Record number of job vacancies in the UK as unemployment falls to lowest in 6 years!

Last week new figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that unemployment fell by 58,000 to 1.91 million between September and November last year. Unemployment hasn't been this low since 2008 when the recession began.  

As we hear of the positive National Statistics just released, Apple announced today quarterly profits of $18bn, the largest in history. They sold 74.5 million iPhones in the 3 months before Christmas. Meaning 1 for every person in the UK!
 Its clear to see that businesses are flourishing at the moment. Job openings are at their highest in 14 years. There are more than 700,000 job openings compared to only 127,000 last year.

This is great news for people looking to start or further their career, not only are there more jobs out there, figures show salaries are rising too! Earnings are up by 1.8% over the last 12 months overtaking the 0.5% inflation rate. Economists suggest wages are on the rise as workers have been reluctant to change jobs after the recession, this is now changing. 

Although everything is looking psitive at the moment, the fact that job vacancies keep rising could show that companies are not finding the right candidates. Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight said: ‘On the face of it, it looks encouraging that more jobs are available for workers, however it is less positive if it reflects a significant mismatch between jobs available and the skills of people looking for jobs. Or a mismatch between the jobs available and the type of jobs people are looking for.’

The statistics are welcome news for businesses and candidates looking for work. As Kubo enters its 4th year of trading, there has been a noticeable increase in new job openings across Europe and the US. If you are looking for a new opportunity within Life Sciences, please visit our website at www.kuborecruitment.com 

This year getting you down already? See what new opportunities we have!

Its cold, the days are short, Christmas and the festivities of December are over and sometimes you think "I just need a change!" So while you have the momentum behind you why not do something about it?

Whether you just need a change of pace, or a change of scenery, Kubo have lots of new opportunities for you. Many companies get their new budgets in January and have funding for new positions. They now have the time, as wrapping up the end of the year is over, to focus on recruitment. As Kubo enters our 4th of business, year we have built up a solid client base and are recruiting for jobs across Europe and the US on a contract and permanent basis. We are bound to have something to suit you so take a look at our new opportunities.

Principal Biostatistician - UK South East England (Home Based Negotiable) 

We are looking for a senior‐level professional to work for a major CRO. The successful candidate must be able to work independently on requested activities, taking responsibility for the statistical outputs produced and overall Sponsor satisfaction, as well as oversee the work of junior resources they cooperate with. The person we are looking for will work autonomously in preparing Statistical Analysis Plans and writing statistical methodology plans as well as the results sections of reports. He/she will also prepare and deliver training to staff and/or clients on statistical methodology and statistical principles.

Vice President- US
As a member of the senior leadership team, the VP, Sales effectively leads the sales and business development organization to ensure that our client continues their growth trajectory. The VP, Sales will lead the Sales team and the development, execution, and attainment of our client’s annual global sales strategy focusing on business development, customer excellence, and channel partnerships. The successful candidate must have a Minimum of 10-15 years’ industry-related sales experience; minimum 8 years’ sales leadership experience
Position Location: Strong preference for this position to be located in Chicago, IL. Will also consider Cleveland, OH; Cary, NC; or other locations.

Senior Database Programmer- Homebased, UK or Italy
We are looking for a senior‐level professional  to work for a major CRO. The successful candidate must be able to work independently on requested activities and oversee the work of junior resources they cooperate with. The person we are looking for will build the database and program the computerized checks or SAS checks to ensure clean, accurate and complete clinical data can be delivered to customers at the highest quality in accordance with the project plan.

Head of Statistics- UK
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Head of Statistics to join an expanding CRO. The successful candidate will support the continued growth of the stats function based on a responsive, high quality service and to further enhance the already high reputation that our client has within the industry. They will  ensure that the clients’ expectations and Stats and programming aspects of the business are delivered to a high level of quality and contribute to the profitability of the Company. The successful candidate will also provide overall management to the Stats and Programming department via structured management approach with strong and effective team structures.

Business Development Director- US
The primary purpose of this role is to sell our client’s software, services, and training through strategic and consultative selling. The individual will generate sales through personal contacts, prospecting, business case justification, demonstrations, phone calls and written proposals. This role will require complete sales cycle activities from lead identification through contract negotiation, account transition to Clinical services, ongoing support and follow on sales. The position will maintain relationships with existing customers within assigned accounts and/or territory. The individual will serve as a liaison between all of our client’s departments and the customer to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction with all levels of customer contacts. Position location: Home office based with frequent travel. The position is ideally based in Northern New Jersey, or the metro Boston, Philadelphia, or Chicago areas. Other locations will be considered. 

