Introducing our monthly poll feature

We are delighted to announce that each month, beginning in April, we will be asking visitors across our social media platforms, a simple question to help us, help you.

It could be about the building industry and the direction that you feel it is going.

It might be to find out what you require from your recruitment consultant, so that we can help you further.

You might be seeing changes in the skills needed to succeed in your role - we would like to know these trends.

We need to find out how you, as either a job seeker or a recruiter is changing the way in which you search or recruit along with the issues faced in the process.

Ultimately, we would like to improve and meet your changing needs and, at the same time, evaluate where our industry is going - we are all part of the building and construction industry.

We have always had an enviable reputation as experts in our field, from both candidates and employers, but your views and thoughts are vital to ensure we continue to offer the highest level of recruitment services.

Keep an eye out for our first poll!

View our latest vacancies here.


Image: xe-pOr-ex / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ridgeons raises £24k for the Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust

It is always good to see the industry supporting a worthy cause but especially so when it is a company local to Pinnacle Consulting supporting a local cause. A big well done to everyone at Ridgeons for their efforts raising money for Addenbrooke's Hospital.

Ridgeons presented ACT with a cheque for £23,756.56 on Monday 19th March at a special ceremony at Addenbrooke's Hospital. The money was raised through fundraising activities throughout the year at all Ridgeons branches, with the family company doubling the amount raised in store to reach the final total.

The fundraising activities held across Ridgeons' branches included a specially commissioned liveried dray pulled by two beautiful Suffolk Punches, which toured East Anglia, visiting Ridgeons' branches, schools and events around the region, attracting attention and raising money for ACT.

Other fun activities included Ridgeons' employees participating in a light-hearted 1911 styled dressing-up competition, 'It's a Knock Out' challenge at The Big Weekend in Cambridge, and a special pantomime performance featuring Ridgeons' employees. Branch customers were also invited to splash out on raffle tickets and donate by eating a hearty builders' breakfast.

The funds raised by Ridgeons during 2011 were in support of three key ACT projects: a new state-of-the-art Da Vinci Robot for key-hole surgery; life-saving volumetric pumps for the children's ward; and a breast cancer specimen x-ray machine for the Cambridge Breast Unit. Funding targets for the volumetric pumps and x-ray machine have both now been achieved, with the help from Ridgeons' donation, meaning that a significant contribution will go towards the Da Vinci Robot.

Anne Ridgeon, chairman of the Ridgeons Group, said: "Last year was a particularly special year for Ridgeons and we enjoyed celebrating all of the hard work and good fortune of the past 100 years. We are absolutely delighted to have raised such a significant amount of money to help ACT continue its tremendous work. The Trust delivers life-saving projects which benefit all of us, directly or indirectly, and what a great way for Ridgeons to celebrate its birthday by supporting such an important and valuable cause."

http://www.actcharity.org.uk/

Originally published here.

Our current featured jobs - March 2012

Each month we focus on some excellent employment opportunities in the building product industry. We currently have exciting vacancies in roofing, flooring and bathroom products.

Click below....

Access the building trade press - all from one simple resource point!

The Pin Board blog is full of useful information to assist in your job search or just to help in your every day job.

The trade press is one of the best ways to research your sector and keep informed of the latest products and market trends.

Visit our Building Trade Press page for details of the most important trade publications - all in one place and simply categorised by area of interest with links to the magazines' websites.

We would like to make it easy for you to find out the information you need and we will be looking at developing further ways of helping you to use every part of the service that Pinnacle Consulting offers.

Barker announces that the Green Deal is set for October launch

The week at Ecobuild gave a real boost to the industry with huge numbers coming through the doors. The buzz created was felt by all who attended or exhibited.

The green message is starting to be enshrined in our thinking and actions. At Ecobuild the Climate Minister, Greg Barker, announced that the flagship Green Deal initiative is on track to be launched to the market in October. Barker  promised to deliver a "brand new market and opportunities for industry".

He added that it had the potential to drive significant economic growth and job creation as growing numbers of households and offices take advantage of a financing mechanism that allows them to improve their properties at no upfront cost.

The government has been criticised by Opposition MPs and the industry because many firms are still awaiting important details on the legislation governing the scheme, despite it being due to launch in October.

Barker announced several changes to the scheme's administration details, following an industry consultation.

