Orchard is the North of England's largest Digital, Creative and Marketing recruitment consultancy. With Offices in Manchester and Leeds we place talented people in freelance and permanent Jobs online and off-line within Agency and Client side companies.

 

Date: Friday 27th January, from 8.00am
Time: From 8.00am
Location: Club LS1, 3 Albion Place, Leeds, LS1 6JL
Speaker: Mark Pearce, Partner at Dickinson Dees in Newcastle, is 'back by popular demand' after presenting for CIM's North East branch. Some of the quotes they have received about Mark:

'Very engaging speaker, knowledgeable and open to questions throughout the talk.'

'Punchy, inclusive - exciting and enjoyable.'

'Excellent information on a usually dry subject.'

Registration is from 08:00; the event starts at 09:00 and is expected to finish at 10:00.

This is a CPD category 10 event.

If you are non EU resident, please call the events team to make your booking.

Price information: Members: £10.00 Studying Member: £10.00 Student: £10.00 Guest: £10.00

Price includes a full english breakfast. Please contact the CIM events team with any special requirements.

Alternative Pay Details: Please book online for this event. If you cannot do so please call The Chartered Institute of Marketing on +44 (0)1628 427340.

Contact: Region and Branch Events
Contact Email: cimevents@cim.co.uk

http://www.cim.co.uk/Events/EventDetail.aspx?ObjectID=42121

Location: Central Manchester: The Red Rooms and Preston: Cotton Court
Date: 31st January (Manchester) & 2nd February (Preston) January 2012 and every week for the following 4 weeks (5 sessions in total).
Times: 10am – 1pm, the last day will be 10am – 1.30pm
Price: The programme costs £500 but with the Leadership & Development contribution the actual cost to is £250.
           

The aim of this programme is to provide insight and develop the skills of business leaders and managers to develop their core business components including; the overall vision and strategy, processes, people, financial matters and customers (focusing on sales).

The 5 x 3 hour sessions will cover:

Step 1 – Vision
The vision is the overall strategy of your business. It is important as a Leader at any point in the business’s lifecycle to have a top level plan / understanding of where you are going.

Step 2 – Numbers
Gain better control of job costing, understanding gross and net profit, using management accounts to review and plan your business.

Step 3 – Processes
Techniques such as Business Process Mapping, resources for the development of the business and to enable a higher level of performance / productivity / efficiency.

Step 4 – People
What is the culture of your business? What drives the individuals who work for you? We help you to draw your own conclusions about what makes a good and happy workforce in your business. As always it starts with you!

Step 5 – Customers
The blood running through your business! Win the client. Keep the client. And fulfil the full potential of the client. Most business owners are not natural sales people and have concerns about their own abilities in this area. However, this isn’t a good reason to ignore it!

Also included in the programme is expert guest speakers at each session, a 1 hour 121 meeting with a business coach and telephone and email support. Each session will also include handouts, coffee, tea and cakes / pastries. And at the last session we will provide lunch and networking.

For more details about how to apply for the funding or about this programme, please get in touch:

Michele - michele@thelaunchpad.org.uk  M: 07855 743907

Nancy - nancy@thelaunchpad.org.uk  M: 07889 787141

For more infor click here: www.thelaunchpad.org.uk

Date: 1st February 2012
Time: registration from 18.00
Location: Kendal College, Milnthorpe College, Kendal, Cumbria, LA9 5AY

Anyone can set up a website nowadays, so websites which breach internet laws are not uncommon, but if you are a responsible organisation with a reputation to uphold, you will want to make sure that your site complies with all the relevant regulations.

This session is a whistle-stop tour of the issues which are most often raised by Burnetts' clients including protecting your copyright as well as the importance of respecting others' ownership, whether that's your website designer or the photographer who took the images you are using online.

CIM's speaker, Caroline Redhead, is an Associate Solicitor at Burnetts and she will also be explaining the information that every website owner now needs to include on their site, giving guidance on website terms of use, cookies and link exchanges.

