http://www.careerplan4.meumbracoThe Careerplan4.me blogenhttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/relocating-jobless#comment-12Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:30:08 GMThttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/relocating-jobless#comment-12
People invariably have more ties to a location than simply work or, indeed, the whim of their local Housing Association. The focus of these proposals seems to be on families - how many families will happily relocate their children mid-schooling; breaking up routines, friendships and educational development? It's a huge ask and, while debate seems to be focusing on the ethics of moving jobseekers, the wider implications haven't yet been touched upon. This plan is dangerous for the future of some UK regions, yes, but it's also potentially damaging to personal welfare and happiness and we shouldn't be afraid to raise this.]]>http://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/relocating-jobless#comment-11Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:06:13 GMThttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/relocating-jobless#comment-11 What seems to have been overlooked in the debate is the supportive nature of family, friends and the communities which social housing is supposed to protect in areas of housing shortage. The financial value of housing has also grown disproportionately to appreciation of functional need.
Knowledge of an area, its biological and material heritage, and the people who live there, is surely of value to a knowledge economy? If people who have no knowledge of this kind are worth more money, we must ask the question "why?" in the nation's interest.
It makes no sense to treat people (after nurturing in families or care and decades of expensive compulsory and publicly broadcast education which must surely make everyone of economic value?) as though they are inanimate, disconnected machine parts which are either utilized or written off.
Housing Associations are not best used as a means of manipulating the unemployment statistics through mobilizing the unemployed according to market forces. However, neither are they intended to be prisons, holding people captive in places where they are not best placed. If it helps people return to their families, friends and communities, enabling them to make contributions to improving the economy in the places that they know best, have been taught about and care about, then greater flexibility must surely be a good thing. Whether the unemployed then set up new businesses, find a job, or still remain unemployed, they will be in a positiotn to contribute in hidden, unmeasured ways such as reminding people that they are human, known, loved and belong. There are other special institutions for supporting people who wish to give up their families, friends and possessions in order to take on new identities in the service of strangers - perhaps more flexibility needs to be introduced to these so that suitable unemployed people may join these too.]]>http://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2011/2/25/bbc-radio-sheffield#comment-20Sat, 26 Feb 2011 05:00:09 GMThttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2011/2/25/bbc-radio-sheffield#comment-20http://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2009/12/23/2009-losses-should-lead-to-2010-gains#comment-3Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:36:08 GMThttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2009/12/23/2009-losses-should-lead-to-2010-gains#comment-3
A combination of 2 deadly bugs - flu and the dreaded Windows 7 'Outlook not available' message means I haven't been able to contact people personally.

Have a great break and we'll catch up in the New Year.

Warmest regards

Richard Banks]]>http://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/surviving-on-jobseekers-allowance#comment-8Mon, 24 May 2010 17:20:58 GMThttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/surviving-on-jobseekers-allowance#comment-8http://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/perspectives-on-unemployment#comment-19Sun, 23 Jan 2011 22:53:30 GMThttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/perspectives-on-unemployment#comment-19 and unemployed. I can fully support the author of this article.
Similar to his/her situation I too found myself cast out into the job market.
I too have
many skills, both technical and
interpersonal, and have enjoyed
years of consistent and rewarding
employment. However, through
no fault of my own, I now find myself unemployed. I too think benefit claims assessors, being the first point of contact with claimants, should be much better trained to deal with anxious, depressed, fearful, individuals. A
lso, the system of obtaining jobseeker's allowance is ridiculous and totally Demoralising.
Some of us are hard-working individuals looking for help and support to get back in to work.]]>http://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/relocating-jobless#comment-17Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:29:07 GMThttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/relocating-jobless#comment-17http://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/adult-jobs---not-from-jobcentre-plus#comment-16Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:21:09 GMThttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/adult-jobs---not-from-jobcentre-plus#comment-16http://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/are-we-facing-a-uk-'brain-drain'#comment-10Fri, 18 Jun 2010 09:26:01 GMThttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/are-we-facing-a-uk-'brain-drain'#comment-10
By Luke Johnson

Published: June 15 2010 23:15 | Last updated: June 15 2010 23:37

When I am interviewed, I am occasionally asked: “What is the secret of business success?”
EDITOR’S CHOICE
More columns from Luke Johnson - Apr-06
The trouble with trying to spot a winner - Jun-08
Risk-takers rarely fit corporate culture - Jun-01
Be ready to pounce if opportunity knocks - May-25
I’m for passion but don’t forget the money - May-18
Now is the time to take the plunge - May-04

If I knew the perfect answer, I would have made far fewer mistakes over the years; in truth I suspect there are many ingredients. Nevertheless, as an exercise, I have noted below a number of contributing factors that I think matter more than most.

