News & Events

​Personal development is crucial for anyone looking to develop their career. When looking at your CV, a recruiter who can see how you’ve progressed over the years will know that you are prepared to challenge yourself and take on the personal responsibility of learning new skills and making yourself more employable.Whether you’re looking for a new job or just want to progress within the business you are working in, there are many things that you can do to expand your skill set and further your knowledge so that you are able to go for those higher positions when the time comes.However, although you may be more than capable of performing in a senior role, you've also got to make sure you get yourself noticed by the people making those hiring decisions. Here we take a look at ways you can help boost your promotion chances:Learn new skillsIt doesn’t matter what position you are in, or how old you are, you can always learn new skills or enhance the ones that you already have. Whether this is simply asking a senior colleague or another team in your department to explain the work they do, or taking part in the wide range or training courses that are available online, growing your skill set and having wider general knowledge on the sector you work in will be beneficial to your performance in the workplace.Challenge othersA good way to get yourself noticed by those with the power to promote you is to show your personality and challenge opinions in a professional way - be an active voice within your company. Obviously you don't want to get a reputation for being stroppy or awkward, but discussing topics related to your work and sector in a professional way will help you reflect your interest and passion for the industry.Think of solutionsOne of the first things you will learn in the workplace is that your boss only really wants to hear about solutions, not problems. Complaining about things that could be better is easy. In every business there are always problems that make certain processes longer or seemingly impossible to complete. However, sometimes businesses just don’t have the resources to dedicate time to solving these problems. Take the lead by suggesting ideas on how things can be improved and help make things easier for your colleagues and company. Create a plan on what can be done to solve this problem and, with the approval of your line manager, start making changes. Always be positiveBelieve it or not, a positive and encouraging work environment can go a long way in terms of how both you and your team perform. Over the years a number of studies have shown that positive thinking that typically comes with optimism is a crucial part of effective stress management, which is also linked to many health benefits. You can boost workplace morale in the smallest of ways like congratulating and recognising the good work or others, or simply treating the office now and again.SocialiseSocialising with those you work with outside of the office can be an important way of getting noticed. Getting to know your colleagues on a human level can really help how you communicate with them when it comes to business. You don’t have to be the heart and soul of the party but attending social events will help you meet others from different offices, and helps to break the ice if you’re a new starter.If going for an after-work drink isn’t your thing, take matters into your own hands and organise something different like a charity fundraising event. Ditch the self-entitlementOne thing that will definitely put your manager off giving you a promotion is the notion that you are entitled to it. Instead of talking about how you deserve it and how brilliant you are, highlight the things that you have done on top of your role. As always, actions speak louder than words.Go beyond expectationsIt's a cliche for a reason, but "under promise and over deliver" is not a bad maxim to have in any job that you do. Every role has requirements that must be met and are expected but sometimes doing these alone is not enough. Go beyond what is expected of you and take on responsibility that isn’t required and you will be noticed. PrioritiseSometimes the list of things that you need to do at work is endless, and there is always extra work that you could be doing that will have more of an impact on things. One skill that is usually seen as crucial when it comes to working in high-level roles is the ability to prioritise your work. Time management is key to having a good work life balance as well. Sorting out the 'urgent' from the 'important' and getting them done in the right order is not only fundamental to a successful career in business but also a brilliant life skill to acquire as well!If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the Fresh Produce, Food, Agriculture, Horticulture and Garden & Leisure sectors but need some advice, feel free to email us info@morepeople.co.uk or call 01780 480530 for a chat about your CV and career with one of our sector specialists.

