The prestigious Recruiter Awards recognise outstanding achievements and contributions in the recruitment industry across the UK. Being shortlisted is a significant recognition of Cogent Staffing’s efforts in providing exceptional recruitment services while upholding high standards of ethics and professionalism.

Sam Gaukroger, Managing Director of Cogent Staffing, commented:

“We are honoured to be shortlisted for this esteemed award. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, who consistently strive to deliver quality service to our clients and candidates.”

Cogent Staffing has been acknowledged for its commitment to ethical practices, prioritising candidate welfare, promoting diversity and inclusion, and making a positive impact in the communities we serve. The company’s innovative approach, compliance with industry regulations, investment in leadership development programs and efforts towards community engagement have also contributed to its shortlisting.

The Recruiter Awards 2024 ceremony promises to be an exciting event, bringing together industry leaders and professionals to celebrate outstanding achievements in the recruitment sector. Everyone at Cogent Staffing would like to extend their congratulations to all the shortlisted companies and looks forward to the event.

For more information about the Recruiter Awards 2024 and the complete shortlist, visit the Recruiter Awards website here.

Most of us have been there – the Sunday night blues, dreading the start of another work week. A certain amount of angst over Mondays is normal. But if those feelings of dread, disengagement and dissatisfaction persist for weeks, months or even years, it’s one of the clearest signs that it may be time to make a career move. Staying in an unfulfilling job can have serious consequences on your productivity, confidence, relationships and overall wellbeing. The tricky part is knowing when it’s just a temporary rut and when the role is no longer a good fit for your goals and values.

To help you evaluate whether a change is truly needed, here are 10 unmistakable signs that shouldn’t be ignored.

1. Your work no longer excites or challenges you
   In the early days, you probably felt stimulated and motivated by the daily tasks and responsibilities. But now the lustre has worn off. The work you once found engaging has become mindless, repetitive or boring. Rather than being present, you spend an inordinate amount of time watching the clock or scrolling on your phone to make it through the day. That sense of passion and drive has been replaced by complacency.
   
   
2. There’s no path to progression
   You’ve achieved your initial goals, but there’s simply no runway for upward mobility. Whether it’s topping out at your role with nowhere to be promoted, or just a lack of professional development opportunities – the ability to continue growing your skills and taking your career to the next level has stagnated.
   
   
3. Lack of recognition and reward
   Despite working hard and getting consistently great results, you receive little to no recognition, incentives or compensation in return. It’s incredibly demoralising when you go above and beyond, yet have your efforts and achievements taken for granted or outright ignored. Feeling undervalued and unrewarded is a sure-fire way for motivation and engagement to plummet.
   
   
4. The culture is toxic
   The culture at your workplace or company has become toxic, whether it’s due to terrible leadership, intense politics, gossip and cliques, unethical behaviour or a misalignment of values. No matter how great the role, working in an unhealthy environment where you constantly feel out of place and uncomfortable is damaging. It negatively impacts your wellbeing, mindset and ability to thrive.
   
   
5. Work-life balance is non-existent
   Any sense of work-life balance has become non-existent. We all go through periods where we need to put in some extra hours for a key project or deadline. But if you’re chronically overworked with no boundaries, unable to unplug during your time off and constantly having to sacrifice your personal life and relationships – that’s an unsustainable path that will inevitably lead to burnout, resentment and low quality of life.
   
   
6. You’ve outgrown the role
   You’ve simply outgrown the role and there are no longer any opportunities to be challenged or apply your full range of talents. The work and responsibilities you were initially so excited about have become stale. You’ve checked all the boxes, mastered all the skills and now feel stuck on a plateau with no room for further growth or development. Your potential is being underutilised.
   
   
7. The company is struggling
   Whether it’s due to poor leadership, financial troubles, being in a dying industry or any number of reasons – you can clearly sense that the company is struggling or on a downward trajectory. This creates an environment of negativity, instability and anxiety that can be incredibly stressful and demoralising to work in. You may worry about the long-term viability of your role.
   
   
8. Your values no longer align
   That mission, vision and set of values you once fully bought into and were inspired by, you’ve realised was mostly hollow rhetoric or PR spin. Or perhaps new leadership has come in and is taking the company in an entirely different direction that you fundamentally disagree with or can no longer get behind. Whatever the reason, your moral compass no longer aligns.
   
   
9. There are better opportunities
   Through networking, research, career fairs or simply being recruited, you’ve realised there are plenty of other roles, companies and opportunities out there that could potentially be a much better fit and long-term path for your talents, interests and professional goals. Rather than feeling trapped, you’re motivated and reenergised by the prospect of finding a better role.
   
   
10. You simply aren’t happy
    At the end of the day, this may be the biggest sign of all – you simply aren’t happy. If you wake up with a feeling of dread and heaviness about going into the office, suffer through each week in misery and find little to no joy, satisfaction or sense of fulfilment in your day-to-day work, that’s a clear indication that it’s time to start planning your next move. Life is too short to stay in an unfulfilling role indefinitely.

If many of these signs resonate and ring true for your current situation, don’t resign yourself to being stuck in a rut. A great next step is to consult with experienced recruitment professionals like those at Cogent Staffing. We specialise in connecting industrial, engineering and commercial talent with enriching career opportunities. Our recruiting experts take the time to thoroughly understand your unique background, skillsets, values and professional goals through in-depth consultations.