Registration starts from 18:00; the event starts at 19:00 and is expected to finish at 20:00.

This is a CPD category 10 event. If you are non EU resident, please call the events team to make your booking.

Price: Free to members and studying members, students £5.00 guests £25.00

If you have any special requirements please contact the CIM events team.

Book online at www.cim.co.uk/Events/EventDetail.aspx or if you cannot do so please call The Chartered Institute of Marketing on 01628 427 340.

Date: Thursday, 2nd February 2012

Time: 18.00
Location:  John Foster Building, John Moores University, 80-90 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, L3 5UZ

How to get more from your PR. Your comms department or agency might be able to hit the headlines, but for what purpose? This is an opportunity to get some real hands on workshop experience and find out how PR could work for you as part of your overall marketing and communications plan.

Presented by Oliver Chesher, Head of Office North West, Admiral PR a specialist with a background in national and international PR and communications agencies. Oliver has acted as PR consultant to major brands including the British Army, Greggs the Bakers and LA Fitness plc, and now specialises in strategic PR for organisations in sectors including science and technology, environmental and financial services.

Price information: Free to members and studying members, student: £5.00 and Guests £25.00

Book online at www.cim.co.uk/Events/EventDetail.aspx or if you cannot do so please call The Chartered Institute of Marketing on 01628 427 340.

 
To celebrate @MattOrchard's new arrival we are giving away a £50 Amazon voucher with our very own #OrchardBaby competition. For 12 days, from Monday 23rd January we will add a baby / toddler photo of each Orchard employee onto our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/Orchard - you just need to guess who it is.

For a reference point you can take a look at our Orchard Folding photo album on Facebook which has current photos with names of all of the Orchard team.

 Here are the rules....

1 - You must 'Like' our Orchard Facebook page in order to enter the competition.

2 - You only have 1 guess per photo - you enter by simply commenting under the photograph with the name of the Orchard employee you think it is. If any of your guesses are correct over the 12 days you will automatically be put in the hat - which will be drawn at random.

3 - The competition ends on Wednesday 8th February when a winner will be revealed.

Follow our @OrchardTweets & #OrchardBaby page to get all the latest competition news!

As it's my turn to write a blog this week, I thought to myself "What would be most relevant to our candiates and readers?" I have been asked a few times this week about 'what it's like to go freelance' and have given out my thoughts on the matter. Alex has hit the nail on the head with this blog so I have reposted it for all you permanent job creatives thinking of taking the plunge!

Especially in the design world, freelancing is something that I think most designers and artworkers would like to have a shot at during their career. It is unfortunately one of those instances were you have to try it out to know whether it suits you, and making the first leap can be a risky and unstable time - especially at the moment.

Here are a few qualities that make a good freelancer:

- Versatility. As a freelancer is it crucial that you not only have great communication skills, but that you have the ability to get on with a wide range of different people. You will have to be able to adapt quickly to different working environments without issue. It is in essence, like constantly starting a new job.

- Confidence. An integral part of being a freelancer is being confident with others, as you will be continually meeting new people and employers. You have to be sure of yourself and your abilities, and not be shy of networking.

- Motivation. There will be some times as a freelancer when times will be tough and quiet. It is important that you have an upbeat positive attitude during these periods, and are able to motivate yourself to find work and contacts.

- Have an easy going and pleasant personality. We find that the majority of our clients will call and request a freelancer by name, someone that they have had before, as it make things easier for them. So, making a good first impression is vital.

Some people may fail miserably, some may freelance for a few years until returning to permanent work and some will have long profitable careers. If you're currently in two minds about whether freelancing is the thing for you, here are some pros and cons to help you out.

PROS

- It goes without saying that pound for pound, when working as a freelancer compared to permanent, that the rates are generally higher. You have the potential to earn big bucks.