If you would like more information on any of the roles featured or to apply please email Andi Brown directly at andi.brown@kuborecruitment.com. 

Is the work Christmas party really worth it?

Whether it is Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah or Happy Holidays, companies are getting festive this time of the year, but has the way we view the holiday season changed? 

The way companies view the festive season varies not only country to country, but business to business. Some companies gladly accept Christmas gifts from clients or suppliers as a thank you for the year, while others frown upon it. Some companies go all out for their Christmas party, whilst others keep it low key or don't do anything at all. The conversation that a lot of people will be having this time of year is "what's your company doing for Christmas?"

It seems that after cost cutting through the credit crunch some big companies are making their Christmas budget bigger than ever. Google employees were treated to a Ferris wheel, ice rink and a whole room dedicated to balloons! The theme was New York and they even had actors dressed as New York Cops riding round on police horses. The whole extravaganza was rumoured to cost €300,000!  While most of us would be happy with a hot meal and a glass of wine it seems some companies go all out this time of the year.

Is the Christmas party a good thing or a bad thing? I think the end of year Christmas party is a nice way of showing employees your appreciation for their hard work throughout the year, but should we need that? Should it be left to the office Christmas party to show your appreciation or is it all just about getting together as a company and letting your hair down and forgetting about stress for one evening a year?

Whatever you do this year whether it’s a buffet in the office or an all-out extravaganza enjoy it, but remember, if your outing is on a work night and the next morning you ring with "the flu" your employer might be a little suspicious!

Kubo would love to know what your doing this year! Leave your comments below!

New report shows Malaria death rate halved since 2000!

This week the World Malaria Report for 2014 was released and showed deaths as a result of Malaria have halved between 2000 and 2013, saving an estimated 4.3 million lives. 

New bed nets with insecticides that kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes have been introduced to Malaria infected areas that last up to 5 years. In 2004 only 3% of those that were at risk and needed a mosquito net had access to one, now that number has risen to 50%.

Medical advances have also played a major part.The use of rapid diagnostic tests has risen significantly from what it was in 2000. 400 million patients received the treatments last year, compared to only 11 million in 2000.

Bed nets, along with rapid diagnosis of the disease and a drug called Artemisinins, have all contributed to the achievements in this week’s report released by World Malaria. 

In sub-Saharan Africa, where 90% of malaria deaths occur, new infections have fallen by 26% from 173 million in 2000 to 128 million last year, despite a 43% increase in population.

Each year, more people are being reached with life-saving malaria interventions, the World Health Organisation says. World Health Organisation director general, Dr Margaret Chan said: "These tremendous achievements are the result of improved tools, increased political commitment, the burgeoning of regional initiatives, and a major increase in international and domestic financing. She added: "We must not be complacent. Most malaria-endemic countries are still far from achieving universal coverage with life-saving malaria interventions."

Although malaria funding totalled $2.7bn (£1.7bn) in 2013 - a threefold increase since 2005 - it is still significantly below the $5.1bn needed to achieve global targets for malaria control and elimination, says the World Health Organisation. 

The world’s first malaria vaccine is on track for a 2016 launch after British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline submitted its treatment to EU regulators this year.  

NEWS! Pharma spending to rise 30% by 2018!

IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics have released last week, that annual spending will hit an all time high this year when absolute growth will be about $70 billion, up from $44 billion in 2013 and $26 billion in 2012!

This fast growth will be driven primarily by increased specialty drug innovation, greater access to medicines and reduced impact of patent expires, says the study. 

It is forecasted that spending will rise 30% by 2018 to an estimated $1.3 trillion!
The US which leads the market will remain strong, but the five major European markets France, Germany, Spain, UK and Italy along with Japan, are expected to be at the forefront of the worlds growth. China, which is already the world’s second largest pharmaceutical market, will reach spending levels of $155-$185 billion in 2018, the report adds.

