliances, workstations and floors
Organising and putting away kitchen equipment and utensils
Correctly disposing of any general kitchen waste and other rubbish
What Skills Does a Kitchen Assistant Need?
Various skills and knowledge are required to become a successful kitchen assistant. These include:

Excellent understanding of food hygiene
Awareness of general health and safety procedures
Good food preparation skills
Knowledge of basic culinary ingredients
Exceptional communication and listening skills
The ability to work as part of a kitchen team
Strong attention to detail
High levels of stamina
Good time management skills
The ability to work in a fast-paced environment
What Qualifications Does a Kitchen Assistant Need?
You do not usually need formal qualifications to become a kitchen assistant, however, education to at least GCSE level is preferred by most employers. Basic numeracy and writing skills are also beneficial to the role. Some employers may ask for a Level 1 award in a relevant culinary subject, such as Introduction to Employment in the Hospitality Industry, Professional Cookery, or Food Safety.

Training is usually received on the job, with a possible day out of work per week to study for relevant cookery or food safety qualifications. Kitchen assistants with a good amount of job experience may then be promoted to a trainee chef.

How Much Do Kitchen Assistants Get Paid?
According to Indeed, the average salary for a kitchen assistant in the UK is £8.75 per hour. Salaries can vary depending on location, experience, and workplace demands.

The starting pay for a kitchen assistant is usually based around the National Minimum Wage (NMW) or the National Living Wage (NLW) set by the UK government. As of 1st April 2024, the National Minimum Wage is £6.40 per hour for those under 18, £8.60 per hour for 18-20 year olds, and £11.44 per hour for over 21s. With some experience, a kitchen assistant’s salary may rise.

Secure Your Next Role as a Kitchen Assistant
If you’re hoping to secure an exciting new role in the culinary industry as a kitchen assistant, the friendly team at RE Recruitment can help. Simply get in touch via 01242 505400 or hello@rerecruitment.com today to gain access to all our latest job vacancies.

Team Spotlight: Seasonal Division

Our Seasonal Division has been a part of RE since 2007. We proudly provide vital recruitment support to the poultry, agriculture and horticulture sectors of the UK’s food supply chain alongside the manufacturing and warehousing industries.

This month we focused the spotlight on our hardworking Seasonal Division and spoke to Mark Norton, Head of Operations to learn more.

Tell us about the seasonal division at RE?

RE Recruitment has an Overseas division born in 2007 out of innovation to support a key food manufacturing customer with an aggressive peak ramp up in a remote location. This transformed our client’s peak period, and since then we have expanded this offering to support other key clients and different sectors.

The solution works by recruiting workers who are eligible to work in the UK through the ‘settled status’ route, and who have since returned to their home country. Often these workers are still keen to fulfil short-term assignments in the UK that are often very lucrative compared to their earning potential in their own country. The solution therefore comes into its own where there is a need for a stable and committed workforce over an optimum period of eight weeks to three months, and as the workers are motivated to earn, provides a very robust and reliable solution with little absence and attrition.

What kind of businesses do we support and where?

Given the staffing challenges of recent years, interest in this solution is at record levels. The recruitment team of Cristian Raileanu, Violeta Staicu and Marian Chinescan supply into sectors such as Horticulture, Agriculture, Manufacturing and Warehousing as well as the original sector Food Manufacturing all across the UK.

Although the solution is now an all-year-round one, during peak seasons between September and October, we regularly place more than 800 overseas workers for our clients. Often these customers are based in remote locations where there is little access to a reliable labour pool. This complex operation includes chartering flights, organising and checking accommodation and welfare for the workers, and dealing with mandatory legislative protocols.

How do we support clients with compliance in this sector?

As many customers are based within highly regulated supply chains, we provide our workers and customers with a door-to-door service that covers all elements of worker welfare and compliance. We are often asked to support customers with their own audits and as a result of the sectors serviced often undergo these mandatory audits ourselves – providing excellent results and feedback.

