News & Events

​As businesses around the world start taking steps to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, many are making the decision to limit on-site meetings. At the same time, nobody wants to put their recruitment on hold, particularly with the uncertainty of how long the outbreak is expected to last. We're lucky that technologies such as Skype, Google Hangouts and FaceTime exist, making video interviews a very easy and effective solution. So, if you're preparing for a video interview, whether as the interviewer or candidate, here are some top tips to help it run as smoothly as possible:1. Test the technologyEven if you consider yourself as 'tech-savvy', don't just wait for the scheduled interview time and expect everything to work. Test everything in advance to make sure your equipment is working correctly and you have all of the apps or plug-ins that you need. Does your camera/microphone work? How good is the internet connection in the room that you plan to use? The best way to check these is to carry out a trial run with somebody external, maybe a friend or family member. Remember to turn off any message and social media notifications as these may appear on screen during the interview. 2. Tailor your surroundingsWhilst the technology is incredible, it can easily be let down by distractions, so minimise these before you start. Choose a room that's quiet and away from potential background noise. Hang a 'do not disturb' sign on the door, including if you're at home to prevent any interruptions from the doorbell. Look at what's behind you - you want your background to be as clear and clutter free as possible. Lighting is also important so position yourself in the part of the room that benefits from natural lighting if this is possible. 3. What to wearJust because you're not having a physical meeting, it doesn't mean that the dress code should be any different. Dress exactly as you would for a traditional face-to-face interview as this will showcase a professional attitude and create the right mindset. Don't fall into the trap of assuming that you'll only be seen from the waist up as we've all seen the disasters on YouTube when the unexpected happens and you need to leave your seat to deal with it!4. On the deskAs in a face-to-face interview, it's normal to have a printed CV and the job description in front of you to refer to. It's also perfectly acceptable to have pen and paper available for writing notes, although if you can't see these on camera then be sure to explain any silences as you're writing something down. Have a glass of water to hand as well, but eating is a no-no!5. Maintain eye contactWhen the person you're talking to isn't in the room, it presents more of a challenge in knowing where to look and stopping your eyes from wandering. Try to maintain eye contact by looking directly into the camera as opposed to at your photo in the corner of the screen. Make sure that your face is well centred and then try not to move around. Good posture is important and will help with voice projection, so concentrate on sitting with a straight back with your feet on the ground. Less body language information is transmitted in a video interview, but you'll still be building up an impression with non-verbal communication.6. Voice projectionAs well as sitting up straight, remember to smile and speak clearly. This is another reason why testing the technology first is so important as there's nothing worse than trying to tweak volume controls mid-conversation or being too polite to say anything so that you are straining to hear the other person. It's also easier to talk over each other when you're not in the same room, so try not to let this frustrate you and make a point of pausing more to ensure that the other person has finished what they are saying. 7. Closing the interviewAs with any interview, end by thanking the other person for their time and outline what the next steps will be. This should also be followed up by email within 24 hours to ensure clarity. Video interviews take away any stress of travel logistics and are usually quicker and easier to organise than a face-to-face interview, but there are still lots of things to think about to ensure that they are an effective alternative. Take note of the tips above and there's no reason why you can't keep calm and carry on interviewing![Download this guide]

​MorePeople hosted an industry dinner at The George in Stamford on 3rd March, which was attended by around twenty senior leaders from within the industry. As well as enjoying an exquisite dinner and great company, the guests also had the invaluable opportunity of hearing from the Groceries Code Adjudicator, Christine Tacon, before she steps down from the role in June after seven successful years in post. Christine highlighted how important face-to-face interactions with suppliers have been throughout her time as GCA. These have allowed her to really build a picture of the key challenges faced by suppliers when dealing with supermarkets, enabling her to feed this back collectively and encourage self-regulation. The annual GCA survey demonstrates significant improvements for suppliers over the seven years and Christine believes that collaboration and taking a blame free approach have been key to this positive trend. The final survey while Christine is in the role is now live and she is keen to encourage as many suppliers as possible to take part. You can complete the survey on the YouGov website between now and 29 March. Another key message was that all suppliers need to be trained on the code to help ensure that supermarket behaviours continue to change for the better. Andrew Fitzmaurice, Managing Director of MorePeople and host for the evening, said afterwards: "We have hosted several of these industry dinners now and each time they prove valuable to everyone in the room. By keeping them intimate, you have the chance to engage with all of the guests and get a real insight into the day-to-day challenges that our industry is facing.""Christine is always an excellent speaker and I know she equally values the opportunity to hear first hand about experiences from business leaders in a relaxed atmosphere. We were delighted to be able to facilitate the discussions and look forward to hosting similar events in the future."