Remarkably almost 200 new drugs are expected to be launched in the next five years. Over 2,000 products are currently in late-stage development, a quarter of which are oncology drugs. However, the IMS Institute notes that the availability of new medicines to patients worldwide varies significantly by country and disease area, on average, fewer than half the medicines launched during the previous five years are now available across the major developed markets.

To read more about this study visit www.theimsinstute.org

Kubo will donate to the World Cancer Research Fund for every business card you give us!

Kubo have chosen to support "World Cancer Research UK" as our nominated charity for 2014 through to 2015. World Cancer Research UK, funds research on the effects of diet, nutrition, body composition and physical activity on cancer prevention and survival. This vital research is an important part of their vision of living in a world where no one develops a preventable cancer.

This coming Monday 17th November, Kubo Recruitment are proud to be a sponsor of the 2014 ESF conference in Brussels. The focus is on "The current status of the application of Bayesian Methods in Drug Development"

Kubo are exhibiting at the event and will be donating to the "World Cancer Research UK" for every business card we receive.

We would welcome the opportunity to meet you and discuss how Kubo can help you. If you can only spare a few minutes, please do stop by our booth and leave your business card in our WCRU bowl!


We look forward to meeting a few old and new faces at the event on Monday!

Overtime should count towards Holiday Pay rules Tribunal!

Yesterday, the Employment Appeal Tribunal ruled that overtime should count towards an employee’s holiday pay. This could see up to 5 million employees claiming back holiday pay!

In August, Kubo blogged about the differences in annual leave across the world and discovered that it varies greatly from country to country. More surprisingly, America had no official rule on holiday and it was down to the individual companies Annual Leave policy.

In the UK, it is a minimum requirement that a worker receives 5.6 weeks annual leave, so with an average working week of 5 days, that is 28 days a year (which can include bank holidays). Workers that are required to work overtime as a regular part of their job argue that they should receive extra holiday pay for the overtime time worked.

The ruling may be referred to the Court of Appeal, which means it could be years until a final decision is made. The firms involved in yesterday’s judgement have been given permission to appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal. When asked if they are going to appeal a spokesman for the firms said they are "considering their options".

After the hearing, Business Secretary Vince Cable said "Government will review the judgment in detail as a matter of urgency. To properly understand the financial exposure employers’ face, we have set up a taskforce of representatives from Government and business, to discuss how we can limit the impact on business. The group will convene shortly to discuss the judgment"

What was the tribunal about?

Yesterday’s ruling followed an appeal by Bear Scotland, a road construction and maintenance firm, against an earlier decision by an employment tribunal. The tribunal found Bear Scotland had made unauthorised deductions from the wages of two employees, David Fulton and Douglas Baxter, by failing to include overtime and other payments associated with their work in calculating the holiday pay they were entitled to.

Two separate companies, Hertel and Amec, also appealed a decision stating they had made unauthorised deductions from wages of employees working on a construction site at West Burton in England, by failing to include overtime when calculating holiday pay. As the cases raised the same issues, they were heard together at the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

All three cases centred on the right to paid holiday under the Working Time Regulations 1998, now the Working Time Directive 2003, which states: "A worker is entitled to be paid in respect of any period of annual leave to which he is entitled, at the rate of a week's pay in respect of each week of leave."

Back dated claims

There were concerns that the business sector could be crippled by pay outs on back dated claims from employees. As a result, backdated claims have been limited. The tribunal ruled that employees cannot claim more than three months after the last incorrect payment. This still means that businesses could suffer a real blow and potential job losses could occur as a result, as 23% of men and 12% of women working full time regularly work overtime.

Kate Hodgkiss, partner at DLA Piper Scotland LLP, which represented the firms said, “Those carrying out non-guaranteed overtime, which is offered by an employer on a contractual basis, are more likely to have an entitlement claim as they could argue this is normal remuneration. However, those who perform overtime on an ad hoc basis are under no obligation to do this, meaning it's not part of the normal remuneration package, therefore, they're less likely to have an entitlement to claim." 

What do you think? If your job requires you to work beyond your contracted hours should this be taken into consideration when your holiday pay is calculated? After all, if you take holiday on a day where you would normally work overtime, you would lose out on the overtime pay for that day, if it is not included in your holiday pay. Or do you think that you should see overtime as a bonus and not as part of your basic pay?

Kubo would love to hear your thoughts on this, so get in touch!