We have our own in-house compliance team who are on hand to provide support when needed.
In addition to supplying those with settled status into the UK, in 2021 RE were granted the Seasonal Poultry Visa licence as one of two UK based providers by DEFRA to support labour challenges in the sector. This further substantiates our credibility as a compliant and robust operator.

What are you most proud of in this division?

Overseeing the division has been a learning experience. Having worked predominantly on the more corporate recruitment sectors previously, I now speak with customers within a broad spectrum of blue chip companies and others who are based on small farms. I am always proud of how the team adapt to our highly varied client base, long range bookings and obtain the required skills and aptitudes to deliver these assignments often with as little as two weeks’ notice.

To speak with Mark and learn how we can support your business, call 01242 505400 or email hello@rerecruitment.com.

Every day, hundreds of events take place across the UK and require temporary event staff to help them run smoothly. The event staff are the unsung heroes and the backbone of every successful event, adapting to diverse roles that cater to the unique demands of each setting. Below, we will discuss the roles and responsibilities of event staff roles and some of the amazing events you can go to.

What types of roles use event staff?
A huge range of roles require filling at an event, depending on the size and type of event; in smaller events, you may be asked to do multiple roles. Below are just a few of the more common roles that we fill, and some of their responsibilities.

Bar staff
This is one of the most common roles we fill. Due to the nature of the work, we require all applicants to be above 18. Whilst experience is not always necessary, sometimes it is preferable especially at busier events where time for training may be limited.

Waiting staff
Probably our second most popular role. This can range from Christmas events for local companies to working boxes at the Cheltenham Gold Cup and even silver service.

Security Roles
Event security may initially suggest the need for special training and qualifications. In reality, many event security staff are stewards, focusing on safety and crowd management rather than high-risk security measures. Their role is crucial in ensuring the well-being of attendees and maintaining order. Stewards often enjoy some of the best views of the event, allowing them to monitor the crowd effectively while experiencing the event firsthand.”

Kitchen roles
You don’t need to be Gordon Ramsey to work in an event kitchen. While there are many chefs and line cooks, the roles you can expect in an event kitchen include running and cleaning. Your main responsibility will be ensuring that chefs and cooks have everything they need to prepare and serve food on time.

Back-of-house staff
Back-of-house roles can include porters to cleaners. Although these roles are often not company-facing, they are no less important than the rest on our list. They help keep the event running as smoothly as possible. These roles often suit those who do not want to deal with the public.

Customer focused roles
Depending on the event front of house can mean more than food and beverage. It can be anything from ticket handlers to merchandise sellers, and so much more. For these roles a positive outlook is essential as you will be the first person a guest interacts with.

What sort of events require event staff
The types of events can vary by the time of the year, and what is happening in the area. We work with many companies helping to place event staff locally and further afield. Whilst the majority of events take place in your area, there are sometimes reasons to travel, below are just a few of the main reasons we reach out for event staff.

Sporting events
Sporting events are a big reason why so many people are hired in the gig economy in the South West. The biggest has to be Gold Cup, but many sporting events are happening across the country throughout the year and many of the on a huge scale, meaning that there are many reasons for event staff.

Seasonal events
When thinking about seasonal events, Christmas work may come to mind first. While this can be a great opportunity, there are also many other events happening throughout the year, particularly in the summer. It is not uncommon for food and drink festivals to pop up, pop-up cinemas, and so much more to start happening when the British weather gets a bit warmer.

Music events
The music scene in the UK is iconic; from huge stadium tours to multi-day festivals and even smaller local events, every music event needs staff. This is a great way for music lovers to get into events and witness their favourite bands whilst making some money. It is also a great way to hear live music, meet like-minded people, and maybe even discover a new musical love.

Weddings and parties
While these seem like smaller parties, you would be surprised at the size of some weddings and private parties. Whilst smaller than some on the list, they still require staff to help the day run without a hitch.