​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.

​Congratulations, you’ve been offered a second interview. That means that not only has your CV done its job, but your personality and communication skills have impressed the recruiter enough to invite you back for the next stage. They're certainly interested in you and you've convinced them that you have the core skills they're looking for.So what should you expect in your second interview? What are they key differences and what questions are likely to be asked?This stage is bound to be a little more tricky, where the employer digs deeper than they have previously.Here are a few things to remember when going for your second interview: Don’t be afraid to show your personality It’s likely that other candidates you are competing against have the same, or a very similar, skill set to yourself. Now your interview knows that you’re capable of doing the job, they will want see something more, something which makes you stand out.Try to engage in some general conversation before the interview starts. Look to create a friendly or light-hearted, but always professional, atmosphere that allows your personality to shine through. Remember you still need to sell yourself and make sure they know what you can offer them. The interviewer has not yet made a decision, they are intrigued but are not 100 per cent confident, so tell them why you’re different and why it is this job specifically that you want. Be prepared - get feedbackAndrew Fitzmaurice, Managing Director of MorePeople, commented: “MorePeople has a high ‘conversion rate’ from second interview stage to job offer. Obviously it helps when you have started with the right opportunity and a great candidate in the first place, but the reason we have a lot of success at this stage is because our candidates and clients are well prepared.” “If you can get meaningful feedback from the first interview then you can use it to your advantage at the second stage. If you know the positive reasons the client liked you then you can show off these strengths again.” “If you are brave enough to ask for areas of concern with your first interview then you can tackle these head on – there’s no point hiding from the difficult truths.”Senior members of staffIn your first interview, you will probably be questioned by someone in HR and maybe the person who will manage you should you get the role. However, in your second interview, you may meet more senior members of staff, those who will be working alongside you or directors. Don’t let this intimidate you: this isn’t a bad thing, it shows they are serious about potentially hiring you. A second interview should also last longer than your first one, as the employer will really want to find out all they can about you. If you’re meeting new staff you may also find that you will be repeating yourself with general questions like ‘Tell me about yourself’ or ‘Why do you want this role?’, to see if you will fit into the culture of the office. Testing your knowledgeOne of the key differences you are likely to encounter at this stage will be the nature of the questions you'll face. The first interview was probably more about getting to know you and about your experience. Here you are more likely to face 'competency based' questions. These are designed to see how well you have coped in the past with actual situations and also evaluate how you think and rationalise problems. Sometimes you can be given actual tasks or exercises to do. So if you’re going for a food science position, you may be asked about public policy issues in this area, if you’re going for a role which is strategy based, you may be given a problem solving question with only a limited amount of time to work it out.Quite often you'll also be asked to prepare something in advance, such as a short presentation or review of their products or markets. This is again a good test to show if you can actually back up the claims you've made about your experience and skills at the first stage. Prepare questionsIt is you who is being interviewed, but this is also an opportunity for you to find out more about the company and whether or not this is definitely a position you would like to take, should you be offered it. In the second interview, both parties are much more interested in digging deeper, so it’s natural for you to also ask more questions than your first interview.Make sure you prepare questions which show that you have considered this role and their business thoroughly. Whether you've been asked to do a presentation or not it's always a good idea to do some research, not just on the business and their products, but also their market, their customers, their competitors etc. It shows you are a serious player, that you are interested in them and what they do. It also looks good if you can bring suggestions and ideas to the table, even if they need more thought or perhaps wouldn’t be suitable. The fact that you have ideas and are willing to put them forward shows your creative side.Not many employers deliberately ask trick questions but you will need to listen properly and give considered replies to carefully-worded ones. They may ask something like ‘If you could, what would you change about the company?’, which provides you with a chance to show that you’ve researched the organisation. But don’t criticise and then fail to offer a solution, back your answer up with facts to show how you've arrived at your point of view. End on a positive noteGo in with confidence, you’ve done well to get this far. When the interview is over, smile and thank your interviewers. You’ve done all you can and now it’s over to them. It’s unlikely that you’ll be successful in every interview you have and building resilience is a great asset to have in business in general, so take it on the chin if you don’t get the role, and learn from the experience for next time.MorePeople are always happy to hear from anyone interested in pursuing a career in the Fresh Produce, Food, Agriculture, Horticulture and Garden & Leisure sectors. Please feel free to email us via 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