13/04/2009
A service offering advice and support to businesses throughout the UK has been launched, which it is hoped will help companies through the eventual upturn. Business Link and Train to Gain are working together as part of the government's Solutions for Business initiative, which will provide a comprehensive diagnostic, information and brokerage service. Lord Young, the skills and apprenticeships minister, states that this shows commitment to providing real help for businesses during the downturn.

13/04/2009
A local council in England is advertising jobs for Australian and New Zealand social workers because it cannot find enough British candidates. Essex County Council has hired job search firm Synergy to recruit between 40 and 60 social workers from Australia, New Zealand and Ireland on salaries of between STG27,500 ($A56,859) and STG42,000. Synergy’s website states that the campaign to "bring in around 60 social workers from overseas" would begin this week, and that successful candidates would be offered “generous salaries” as well as relocation allowances, free accommodation for the first four months, a car lease deal and money for a visit back home.