Can you find constant work as event staff?
We help place thousands of candidates every year in a wide range of event staff roles. While you might not find constant work through event staff placements, it is a great and flexible way to earn extra money around your day job. If you want to keep the flexibility going in a day-to-day role, we also offer a number of temporary and contract roles that could suit your needs.

Are event staff roles just for students?
No, not at all. While many students look for event staff roles as a way to make extra money, roles are open to everyone. Whether you are looking to make a little extra money during the holiday season or just want to try something new, there are always roles for people from different walks of backgrounds and different ages.

How much can you make as event staff?
The amount you make can vary greatly depending on age and experience. Generally, the gig economy pays per hour and is usually just above minimum wage, but often, this is topped up with tips and other benefits.

How do I register for event staff roles?
Registering with us is the best way to get access to our event staff positions. This means that you can be one of the first to learn about any roles as they come in. Many of our roles are filled by those registered with us and do not get advertised.

If you would like to know more about our roles and if you would be suitable for any of them, you can reach out to a specialist member of our team.

Let’s talk…Candidate Attraction
It’s a tough gig out there.

Whilst many people are still feeling apprehensive about moving from their current roles, there are jobs that need to be filled.

Totaljobs Hiring Trends states that the average time to hire is 4.8 weeks on average and 5.1 weeks for larger businesses.

The hiring process includes:

Writing the advert
Posting the job
Giving time for applications to be received
Reviewing CVs
Producing a shortlist
Sending them to the Hiring Manager for review
Booking interviews, usually for the following week
Interviewing
Reviewing interviewees
Arranging second interviews if required
Negotiating offers of employment
As fewer candidates are looking to move positions, this process can currently take much longer. It also means that candidates who are looking for a new role may be in the covetable position of having more than one job offer to choose from.

What are the reasons?
Job Security
Covid is still rearing it’s ugly head and has had an impact on the outlook of employees. Many are reflecting on their situation in life and deciding it is more secure to stay where they are rather than risk not passing probation in, or not enjoying, a new role. Until probation is passed, there may also be a cessation in pension contributions and, after this, a lower employer contribution until the employee builds up their years of service. By staying in the same role, financial responsibilities such as a mortgage, rent and bills won’t be exposed to any risk and pension contributions will either remain the same or increase.

The millennial generation are also getting to grips with a worse-off retirement forecast/ projection, with fewer final salary pensions available and large mortgages to account for.

Meeting candidate salary expectations
Owing to cost of living increases, candidates are seeking higher salaries to keep up with outgoings. Totaljobs Hiring Trends reported that meeting candidate salary expectations was among the top three challenges for finding the right talent and they are otherwise reluctant to move.

Counteroffers
Those looking to leave are being offered higher salaries and better benefits to stay. However, as a sidenote on this – for a while it’s ‘better the devil you know’, but statistics show that 90% of candidates who accept a counteroffer leave their role within 6 months. The reality is, if a candidate is looking for a new job because they were unhappy in their current role, a counteroffer of more money and benefits will only satiate that unrest for a short period before they start looking again.

As a company looking to hire, what can you do?
There are five main areas to cover when you are looking to recruit.

Review your offering
Check out the market and see how attractive your offer is. Go on local job boards and benchmark yourself against other companies and similar roles. Check out their wording, salary offering and benefits and see how they compare to your own. Candidates are looking at more than just salary now, including career progression, the working environment, flexible and hybrid working and the employer’s brand. If possible, improve your job listing to reflect, or improve on, the industry standard.

Don’t overcomplicate the application process
Consider times that you may have applied for a role. Was the cumbersome application process a turn off? Was it frustrating to fill in an online form that essentially mirrored what was already on your CV? Relying on burdensome application methods with an array of lengthy forms to fill in, covering letters to write and endless screening questions to answer can put people off applying and prevent access for several disadvantaged groups.