​Last week, the MorePeople team enjoyed a very thought-provoking evening at the City Food Lecture 2020, along with around 700 guests from across the food industry. As a sponsor of this prestigious event, we were delighted to invite some of our clients to the event for discussion and debate on current and future food challenges and trends. The keynote speaker was Professor Louise Fresco from Wageningen University, a highly influential thinker and commentator on global food issues. Fresco’s talk focused on the trends and controversies around animal proteins, and she started by highlighting how relatively recently it was that it was acceptable to see meat hanging on display in the butchers that actually still resembled a dead animal. The experience today is far removed from this, with meat being cut into perfect shapes and packaged so that consumers feel less like they are eating animals. This is a trend that is being driven by millennials who, it is believed, share a widespread opinion that eating meat is the wrong thing to do because of its alleged impact on climate change. We no longer want to see where the meat actually comes from and this is mirrored in much of the food chain. However, meat consumption has remained stable over the years, demonstrating that there are inconsistencies in what we say and do. With regard to the impact of meat production on climate change, Fresco highlighted that a large proportion of land across the world is not suitable for crops, but is perfect for animals, so the solution is not as easy as taking animals away. Food waste is also a huge problem with a shocking 500 calories per person per day being left over. This food waste can be used to feed animals such as chicken and pigs, which would be a good solution. Fresco was in agreement that people will become more flexitarian in the future, but stressed that meat is here to stay as cutting it out completely is not the answer. Many people’s diets today consist of food with ‘empty calories’, whereas meat is the most concentrated form of protein and therefore a very important source of balanced food. We just need to ensure that we are producing it both sustainably and hygienically. Where will proteins come from in the future? She then moved on to look at ‘alternative’ protein sources and whether they are viable options: • Plants? Plant proteins are incomplete and not easily digestible so you have to be very careful to get the right range of amino acids. However, she did suggest that three quarters of the meat we eat is processed and could certainly be improved with plants. • Fake meats? These tend to be ultra-processed and are not the best solution nutritionally. • Insects? Not a good idea on a large scale! As tried and tested at her research centre in the Netherlands. • Algae and seaweed? Hard to grow. • Lab-grown meat? Still being tested on a very small scale. What needs to change? The food chain has become invisible. The hard work of people in the food chain is hidden. And consequently food has become a source of confusion. Fresco expressed a need for the private sector and government to work together to raise awareness about how our food is produced and how it gets to the consumer. She outlined the following priorities for the industry: 1. Food has to be grown in the most sustainable way possible, reducing damage to the environment. 2. Food has to be affordable. 3. Food has to be nutritious – no more empty calories! 4. Food has to be safe. The lecture was followed by a very lively Q&A session with the panel who attempted to answer the key questions of: how do we stop the food chain being invisible? And who will be the next generation of farmers? All of these issues present challenges for the food industry, but it was heartening to hear so much positivity in the room about the future of the industry. It certainly is an exciting one to be involved in! Link to the speech and panel discussion: https://cityfoodlecture.glasgows.co.uk/ ​

​A group of around 40 food students will take part in the Future Generation Student Forum on 20th February as part of the City Food Lecture 2020. MorePeople are a silver sponsor of the event and sole sponsor of the student aspect of it, an initiative that we are proud to support as part of our commitment to raising awareness of the industry to the next generation of talent. The day will kick off with visits to three restaurant locations in London where the students will have the chance to ask questions about different careers within each business. They will then travel to the Guildhall, the venue of the prestigious City Food Lecture, for an introduction to the livery movement by event Chairman, John Giles. MorePeople's Andrew Fitzmaurice will then take over to give an overview of the types of businesses and breadth of career opportunities that students can aspire to. This will be followed by a Q&A session with this year's City Food Lecture panellists:- Andrew Thompson, EMEA Director, Genus Plc- Ian Wright, Chief Executive, Food & Drink Federation- Baroness Rosie Boycott, food industry leader, journalist and authorThe students will then have the chance to meet and question the City