This includes the removal of the requirements for official Green Deal Providers to have a surety bond in place before they are authorised, and of the rule requiring providers to fund an Independent Conciliation Service. Instead, there will be a new Green Deal Ombudsman capable of handling complaints.

Barker also hinted the Green Deal scheme would support a wider range of different green technologies than had been previously expected.

"No longer will every discussion on energy efficiency focus solely on the insulation industry," he said. "The Green Deal has been designed to finance the installation of a broad range of measures across the energy efficiency market.The heating, glazing, lighting and microgeneration industries will all be able to use this innovative financing mechanism."

Barker also promised that a host of further announcements would be made before the Green Deal starts in the autumn, including clarification on how new technologies could be added to the scheme, the launch of an advisory line next month, further details on supporting skills development programmes, and news on how the £200m of funding promised last year by the Chancellor will be used to incentivise the early roll out of Green Deal improvements.

The government has faced criticism for failing to provide details on how it plans to promote the scheme and incentivise households and businesses to take part.

It looks as though the positive start to the year for the industry is really beginning to take hold.

Pinnacle Consulting increasingly have opportunities with a strong renewable energy focus so be sure to check out our latest vacancies here.

Original story taken from http://www.BuildersMerchantsJournal.net/news/news.asp?id=8432&title=Barker+announces+Green+Deal+on+track+for+Autumn+launch+

Meet us at Homebuilding & Renovating - NEC

The self build and renovation market has grown beyond all recognition over recent years and is now an important part of the industry. The sector is supported by the National Homebuilding and Renovating Show and 2012 is the biggest yet with over 450 exhibitors.

The show will also feature demonstration areas, seminars and a major focus on sustainable energy solutions.

Pinnacle Consulting will also be visiting the show - so why not arrange to meet us for an informal and confidential chat about your career or recruitment requirements.

Call us on 01480 405225 or contact us by email at recruit@pinnacleconsulting.co.uk to make your appointment.

For more information on the Homebuilding and Renovating Show click here.

The National Homebuilding and Renovating Show is at the NEC, Birmingham between 29th March - 1st April 2012.

Win the NEW Apple iPad!!!

The new Apple iPad and the new Pinnacle Consulting website have been launched at the same time and to celebrate we are offering those who sign up for the Pinnacle Consulting eNewsletter 'Pin Points' the chance to win the new iPad!

'Pin Points' is delivered free to your inbox and keeps you informed with industry news and recruitment advice. It also lets you know when we are next in your area ensuring that you do not miss the opportunity to meet us to discuss your career or recruitment requirements.

You could be reading 'Pin Points' on your new iPad very soon...but you have to sign up for before the end of June to have a chance to win! Click here to sign up now. If you need to be reminded how great the new iPad is...click here.

www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk

Our new website is now live! Find out more here...

We are delighted to announce the launch of our brand new interactive website www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk. The site has been designed to make the process of looking for a job as simple as possible and includes a number of useful tools. To mark the launch, visitors to the site have the chance of winning the new iPad when they sign up for the new Pinnacle eNewsletter.

Steve Rogan, our Managing Director, explains why the new site is so important to the company: “At Pinnacle we live and breathe the building industry and we know that there are still lots of fantastic opportunities out there. It is vital that we make it easy for candidates to find these opportunities as well as supporting the manufacturers, distributors and merchants to recruit the best in the industry. Our new website does this and complements our unrivalled personal and professional approach which we believe provides the perfect recruitment solution”.

We offer some of the best sales, marketing, management and board level jobs in the industry – including high quality roles from junior to senior level in the building products, KBB, Interiors and DIY sectors. The new website allows potential candidates to search or be easily informed of potential opportunities that meet their career aspirations.

Candidates and employers can keep in touch by signing up for ‘Pin Points’ the Pinnacle Consulting eNewsletter, or get updated on news, advice and latest vacancies via Twitter, FaceBook, Google+ and LinkedIn as well, of course, the 'Pin Board' Blog!

We have a vital role to play in the industry - as Steve comments: “We are passionate about the sector and hope that the investment in our new website and interactive tools demonstrates our confidence for growth and our commitment to provide a useful resource and service for people in the industry - even those not actively looking for a new job or to recruit”.

The new site is now live at www.pinnacleconsulting.co.uk. Log on to see all our  latest jobs and a chance to win the brand new iPad from Apple.