Although these stages might have relevance for candidate selection, think about how you can do this differently. If you can make the process less complex you may immediately set yourself apart from the competition.

Work with a recruiter
We know, we know, we’re a recruitment company, of course we’re going to say this. But the reality is, we can access and contact a wider pool of candidates from a huge range of sources and we are also able to shortlist quality, great-fit candidates to save you time and energy. We can also help you benchmark your job listing and make sure you are competitive in the market.

Move quickly
Good candidates are lost because the hiring process takes too long. Select your candidates for interview within a day of receiving their CV and book their interview as soon as possible. Consider: is a second interview necessary? A third? If a second one is, schedule it in as quickly as possible after the first, no more than a week. And get ready to make an offer within a day after that.

Expand your net
This could be the key to finding your next greatest asset!

Firstly, take a look at your minimum requirements. Are these necessary? Here are some examples we have seen before:

English speakers only
Minimum 3 years’ experience
The candidate must have their own transport
The candidate must have minimum skill requirements of X, Y, Z
These high bars can wipe out a large proportion of keen, willing to learn (and work) candidates.

Some examples and possible solutions include:

School leavers, graduates and those seeking a career change are often excluded in terms of a minimum term of experience or skill asset criteria.
This candidate pool can be moulded/trained to become exemplary employees who repay an employer’s investment and trust through loyalty and productivity.

Also consider:

People who are out of work. Don’t write someone off because they aren’t currently working or they have an ‘open to work’ banner on their LinkedIn profile.
Mature candidates. There is an endless source of talent and experience to tap into in the older generation. A boost in confidence may be all that is needed to unlock a wealth of knowledge and a fantastic work ethic for your business.
For more information on how RE Recruitment can help you, contact us today on 01242 505400.

Do you aspire to work within a varied industry that is fast-paced, dynamic and makes a real difference to other people’s lives?

The hospitality sector is one of the most competitive industries out there, offering a wealth of fantastic career options. You’ll provide exceptional experiences to customers, clients and guests, with plenty of opportunities for growth. In this guide, we delve into the exciting world of hospitality and catering, and discuss some of the most popular job roles within the sector.

What is the Hospitality and Catering Industry?
The hospitality and catering industry encompasses all businesses that provide food, beverages, and accommodation services outside the home. The four core components within the hospitality and catering industry are:

Accommodation – businesses that provide a play to stay i.e. hotels, B&Bs, holiday cottages, guest houses and campsites.
Food & beverages – any organisation that prepares meals or drinks for paying customers i.e. restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars, nightclubs and fast food outlets.
Contract caterers – companies that serve food and drink in a third-party venue i.e. schools, hospitals, businesses, prisons and armed forces.
Travel & tourism – any business that provides services to customers who are travelling i.e. travel agents, tour guides, tourist information services and visitor attractions.
The sector is so important as it provides key services to people who are away from home. Not only is providing access to food, drink and accommodation a basic human need. It also offers opportunities for entertainment and socialisation.

The industry generates a significant amount of revenue for the UK economy and offers a vast array of career opportunities. It also contributes to tourism, both on a local and national level. This is down to the impact of hospitality and tourism businesses on an area’s overall reputation.

Can You Make a Career in Hospitality and Catering?
According to a government report, the UK hospitality industry employs around 1.8 million people and generates around £40 billion of revenue on an annual basis. So, it’s fair to say that you can definitely have a successful career in hospitality and catering. Jobs within the industry are categorised into front of house and back of house roles…

Front of House Jobs
Front of house roles involve direct communication with clients and customers. Typical front of house jobs in hospitality include:

Hotel receptionists
Waiters/waitresses
Restaurant hosts
Concierges
Event planners
Back of House Jobs
Back of house roles focus on completing various behind the scenes tasks, such as food preparation and building maintenance. Typical back of house jobs in hospitality include:

Chefs
Kitchen assistants
Cellar technicians
Food suppliers
Cleaners
Maintenance staff
What Can You Do With a Hospitality Degree?
If you’re looking to enter the hospitality industry, a hospitality management degree is a great starting point. A degree will give you the knowledge, skills and experience to succeed in the industry, allowing you to step straight into a job role.