- Due to the flexible nature of freelancing, you have the control over the impact of your work on your lifestyle and out of work plans, choosing to work as often or as little as you want (or can afford).

- You get the opportunity to build relationships with many different agencies and companies, and once you're in, if you do a good job you are more likely to be asked back. Not just for freelance, but forming these relationships increases the chance of being offered a permanent role for when / if you return to this way of working.

- Working for many agencies and companies on different projects and in different industries widens your skills and experience. You consequently learn a great deal when working as a freelancer, benefiting from working with many different people. Not only this but it increases your networking pool.

CONS

- The main point that scares many people away from freelancing is the lack of financial stability and not knowing when the next job will come along. A lot of freelance work is unpredictable and last minute, and at times you will have to leave personal plans in order to earn some money. If you aren't in a comfortable position financially or just starting out, you will most likely need to take whatever comes your way regardless of plans previously made.

- Working as a freelancer, you will need to accept that generally, you will be placed with the more routine and 'mundane' tasks to complete, the more creative work will most likely go to the permanent employees.

- Another downside to working as a freelancer in the financial sense, is that you get no sick pay, no redundancy pay and will find it very hard to get a mortgage without showing long term regular income.

If you are interested in making the transition from permanent to freelance and have any questions then please do not hesitate to ask.

Written by Alex Fisher @orchard_alex  
Stolen by Mairi Wilson @Orchard_Mairi

In no particular order....

1 - Northern Digitals / BLAB @NorthernDigital

Northern Digitals is a monthly meet up (on a Thursday) at Cafe Bar Barcelona in Manchester. This evening is a very informal gathering of people interested in digital and a great way to meet more like minded individuals - and it's FREE. We would definitely recommend going along to a Northern Digitals meet up - especially if you are new to networking due to the friendly atmosphere. Every few months Northern Digitals has a BLAB night, held at the Deaf Institute, which involves speakers - the topics vary greatly and Orchard have been known to giveaway fantastic prizes here.

http://www.meetup.com/northerndigitals/

2 - Hudds Digitals @huddsdigitals

Hudds Digitals has a very similar set up to Northern Digitals, in respect to it being an evening of digital people meeting for drinks and chats. Although not quite as established yet compared to Northern Digitals, Hudds Digitals is building a great reputation. It is again a free informal, welcoming event for new attendees who want to meet others within the industry. Hudds Digitals additionally hosts the occasional football friendlies. The evening is held in a lovely little bar in Huddersfield, Zephyr Bar, on the last Wednesday of the month and is definitely one to give a go.

http://huddsdigitals.com/

3 - Geek Up Manchester / Leeds / Liverpool @GeekUp

GeekUp is another informal evening which takes place in many cities across the country but locally Mancheseter, Leeds and Liverpool. GeekUp attracts predominantly web designers / developers / technology minded people rather than print designers and consequently the evening focuses more on peoples interests in technology and the web. GeekUp has been successfully running for 5 years now.

http://geekup.org/

4 - Creative Networks @CNwestyorks

Creative Networks Yorkshire is a free monthly meet up - usually the last Thursday of every month - held at the Leeds College of Art. You will find people here from all corners of the creative world. Creative Networks has been successful for a couple of years now and consists of networking and a guest speaker. Creative Networks is a relaxed and informative evening very much worth your time - plus there is normally free drinks and food to get you into the networking mood! Additionally, at the start of each evening they have a few minutes dedicated to 3/4 business pitches.

http://www.creativenetworksyorkshire.co.uk/

5 - Northern Soho @NorthernSoho

Northern Soho describes itself as 'a collective celebration of our region's vibrancy, creativity and potential - all that's good about the Northern scene and all the great work we do.' Northern Soho is a monthly meetup event, on the last Thursday of the month at Circle Club, Manchester and is another informal style networking evening with a prize draw.

