On the 1st of April, the National Minimum Wage (NMW) increased, and there are strong rumours that the North East will become the next regional enforcement target for HMRC.

Perhaps not the most dynamic topic at first glance but pre-employment checks are a critical part of your talent attraction strategy.

In the ever-evolving world of recruitment, the landscape for job interviews has shifted dramatically.

Am I paying my staff enough? What is the appropriate inflationary rise? How do we compare with our competitors? These are just some of the questions I am regularly asked as the accounting profession moves from the hectic tax season to the world of annual reviews.

Do you fear change? I sometimes do. I think we all do, to some extent, because it usually means the outcome is unknown.

Another year has passed at lightning speed. Older? Definitely. Wiser? I hope so. It's certainly been another unpredictable and challenging year in recruitment, but as it draws to a close, I have been reflecting on what I have learned and what the next twelve months could hold in the world of accountancy and finance.

Influenced by economic uncertainty and rising costs, the latest UK Report on Jobs, commissioned by the REC (Recruitment and Employment Confederation) and KMPG, suggests a worrying time ahead for the region's job market.

When it comes to career development, the first thing that springs to mind is the pursuit of promotion and progression.

If you aren't aware, burnout in the workplace is a condition that the World Health Organisation (WHO) lay to blame resolutely at the feet of the employer.

Summer is a time of relaxation, a chance to unwind and recharge our batteries. It also offers a rare opportunity to take a moment among the daily demands of work to reflect on our professional path and evaluate where we stand.

It never ceases to amaze me how small the North East business community can appear.

When speaking with clients, there is one question I am repeatedly asked: Why are we struggling to recruit?