? Work for yourself To be self-employed can be lonely, and is likely to be hard work. But ultimately you will gain the rewards for your efforts if you are right – as long as you are lucky. You can certainly earn a handsome living working in a big bank or an accountancy firm, but you will never achieve a spectacular capital gain, or change the world in the way that an entrepreneur can by fulfilling their dream.

? Be in the right place History shows that growing markets, where entrepreneurs are encouraged, offer greater opportunities than places where there is stagnant demand, high tax and lots of regulation. On that basis, anyone with little to lose who is living in the west should emigrate to the east: it’s what I advise anyone under the age of 30 to do. This is a harsh verdict, and inevitably there are thousands of exceptions. But it is undeniable that far more new millionaires and billionaires are being minted in countries such as India and China than in Europe. Growing gross domestic product, expanding populations,low costs and modest tax rates offer a powerful combination that the west simply cannot match.

? Learn how to borrow An ability to find and use debt is a factor in most stories of great wealth. Even if banks are not extending much credit right now, the cycle will turn and eventually they will reopen for business. I was slow to realise the fundamental importance of using debt. Many entrepreneurs overdo it at the top, and end up losing many of their leveraged assets when prices fall. But somehow they rarely go bankrupt, and very often reappear with new bankers in tow when the cycle turns.

? Keep hold of the equity Do not sell out or dilute too early, but retain ownership if you possibly can. Individuals get rich through capital growth in the value of shareholdings, not through salary or dividends. Often, entrepreneurs give away big chunks of shares early in the project to junior partners; you should do this only if you have no choice. It is better to use other forms of currency if you can, especially since it is unlikely to be highly valued at the beginning.

? Know when to lunge for glory For most of us in business there come a few great opportunities in life that require a huge leap in ambition and scale. It might be a new factory, a big acquisition, a breakthrough product launch. On these occasions, boldness is required if the transformation is to be successful. Of course, such steps will carry risk as well as reward. But all investment involves downside possibilities – as well as the chance of sunlit uplands. Winners have an intuitive sense of when the time is right to really go for it.

? Build a team Almost no one makes it on their own. Businesses that do reach the big league do so by hiring excellent managers and having strength and depth among their top people. Great leaders know how to pick the best recruits, and how to delegate and motivate. They are modest enough to realise their shortcomings, and hire colleagues who compensate for those weaknesses.

? Resilience Constructing a substantial company demands both physical stamina and emotional fortitude. There are likely to be occasions when the prospects appear bleak, and giving up seems the only option. More often than not it is these moments that separate the victors from the rest – because they never despair, and press on when others fade.

? Domain knowledge It generally pays to focus on a particular industry, and truly to understand the technical aspects, the market, the competition, the best people, the margins, the trends and so on in your chosen field. And picking a large sector that is undergoing rapid change increases your odds of making a fortune – such dislocations allow newcomers to take advantage.

lukej@riskcapitalpartners.co.uk
The writer runs Risk Capital Partners, a private equity firm, and is chairman of the Royal Society of Arts]]>http://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/sexism-is-back#comment-6Sun, 18 Apr 2010 09:50:29 GMThttp://www.careerplan4.me/blog/2010/12/16/sexism-is-back#comment-6
If women opt to be home makers and look after the children, they have that right to choose. If women opt to become 'career women' that is also their right. It is also a man's right to. He should not be sneered at if he prefers to be the home maker and play a key role in looking after the children.

I don't believe in this society, any one has any right to cast dispersions about how one family chose to live their life: what is right for one family will not be right for another. In some families it works better that the husband or partner stays at home while the mother works. Why should that cause such gender snobbery? What difference does it make if the partner being the stay-at-home partner happens to be male?

In addition, I do not believe a woman should have to 'choose' whether to be a home maker or have a career. Millions of women are doing both and doing it well. After all, multi-tasking is what we're famed for ;)

I for one cannot wait for a time when 'women in the workplace' ceases to be an issue. The fact that it continues to raise a few eyebrows implies we have still a long, long way to go.

But it will come, of that I have no doubt.]]>