Hospitality graduates are highly desirable by employers. Careers in events, hotel and resort management, and sales and business development are all ideal matches for individuals with hospitality degrees. Some of the career paths you could choose include:

Hotel Management
Hotel managers are responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a hospitality business. Typical responsibilities can include marketing, customer service, budgeting and sales. Common jobs within hotel management include Hotel Managers, Reception Managers and Resort Managers.

Food & Beverage Management
Food and beverage management is one of the most popular career paths for hospitality graduates. They supervise all restaurant and food service operations such as ordering supplies, customer service, budgeting, inventory and human resources. Typical jobs include Restaurant Managers, Catering Managers and Public House Managers.

Events Management
The events industry encompasses work on weddings, career fairs, festivals, exhibitions and everything in between. The role involves identifying a target market, creating a concept and coordinating all details to ensure a successful event. Events Managers, Conference Centre Managers, Concert Organisers, Charity Fundraisers and Wedding Coordinators all fall under the events management branch.

Step into a Successful Hospitality and Catering Career
If you’re looking to launch a successful career in hospitality and catering, RE Recruitment is here to help. We work with some of the UK’s biggest industry names and recruit for a wide variety of job roles. From front of house receptionist staff to back of house chefs, and everything in between. Register with us today to kick-start your career in catering.

Administration is an extremely diverse job role, offering a variety of fantastic opportunities that appeal to many. Businesses need more administrative professionals as they grow, leading to high demand for this job role. In December 2022, Planit reported that admin roles employed approximately 10% of the UK’s workforce. Read all about the roles, responsibilities and requirements for administrators below.

What is the Job Function of Admin Staff Members?
Administrators are critical employees that aid the seamless operation of a business. They carry out clerical and administrative support tasks to colleagues and managers within an office environment. Administrators are often the first point of contact for customers and clients. They are responsible for ensuring that an office’s daily operations run smoothly.

Administrative professionals can work in a range of different sectors including healthcare, technology, education, finance and government. With some experience, administrators can move up to senior administrators, document controllers, or human resource roles.

How to Become an Administrator
Several career paths are available for administrative work. Previous experience as an administrator is advantageous but not essential, as many companies offer training for entry level positions.

General administrator work – sometimes employers will require 1-2 years of experience. However, it is possible to begin work as an office administrator with no prior experience.
Specialised administrator jobs i.e. finance, medical, law – often require 3-4 years of experience within the relevant sector.
Senior administrator roles – generally require several years of experience working as an administrator with a strong administrative skill set.
Qualifications are not essential to become an administrator, as skills can be taught on-the-job. However, a decent standard of education is often required, such as GCSEs or A-Levels. Vocational certifications could also help you obtain work. These include business/office administration, touch typing/shorthand and specific subject matter qualifications.

Administrative staff should possess the following to be successful:

Excellent numerical skills
IT skills including experience of various software programs
Strong customer service skills
Organisation and time management skills
Excellent communication skills
The ability to work as part of a team and by yourself
Strong attention to detail
The Roles & Responsibilities of an Administrator
Administrators are responsible for keeping filing and documentation accurate and up-to-date. Administrative roles exist in almost every industry, so the duties and responsibilities can vary. Some administrators are customer-facing, whilst others take more of a background office support role.