http://www.northernsoho.com/

6 - LSx Cafe @LSx

Formally the OpenCoffee Leeds, LSx Cafe is a morning coffee and cake monthly networking event held at the Old Broadcasting House in Leeds. It is held on the second Tuesday of every month. Attendance is normally between 30-40 people and the morning consists of a demo and encouraging attendees to show off what they're working on, previous demos include Richard Englund's Xbox Kinext hacks & Dom Hodgson's Click N Mix.

http://lsx.co/

7 - CING Network @CINGnetwork

CING (the Creative Industries Networking Group) has been going for around 5 years now and has two main functions - firstly they hold an informal monthly networking event, held on the first Monday of every month currently at the English Lounge, Manchester. This is a free event although you do need to RSVP. Additionally to this, CING host various business skills workshops and have recently launched their next series of CING Coffee club, the price is £18 and start from February through to May - location tba.

http://www.meetup.com/C-I-N-G/

8 - MPA @MPAweareyou

The MPA, Manchester Publicity Association, is a non-for-profit membership organisation for people within the creative and digital industries who's aim is to give the creative community it's own voice. The MPA regularly host various networking events, panel events, training programmes and business lunches / functions. MPA's next event is the MPA & NABS Creative Forum and lunch with speakers Danny Brooke-Taylor and Jim Thornton.

http://www.mpa.org.uk/

9 - Madlab Events @madlabuk

Madlab, aka Manchester Digital Laboratory, is a venue within the Northern Quarter of Manchester which carries out a variety of different self funded events to attract and cement the creative community within the city, especially digital / technology minded people. This is a space which has a bustling calender full of meetup and activities.

http://madlab.org.uk

10 - CIM, Meet With Drinks @CIMinfo

CIM Meet with drinks is a networking event more appealing to the marketer than the designer - this is a monthly event held at Club LS1 in Leeds. You can expect a free drink on arrival and a relaxed if not slightly corporate atmosphere. CIM also hosts many speaker events across the country which generally come with a fee. The CIM, Meet With Drinks event is free, although you do need to book a place through their website.

http://www.cim.co.uk/home.aspx

All of the above are continually updated in our events section with detailed information given - so keep an eye out on there and also follow our Twitter feed @orchardtweets for event news.

If you have a creative or marketing event that you would like listed on our events page - please get in touch - Manchester@Orchard.co.uk Or if you have any suggestions for other events, please comment below.

@Orchard_Alex

Other related blog entries:

http://www.orchard.co.uk/Blog/New-to-Networking-1132.aspx

http://www.orchard.co.uk/Blog/Guest-Blog---Amir-Lodge

http://www.orchard.co.uk/Blog/Manchesters-First-Instameet-1456.aspx

 
Image courtesy of The Daily Beast

The practice’s reported in the news include interns paying between £50 - 200 / day for work experience, in addition to admin fees being charged by company’s offering services to find internships.

It disturbs me that people feel this is their only option and also that there will be plenty of people out there willing to exploit this practice. This doesn’t mean I agree that all work experience should be paid either. Offering services free of charge has long been a way of gaining experience but also proving to prospective employers an individuals determination to succeed in their chosen path. Offering employers money in exchange for work experience is not illegal and the moral issues are for those involved to contemplate.

It is illegal under The Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003, to charge work seekers fees for finding work. Therefore the above practice is testing the limits of the legislation.

We regularly receive enquiries from graduates and students with regards to work experience opportunities. We also hold seminars for students studying relevant sector qualifications, in local Universities, geared at preparing them for the jobs market. There are also plenty of other companies out there that are still willing to invest in young people, train them up and help them realise their potential.

The Youth Contract announced by the government in November is reported to be offering subsidies worth £2,275 for employers to take on young people but if you are interested hurry as it will only be extended to a mere 160,000 young people.

If you think you might have been charged a seekers fee for finding work and want further advice on if it was legal then contact the Department of Business Skills & Innovation (BIS)

Diane Edwards
@DiOrchard

See related blog by Andy Chesters: Get a Job Seminar does the job