Food Lecturer for 2020, Professor Louise Fresco, President of Wageningen University. All of this before the main event even starts! After what will have been a very insightful day, the students will join 700 other guests for the actual lecture and panel session, ending the day with supper in the Old Library. Andrew Fitzmaurice, Managing Director of MorePeople, is looking forward to the day:"We sponsored this event for the first time last year and it was incredibly rewarding to see the students getting involved and making the most of this invaluable networking opportunity. There are so many different career options within the food industry and events like the City Food Lecture help to raise awareness and bring a sense of realism to career aspirations."Photo courtesy of City Food Lecture 2019

​As experts in recruitment we often get asked for advice by clients about how to spot potential leaders.Identifying candidates with leadership abilities is important for companies looking to secure their long-term ambitions. But setting up a talent pipeline takes time as there is no one-size-fits-all approach. While there are obviously industry-specific requirements in all of the sectors we operate in, one attribute that applies increasingly across them all is emotional intelligence, as the ability to recognise your own and other people's emotions is vital in today's diverse and ever-changing business environment. The term is largely associated with Daniel Goleman and it challenges the traditional narrative that IQ is the sole measure of a person's ability. In recent years it has become increasingly linked to professional success, as those with high emotional intelligence are seen to consistently outperform their colleagues. "Without it, a person can have the best training in the world, an incisive, analytical mind, and an endless supply of smart ideas, but [they] still won't make a great leader," Goleman wrote in the Harvard Business Review. So how can emotionally intelligent staff improve a workplace? They can form personal relationships Being able to communicate with fellow workers on a personal level is very important in any sector, as companies want to have staff who are approachable and can connect with co-workers. Dr Travis Bradberry, co-author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, thinks that likeable leaders "communicate on a very personal, emotional level [and] they never forget that there's a flesh-and-blood human being standing in front of them". Giving people your time and attention is vital for creating a positive working environment and cultivating a strong culture. They are self-awareCompanies are always trying to find out their strengths and weaknesses, so having staff who can do this on a personal level makes progression much easier. Not only will this be important for their own long-term professional development, but self-aware people are also very good at seeing how decisions will affect others. Brent Gleeson, CMO of Internet Marketing, said in Inc: "In order to reach your maximum potential, you must be confident in who you are, understanding the good with the bad. Those that have a strong understanding of who they are and what they want to work on can improve themselves on a regular basis."They have empathyThe ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people, and being able to treat people according to their emotional reactions, is key for delivering a first-class client service. This is very important in both the food and horticultural sectors, as companies rely on long-term relationships with clients and customers. According to Goleman, there are three reasons why empathy is so important - the increasing use of teams, the rapid pace of globalisation, and the growing need to retain talent.They can self-regulate Being able to control your emotions in the workplace is very important, as no one wants their judgement to be clouded by moods or impulses. For example, if a piece of work is not well received, emotionally intelligent employees will choose their words carefully, avoid sweeping judgements and look to see what lessons can be learned from the process. By turning negatives into positives, they also make sure that morale is not affected.They are effective communicators Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings in the workplace, so employees need to be comfortable expressing their opinions. "Failing to communicate effectively in a workplace leads to frustration, bitterness and confusion among employees. Effective communication can eliminate obstacles and encourage stronger workplace relationships," Gleeson stated. Good communication also means everyone understands the direction and vision of the company, and what their role is in the process. Operating in the UK food sector is always going to be tough and ultra-competitive, so those with emotional intelligence will always be in demand. However, this is a quality that can be worked on and improved over time - it's something that should be on the personal learning and development agenda for any aspiring 'leader' who's looking to stand out from the crowd and take control of their future.