Things are looking up for the bathroom sector

With the sector fresh from an excellent kbb exhibition the upbeat mood remains after the latest research into the UK bathroom equipment market has revealed it is expected to increase each year up until 2016, having been subject to major reductions in price during the recession.

The sector is expected to be more buoyant than many others, despite uncertainties over the economy.

Figures from the Market & Business Development Company show that although the industry suffered a major decline in demand in 2009, this was followed by growth of 10% in 2010. However, demand grew less strongly in 2011, to £2351 million.

The demand for baths is expected to increase in value year-on-year throughout the forecast period, reaching £523m by 2016, and refurbishment activity is expected to place the bathroom as one of the priority sectors in the DIY market.

Year-on-year growth is expected for toilets, which are set to follow a similar trend as the bath sector and for similar reasons. The toilet sector is expected to reach £340m in 2016. As demand for basins is intrinsically linked to that of toilets, this will be similar and is projected to reach £381m.

The shower market is expected to continue as a beneficiary of the en-suite trend with the market expected to reach £686m by 2016 and the enclosure sector is expected to similarly increase over the same period.

(Projections based on 2011 prices)

Original source: http://www.kbbreview.com/Home/upbeat-forecast-for-bathroom-sector.htm

Meet us at Ecobuild!

We will be at Ecobuild, the UK's leading building exhibition, every day next week - so arrange to meet us for an informal and confidential chat about your career or recruitment requirements.

Call us on 01480 405225 or contact us by email at recruit@pinnacleconsulting.co.uk to make your appointment.

For more information on Ecobuild go to www.ecobuild.co.uk
Ecobuild is at ExCel, London, between 20th - 22nd March 2012.

7 reasons to attend Ecobuild next week

Over the last few years Ecobuild has quickly become the trade event for the industry and is the world's biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment and the UK's largest construction event of any kind.

Make sure Ecobuild is part of your diary plans for next week.



1. The biggest Ecobuild yet - with over 1500 exhibitors!
2. Lots of live demonstrations
3. Renowned and influential speakers
4. Free conference
5. Over 130 free seminars
6. Numerous new products
7. And finally.....we will be attending the exhibition for the entire week, so please contact us if you would like to meet up for a confidential chat about your career or your recruitment requirements.

Email us to arrange an appointment or call us on 01480 405225.

For more information on Ecobuild visit www.ecobuild.co.uk

James Hargreaves buys Lifestyle Bathrooms

Lifestyle Bathrooms, set up 16 years ago by Sean Carty has been bought by James Hargreaves Bathrooms.

Gordon Rothwell, managing director at James Hargreaves Bathrooms, said: "We have been aware of Lifestyle Bathrooms for some time and we see this as a progressive and positive move into a new geographic area for us."

James Hargreaves Bathrooms is a division of James Hargreaves Plumbers Merchants, which has 27 branches in Yorkshire, Lancashire and the North East.

Mr Rothwell said the premises in Pryme Street will be refurbished with a launch planned for early spring. "We are very confident going forward with this new branch and that is why we have agreed to a large investment at a time when many firms are pulling back," he said.

"Caution has never been our way - we believe in unearthing opportunities and then committing ourselves 100 per cent.

"This is what we will do in Hull and we firmly believe a combination of our financial strength and experience in the market will help this latest venture grow and grow.

"The design and sales team in Anlaby are very dedicated and highly talented and we are more than happy for them to be joining James Hargreaves Bathrooms.

"We are always looking to add to our growing portfolio and Hull represents a very good step forward for us."

Taken from http://www.buildersmerchantsnews.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/5652/James_Hargreaves_buys_Lifestyle_Bathrooms.html

Building industry growth gains momentum

Encouraging news from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply for manufacturers in the construction industry with news that the the economy is on track for a bounceback in the current quarter after the building industry's strongest growth for almost a year in February.

The latest Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply/Market activity index, where a score over 50 signals growth, hit an 11-month high of 54.3 last month, led by a revival in commercial building.

Construction firms surprisingly escaped the impact of the oil price hikes which hit manufacturers in February, although the industry is still shedding jobs.

Markit's Sarah Bingham said: "The sharp increase in new business received should keep firms busy in the coming months."

The economy shrank 0.2 per cent in the final three months of 2011, but the momentum in the building industry should contribute to overall growth, according to Howard Archer at IHS Global Insight.

Taken from: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/building-powers-a-bounce-7499710.html