The job role of an administrator typically involves the following administrative tasks:

Data entry – keeping accurate records of business income and expenses
Basic finance tasks – assisting with invoicing, budgeting and bookkeeping duties
Clerical tasks – creating and maintaining organised filing systems and documentation
Managing communications – dealing with customers enquiries by responding to emails and answering phone calls
Arranging meetings – organising meetings, booking meeting rooms, writing agendas and preparing refreshments
Taking minutes – using touch typing or shorthand to record precise minutes during meetings
Managing diaries – helping to organise diaries for members of the management team including travel and meeting schedules
Office management – ensuring that staff have any necessary equipment and ordering new supplies when required
Organising business events – such as lunches, seasonal parties, team building events and company conferences
Take the First Step in Obtaining Work as an Administrator
Ready to begin your journey in finding work as an administrator? RE Recruitment works with a wide range of UK-based employers who are looking to hire skilled office-based administrators just like you. Get in touch with us today to begin the first step in your career as an administrator.

Office jobs are once again increasing in popularity here in the UK. People choose office-based roles due to the regular hours, wide range of benefits, and great career progression opportunities. Entry-level positions in office roles allow individuals to learn more about a specific industry and improve their skills. They also provide a foot in the door for progression to more advanced office jobs such as office manager or marketing executive.

Obtaining an office job with no previous experience is not as difficult as it seems, so there’s no need to be apprehensive when looking for your next role. Read our guide to everything entry-level office jobs below.

Types of Office Jobs
Office environments are varied by nature, and so there are many types of office jobs out there. Common areas for general office jobs include:

Administration roles including administrative assistants, receptionists and data entry clerks.
Business management positions such as bookkeepers, event planners and recruitment assistants.
Financial service roles including mortgage assistants and financial analysts.
Call centre work such as customer service and sales representatives.
Legal roles including legal secretaries and court clerks.
Educational roles such as teaching assistants and research assistants.
IT work including programmers, application developers and website designers.
Marketing positions such as marketing assistants, copywriters and graphic designers.
Healthcare roles including support workers and healthcare assistants.
How to Get an Office Job with No Experience
Complete an Internship or Volunteering Programme
If you’re searching for an entry-level office job, it may be helpful to obtain some on-the-job experience. You could consider enrolling in an internship or volunteering in a busy office environment. The skills you develop can then be included within your CV, helping you stand out amongst the competition.

If you make a strong impression whilst interning or volunteering, the manager may provide you with a good reference. If you’re lucky, they may even offer you a permanent role.

Consider Part-Time or Temporary Roles
Although you may be looking for a full-time office role, you should not pass up on any temporary or part-time opportunities. These will provide you with invaluable work experience, increasing the chances of you obtaining a full-time, permanent position. Temporary contracts also allow you to trial different types of office jobs. This will give you a better understanding of which area you may like to pursue.

You could consider approaching a temporary recruitment agency. They will have access to the latest office-based job opportunities in your area, which will help take the pressure off when job hunting. You can simply apply for any available opportunities of your choosing.

Build a Strong Network
It’s vitally important to build both your personal and professional networks. These can prove to be key sources of information and could even lead to a job opportunity later down the line. Consider asking friends, family members, teachers, previous employers and past colleagues if they have any information about available office roles.

Joining industry groups and attending networking events can be a great way to make new connections. For example, the annual Brighton SEO conference offers a great opportunity to network with fellow marketing professionals.

Optimise Your LinkedIn Profile
Having a professional LinkedIn profile will pay dividends when looking for a permanent office job. Include any relevant qualifications and experience, before adding any personal and professional connections. You could ask previous employers or colleagues to endorse your skills and leave positive reviews about your work performance.

Ensure that you update your profile regularly as you gain new experience, skill sets or qualifications. This will show future employers that you are proactive when furthering your professional development and seeking new opportunities.

Create a Standout CV & Cover Letter
Once you’ve found an office job you’d like to apply for, you can begin to create your CV. There are many guides and templates available online that can help you craft a professional CV and cover letter.

Make sure you present any relevant transferable skills and work experience in a user-friendly format. Include soft skills relating to organisation, time management, customer service and teamwork, as well as any technical skills. Ensure you tailor your CV and covering letter for the specific role you are applying for. This will demonstrate your commitment to the position and industry as a whole.

