​The MorePeople Salary Survey is back again for its third iteration. What a time everyone has had since we released the 2020 version! Thinking back to the priorities in Spring 2020, the world looks a different place today. Yes, the caution with regards to Covid19 protocols is still ever-present, but the volume of work we are experiencing and the positive attitudes, general optimism and decisiveness amongst our clients and candidates is a far cry from those first few months of lockdown. ​I am thrilled and thankful that we are working in an industry so fundamental. Food literally props up the hierarchy of needs and we have all had to do our part in feeding 65 million Brits. The stoicism and pragmatic nature of a massive number of people who work in the food sector has been so so evident over the tough months – we’re now here in Summer 2021 and we’re reporting record months and record quarters thanks to everyone’s efforts. We should all be able to build on this in the months and years ahead. We’ve all proved that we can handle anything. Every year we approach the salary survey with as much objectivity as possible. Avoiding all biases can be hard to do but, given the nature of how the data contained here is collected, I hope we have managed to achieve a snapshot of the priorities in the market. I hope too that the numerical data is accurate and proves to be useful for everyone who reads it. As ever, we are always happy to help and talk so if you have any questions on any of what is contained in this report please do get in touch. ​The results in full can be read here​ANDREW FITZMAURICE MANAGING DIRECTOR

​Our 2021 team annual conference is based on the book Atomic Habits by James Clear. There are so many inspirational business books out there, including these favourites that we shared on World Book Day, and we’re all looking forward to learning more about how this one can support personal development. With the strapline ‘Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results’, the premise of Atomic Habits is that making small adjustments in your daily lives can lead to massive transformations. It’s a powerful statistic that by being 1% better at something every day, you’ll be 37 times better in 1 year! As illustrated by this graph: So much of our daily lives are spent carrying out automatic habits, some of which are healthy and productive, some of which are exactly the opposite! If we can break some of those unhealthy ones, just think of the potential to become better versions of ourselves. The appeal of the strategy in this book is that it’s very simple and focuses on creating very small habits that are easy to stick to before building on them in tiny increments, for example starting with walking 1000 steps a day and increasing by 100 each day. This habit will feel easy in the beginning and therefore you’re more likely to keep progressing. It will be interesting to brainstorm how we can use this methodology in the workplace to create some new habits that make us 37 times better this time next year! What habits would you like to change in your life? Has this book made a difference to you?

​After a record-breaking start to 2021, we have recently welcomed two new recruitment consultants to the team. Chris Williams and Tor Newcomb completed the MorePeople Academy induction training programme over the past three months, and both have already supported the wider team and made several successful placements themselves. With the foodservice industry beginning a return to normality and the fresh produce, horticulture and agriculture sectors continuing to flourish, the number of job opportunities continues to grow. If 2020 was a year of uncertainty and volatility, then 2021 seems to be the year of decisiveness and the spirit is to ‘get things done’. Chris joins Will Thomson in our Operations team, focusing on Operational, Production, Factory Management, Engineering and Health & Safety roles in the food and fresh produce sectors. Tor is the latest addition to our Commercial function, working alongside Morten Andresen and clients in the food and fresh produce industry. Managing Director, Andrew Fitzmaurice, expects the business to keep growing: “It is fantastic – having come through 2020 positively – to now be making massive strides in 2021! We have a very exciting five-year plan in place and a tonne of opportunities to make the most of, not just for the business as a whole, but for everyone at MorePeople. Our growth is intrinsically linked to adding great new people to the team, so I am super excited about what the future looks like for Chris and Tor. Two great new additions who are doing really well and have immediately fit into our culture. As our values state: We take pride in what we do We put our customer's needs in front of our own We create a fun and supportive environment We always aim to have a positive impact on others We strive to continually improve We are advocates of our sectors.” Chris and Tor have been living and breathing these since they started, and they have a bright future ahead. We’re going to keep hiring as we have so much more work to deliver and value to add to our customers.” Click here to find out more about what it’s like to work for MorePeople, call us on 01780 480530 or email info@morepeople.co.uk.

Take part in our 2021 Salary & Benefits Survey! We made the decision not to run this annual survey at the end of last year due to the very challenging year that many businesses had faced. As restrictions are slowly easing and we've hopefully seen the last of lockdowns, we feel that now is the right time to find out what's changed and what's important to those working in the sectors we recruit for - fresh food, horticulture, agriculture, rural professionals and garden & leisure. We would be extremely grateful if you could spare 5 minutes of your time to complete the survey. As an added incentive, you will be invited into our prize draw to win an Apple iPad at the end of the survey! [Take Part in the Survey]The information gathered will be completely anonymised into a comprehensive report, which will provide valuable market insights, help you to better understand your sector and what's important in today's world, plus it will allow you to benchmark either your own salary or that of your team. Salary Survey 2020Remind yourself of the results of the 2020 survey, which was carried out in late 2019 in a pre-Covid world! [Read the report]

​On Friday the MorePeople team headed over to Rockingham Castle for a fun-filled afternoon of off-roading, 4x4 action, blind driving and clay pigeon shooting! The half day Land Rover Experience was a much rescheduled teambuilding day in the absence of a Christmas party in 2020 and it was great to finally get together as a team.On Safari (it was much more extreme than the picture suggests!)Shooting (not quite so easy when you can only use one arm Richard!)Easy does it!When a professional rally driver takes over...​