We then leverage our vast employer networks and best-in-class matching technologies to identify a curated list of roles that are a perfect fit based on your defined criteria – whether it’s related to workplace culture, compensation, work-life balance, growth potential or other priorities. With unmatched regional expertise and a laser focus on making great matches, our team has the resources and insights to help you find a role that you’re genuinely excited about again.

Ditch the drudgery and take control of your professional future – starting today!

The November 2023 announcement of a nearly 10% rise in the National Living Wage has sent ripples through Britain’s economy and workforce. As a recruitment agency working with both employers and job seekers across industries, Cogent Staffing wants to ensure our clients and candidates understand these imminent changes to minimum wage standards. We will outline exactly what the new minimum wage means in monetary terms, which age groups are impacted, plus considerations for payroll budgeting and career planning.

With such a substantial increase driven by widespread pay growth, all organisations and individuals will need to adapt accordingly. By leveraging our labour market expertise and connections, Cogent Staffing is committed to helping clients and candidates navigate through this transitional period smoothly. Whether you are an employer determining new staffing costs or a job seeker qualifying for higher earnings, this overview explains the extent of the changes and offers tailored guidance on preparing for the rise.

Let’s explore the specifics of the 2024 UK minimum wage update, who needs to comply and how businesses and employees can best position themselves before implementation this April.

What are the changes?

Over 21
The National Minimum Wage will be £11.44 from 1st April 2024, an increase from £10.42. This now applies to anyone over 21, whereas previously it only applied to anyone over 23.

In salary terms, this means that someone in a full-time permanent role working a 40-hour week will earn a gross annual salary of £23,795.20, up from £21,673.60.

18-20 year olds
From 1st April 2024, the National Minimum Wage for 18-20 year olds will be £8.60, up from £7.49.

In salary terms, someone in full-time permanent employment working a 40-hour week will earn a gross annual salary of £17,888.00 up from £15,579.20.

16-17 year olds
From 1 April 2024, the National Minimum Wage for 16-17 year olds and apprentices will be £6.40, up from £5.28.

In salary terms, someone in full-time employment working a 40-hour week will earn a gross annual salary of £13,312.00 up from £10,982.40.

National Insurance thresholds also went down in January 2024, from 12% to 10%.

What this means for clients

As employers ourselves, we understand the potential impact these mandatory wage increases can have on payroll and profits. To ensure a smooth transition for your organisation, we suggest taking the following steps:

Review budgets and make adjustments – Look for areas where you can optimise costs to accommodate higher wage expenses. Assessing expenditures now allows time to plan.

Update contracts and payroll systems – Don’t wait, make sure employment policies and payment procedures align with new legal wage regulations. This avoids confusion down the line.

Communicate proactively with staff – Transparency regarding how this financially impacts the company and why the change is occurring builds trust and morale.

Re-evaluate hiring needs – Do you expect lower applicant interest for certain roles due to broader industry impacts? Our recruiting teams can source candidates even in tight labour markets.

Lean on recruitment experts – This is a time of flux; leverage Cogent Staffing’s market insights on salary benchmarks and talent availability so you can set appropriate budgets.

What this means for candidates

As advocates for employees and job seekers, we want to ensure our candidates understand how this significant wage increase can benefit them:

Know your rights – Employees over 21 working full-time are entitled to earn at least £11.44 per hour under new rules. Verify with HR if unsure.

Reassess personal finances – With more earnings, now is an ideal time to build savings, pay down debt or work with a financial advisor to plan usage of extra funds.

Develop professionally – Higher wages often mean greater expectations. Look for training and upskilling opportunities to stay competitive in your role or take on more responsibility.

Ask about benefits packages – Some employers may offset higher wages by reducing benefits offerings. Make sure you understand the full compensation and advantages of any new role under consideration.

Contact us – Our teams provide support, advice and access to openings with employers implementing these higher salary standards.

This National Living Wage increase aims to improve living standards for UK workers in response to inflation. As specialists serving both employers and job seekers, Cogent Staffing is well equipped to guide clients and candidates through these changes. Reach out to us today on 01422 413 813 to discuss how we can help you best prepare.

Cogent Staffing is pleased to announce it is part of a consortium bid that has been named as a supplier on Crown Commercial Service’s (CCS) Framework Contract for Lot 6 Estates, Facilities Management and Ancillary Staff. The consortium is led by Cogent Staffing’s parent company, Bluestones Investment Group (Bluestones Group).

Sam Gaukroger, Cogent Staffing MD, commented:

Cogent Staffing is a premier regional recruitment business that provides a range of recruitment and staffing consultancy services focused typically on the provision of blue-collar personnel. Headquartered in Halifax, with numerous offices strategically located across Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cheshire, the company supplies industrial, engineering, and commercial staff on a temporary, permanent or contract basis.

Crown Commercial Services (CCS) supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2021/22, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £2.8 billion – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

Bluestones Investment Group is a specialist investment group that’s focused on the recruitment sector, operating a balanced portfolio of recruitment and staffing service businesses. The framework inclusion for Bluestones involves a consortium entry from businesses within the Group’s portfolio, including: Cogent Staffing, Bluestones Staffing (Northern Ireland), Bluestones Supply Chain and NC Associates.