Looking for Your Next Office Job?
If you’re looking for an office job with no experience, RE Recruitment is here to help throughout every step of your job search. Our dedicated recruitment team has access to a wide range of office-based roles, including business support, accounting and finance, sales and marketing, customer service, IT and administration positions. Register with us today to land your dream office job role.

Seasonal workers are a branch of temporary workers who enter the UK to work for short time periods. From 2022-2023, seasonal work visas made up approximately 50% of all temporary worker visas in the UK. As you can see, seasonal workers are clearly vital contributors to the UK economy. However, there is a quota and strict requirements to obtain this type of visa in the UK.

Discover more about seasonal work visas in the UK and how this branch of temporary work impacts the agricultural sector.

What is a Seasonal Worker Visa?
Horticulture or poultry production workers who travel to the UK for labour can receive a seasonal visa. They are allowed to stay for a maximum of six months within a 12-month timeframe and must have an approved scheme sponsor. However, poultry production seasonal workers can only stay in the UK between 2nd October – 31st December each year. This type of visa cannot be used for permanent residency and applicants cannot be joined by other family members.

Jobs Included Under a Seasonal Work Visa in the UK
Horticultural Work
Includes any work growing the following:

Protected and field vegetables
Soft and top (orchard) fruit
Mushrooms
Vines and bines
Bulbs and cut flowers
Potted plants
Ornamental nursery plants
Tree and forest nurseries
Poultry Production Work
Includes the following jobs and occupation codes:

Butchers (5431)
Bird/game dressers, killers, pluckers, poulterers, poultry processors, poultry stickers and trussers (5433)
Food operatives (8111)
Poultry catchers/handlers (9111)
Poultry vaccinators (9119)
Poultry meat packers (9134)
How to Apply for a Seasonal Visa in the UK
Applicants can apply for seasonal worker visas through the official Gov.uk website. Applicants will need to fill in the form with their personal details and upload any supporting documentation. They will also need to prove their identity at a visa application centre or via the UK Immigration: ID Check app.

Applicants will need to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a Home Office licensed sponsor. The CoS cannot be awarded more than three months prior to the visa application date. Finally, applicants will also need to prove that they have enough savings to support themselves whilst living in the UK.

Seasonal worker visa applicants who wish to work in poultry must apply by 15th November each year. Those working in horticulture can apply at any time.

How Do UK Seasonal Worker Visas Impact the Agricultural Industry?
UK farmers rely heavily on workers coming from abroad to complete seasonal labour. According to an official government survey, approximately 471,000 people work in the UK agricultural sector. At least 58,000 of these people are seasonal or casual workers. Seasonal workers originally came from Ukraine and Russia, but multiple nationalities now travel to the UK for seasonal labour.

Over the last few years, farming businesses have reported seasonal labour shortages. They have requested that the government increase the quota for agricultural seasonal visas in the UK.

As it stands, the UK seasonal worker visa scheme currently has a quota of 45,000-55,000 per year. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stated that at least 45,000 visas would be awarded in 2023 and 2024. This number could be increased by a further 10,000 if demand is particularly high.

Moving forward, the government is encouraging farmers to gradually replace foreign workers with domestic machinery. However, a report suggests that seasonal workers should still be important in farming until better technology is more commonplace. An independent review is currently conducting an investigation into labour shortages in the food supply chain. These findings should inform the government’s decision about the future of agricultural seasonal work visas in the UK.

Whilst it’s unclear whether seasonal workers are here to stay beyond 2024, the National Farmers’ Union reports that seasonal labour “will continue to increase” for the time being.

Seasonal Worker Recruitment Solutions for Agricultural Businesses
Do you need to increase your seasonal workforce in 2024? From food operatives to strawberry pickers, we’ve got you covered here at RE Recruitment. Our expert recruitment team specialises in supplying seasonal workers within the UK food processing, farming and fruit-picking sectors. Contact us today to find your next batch of UK seasonal workers.