​The MorePeople team have today embarked on a wellbeing challenge, taking a 1,743km virtual road trip from Lands End to John O’Groats! Team members will be running, walking, cycling, rowing, swimming (or any form of moving!) over the next four weeks, logging their fitness journey as they advance along the length of the UK. The Conquerer virtual challenge app will track progress on a street view map, unlock virtual postcards as certain milestones are reached and donate towards the planting of a tree for every 20% of the distance completed. Managing Director, Andrew Fitzmaurice, explains the motivation for launching this initiative: “The challenges of the last 15 months have really raised awareness of workplace mental health and the importance of supporting the wellbeing of your employees. For many, fresh air and exercise has really helped them to get through lockdowns, and this initiative aims to encourage people to prioritise their wellbeing and make it a healthy habit.” “The beauty of this particular challenge is that there’s something to get everyone moving, it doesn’t matter what type of exercise you prefer, whether you’re in the office or working remotely, we’ll be completing the distance as a team and looking forward to receiving a medal at the end!” CEO, Guy Moreton, continues: “This is also part of the build up to a bigger fundraising challenge that we have planned for later in the year. We recently announced that we are supporting RideForFreedom, a social enterprise that uses cycling to raise awareness of modern day slavery.” “Gordon Miller, the founder of RideForFreedom, will be cycling 2,900km from Spain to the UK to highlight a documented human trafficking route. We are planning to help drive awareness of this initiative by virtually covering the same route as a team in the build up to Anti-Slavery Day on 18th October.” Keep an eye on MorePeople’s socials for updates along the way to John O’Groats!

​MorePeople recently made a donation to the volunteer gardening team at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, enabling them to buy two giant planters for the hospital gardens. The gardens are used by hospital staff during break times and also patients who are able to get out for some fresh air and meet with family. The pots are in pride of place next to a new bench donated by the Captain Sir Tom Moore Fund. Guy Moreton, MorePeople’s CEO, said: “We were only too happy to donate these planters to the gardening team at Hinchingbrooke Hospital. I think everyone has grown to appreciate the true value of gardens during the pandemic, even more so for the wonderful hospital staff who have been working so hard. I hope they help to bring some joy to staff, patients and their families as the warmer weather arrives.”

It's Mental Health Awareness Week and therefore a great time to remind yourself of the ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’. Modelled by the New Economics Foundation, these are a set of pillars which are key to improving our mental health, and all are small but effective ways to support your mental health on a daily basis.1. ConnectThe past year has prevented us from seeing our friends, family and colleagues as much as we would like to so, as restrictions ease, think about who you may have lost touch with and make the effort to re-connect. A five minute conversation can be all it takes to make someone's day. If you're working remotely, why not check in with one of your colleagues who you haven't spoken to for a while? It's also important to build new connections and expand your circle of contacts, whether at work or in your local community. 2. Be ActiveIt's a fact that exercise releases hormones that make you feel good and engaging in regular physical activity is known to lower rates of depression and anxiety across all groups. You don't have to run a marathon or swim the channel, being active can be as simple as getting out for a walk more often or spending time pottering in the garden. Find something that suits you and try to make it part of your routine. Do you work near a park? Grab a colleague and get out for a short walk at lunchtime. 3. Take NoticePre-Covid, many of us were too busy to appreciate the things around us. Being 'mindful' has been shown to be associated with a positive mental state, so take time to look at your surroundings, notice the simple pleasures in life and be in the moment. This could be stopping to notice trees as they blossom, savouring a coffee date with a friend or finding a spot to catch the last of the day's sun. 4. Keep LearningNever stop learning. In adult life, learning seems so much more fulfilling than your memory of school days, so look out for opportunities to try something different, sign up for a course that you've always wanted to do or pick up an inspirational business book. The challenge and enjoyment of learning new things will help support your mental health. 5. GiveThere is evidence that 'giving back' or helping others promotes wellbeing, whatever your age. Whether this is giving up your time to help someone, volunteering in your local community or sending someone a gift to say 'hello' or 'thank you', it can be incredibly rewarding to look outwards. Is one of your colleagues caught up in back to back meetings? Pick them up a sandwich while you're on your lunch break to ensure they don't miss out.Visit mentalhealth-uk.org/mhaw for more information and tips for incorporating these into your routine.

​As part of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) Spring Conference 2021, we sponsored a panel session on Continuing Professional Development – ‘Smart CPD: keeping up to date in a changing world’. Four panelists took part in a lively discussion that encouraged listeners to never stop learning and to embrace CPD as something to enjoy and not just a box to tick. The panelists were: Helen Taylor, Chair of IFST’s professional development group Bertrand Emond, Campden BRI Vicky Collett, Pepsi Lipton Tanya Vina, The Science Council 5 top tips emerged from the session: 1.) CPD is not just about technical skills. Soft skills are of equal importance, and the pandemic has also raised the importance of developing skills in areas such as mental health awareness and mindfulness. 2.) It’s not just about formal training with a certificate at the end of it. Reading blogs and white papers, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, taking part in self-led training, are also valid and valuable CPD activities. As long as you can reflect on what you have learnt and demonstrate how you have applied it in your role. 3.) We’re all busy and this can push CPD down the list of priorities. If this sounds familiar then perhaps you need a change of mindset. CPD doesn’t have to be time consuming - be realistic about what you want to achieve, be creative and find activities that are going to work for you, and be strategic about what you say yes and no to. 4.) If you’re a student or new to the world of work, a good place to start with your CPD journey is to look for good role models or mentors, whether within your organisation or the wider industry. Explore career pathways, research where your gaps are and identify ways to start bridging them. 5.) Link your Personal Development Plan (PDP) or annual review to your CPD plan. Although these are two very different things - your PDP focuses on your current role and your CPD is the bigger picture - they will be most effective if looked at together. Your CPD log is intended to stay with you throughout your career, so it’s important to keep it up to date… which is an impressive skill in itself and one that will make you stand out at interviews! [More details of the IFST’s CPD system]