​When a new year begins, we all tend to be more motivated to make resolutions, whether it’s to exercise more, detox from alcohol or join the increasing numbers taking part in Veganuary. It’s also the most popular time of year to start looking for a new job, especially when it gets a few weeks into the year and you’re not feeling any more inspired about your current role. We have definitely seen evidence of January jobhunting motivation with an increase in visitors to our website and the number of applications coming in. After the uncertainty around politics at the end of 2019, it’s a positive trend to see that people are no longer putting things on hold and seem keen to just ‘get on with it’. With so many people jobhunting at once, how can you stand out and keep ahead of the competition? Avoid the scattergun approach You may have made the decision to move on, but it’s important that you spend some time thinking about what that new role really looks like, rather than just applying for anything you see advertised. Think about whether your goal is to progress in a similar type of role or if you need a change of sector or working environment. Ask yourself some questions - what are the company values that are attractive to you and align with your own? Do you have specific companies in mind? What sort of manager do you want to work for to help you succeed? Will the role you are looking at help you move towards your longer term aims? If you’re unhappy in your current role, it’s easy to skip this step in an attempt to escape as quickly as possible, but you don’t want to be back in the same situation in six months’ time. Spruce up your CV If you haven’t reviewed your CV since you were last jobhunting, chances are it’s in need of a bit of a facelift. Recruiters see hundreds of CVs every week and they all look very similar, so spend some time perfecting your personal profile to demonstrate your key strengths. Try to incorporate the outcomes from the questions you asked yourself above to make it clear exactly what you’re looking for next. If you identified values that are important to you, give examples of how you embody these to show that you would be a good cultural fit for the business. This will also mean that you’re tailoring your CV to each role and this will instantly help you stand out to the person reading it. Read the 10 top tips from the MorePeople team to help you get your CV in shape.Nail the interview Once your efforts have got you shortlisted for an interview, keep the momentum up. Do your research about the business – confirm who will be interviewing you and find out what you can about them, clarify the type of interview you can expect and prepare yourself. Is it an informal chat, a competency-based interview or a formal assessment? Think of a wide range of examples from your career history that demonstrate key skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, handling conflict, using your initiative, etc. In a stressful interview situation, it can be hard to think on your feet so the more time you spending practicing these beforehand the more likely you are to remember them at that key moment. Often burning questions will come to mind as the conversation develops, but it’s always advisable to think of a few before you go in to avoid any awkward silence when you’re asked at the end if you have any questions. Not sure what you should be asking? Read our advice hereMoney talks When you get offered a job, negotiations over money can be a bit sensitive. If you’re using a recruitment agency, your consultant will handle this for you to remove any stress. Be honest with them about your expectations and what figure you would be willing to accept. If the salary is quoted in the job advert, this is not likely to be open for much negotiation. Where an advert states the salary is ‘dependent on experience’, be ready to give examples of times that you’ve taken on additional responsibility at work or that prove your drive and ambition. If you need more in-depth advice on any of these subjects, call us on 01780 480530 for a confidential chat.

​MorePeople are delighted to be sponsoring the City Food Lecture for the second year in a row, including the Future Generation Student Forum where a group of food students have the opportunity to experience a day full of career-enhancing experiences. This prestigious invitation-only event is a well-established feature of both the City of London and food industry calendar, and takes place on Thursday 20th February at Guildhall, London EC2V 7HH. The lecture is organised and promoted by the seven food related Livery Companies with support from the Corporation of London. We are very much looking forward to hearing from this year's Keynote Speaker - Professor Louise Fresco, President of the Wageningen University & Research Executive Board. Wageningen is one of the world’s leading academic agri-food organisation and research and development centre based in Holland and Louise is a highly influential thinker and commentator on global food issues. Her career includes senior roles at the Agricultural Markets Task Force in the EU Commission and as Assistant Director-General at the FAO of the United Nations. She has also served on the Advisory Boards and/or as a Trustee of the likes of Shell, Rabobank, Unilever and Syngenta. The title of the 2020 City Food Lecture is ‘Fish nor Flesh or Both? Foods for the Future’ and will seek to answer some of the following questions:Food is a source of great confusion: what should we eat in times of climate change, obesity and animal welfare? Should our diets be local or global, vegetarian or flexitarian? Can cities restore their link to the countryside where the food comes from? And to complicate these essential questions, what will science bring us for the future in terms of new proteins, intensive and vertical agriculture and personalised nutrition? Following the lecture is a Question and Answer session with a panel of food industry specialists, which is always a lively debate!Guy Moreton, CEO of MorePeople, explained the motivations for being involved in the City Food Lecture:"As a market leader in recruitment for the food sector, we are proud to be sponsoring this exciting event. It is such an important event for the industry and the keynote speech always provides a lot of 'food for thought'!"He continued:"We were particularly keen to support the Future Generation Student Forum aspect of the event as part of our mission is to inspire young people to work in the industry, raising their awareness of the dynamic and exciting careers on offer and giving them invaluable time with industry thought leaders."To find out more about the event and watch the highlights from 2019, visit www.cityfoodlecture.com.