Category: North Edinburgh News

Want to get on? Young people advised to brush up their soft skills

One in three employers regard soft skills as more important than academic achievements

  • In a poll of more than 500 senior managers commissioned by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, 98% think young people should invest more time enhancing their soft skills
  • 9 in 10 say young people with strong soft skills often progress faster in the workplace
  • Three quarters of employers think traditionally laid out CVs do not showcase young people’s soft skills in the best possible light
  • British Entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den investor, Sarah Willingham is amongst the 82% who think ‘soft skills’ should be renamed to better reflect their importance
  • 93% reveal they are more likely to employ a candidate who can demonstrate achievements beyond their curriculum studies, such as a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, with 86% looking more favourably on a candidate who shares evidence of volunteering and other extracurricular activities on their social media channels

As GCSE students across England and Wales await their results and prepare to enter the world of work or higher education, new research by youth charity The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) reveals the attitudes of UK business leaders when it comes to employing young people.

The polling has found 95% of UK senior managers regard soft skills as equally or more important than exam results alone, with 98% recommending young people invest more time in enhancing soft skills such as communication, teamwork and leadership, to get ahead of the game in the competitive job market.

9 in 10 of the business leaders surveyed revealed they are more likely to employ a candidate who demonstrates achievements beyond grades and those who show evidence of strong ‘soft skills’ often progress faster in the workplace.

British Entrepreneur and Dragon’s Den investor, Sarah Willingham is amongst the 82% of employers who think the term “soft skills” does not adequately reflect their importance. “Real life skills” or “Core skills” would give the term more gravitas and better highlight the key message: when it comes to employability, the value of those skills cannot be underestimated.

It comes as no surprise to UK Businesswoman and Dragon’s Den investor, Deborah Meaden, that a third of UK employers are urging young people to value soft skills over academic achievements. Deborah said: “I would actively encourage young people to get involved in extracurricular activities and volunteering. Achieving a DofE Award is a brilliant way to gain recognition for all the effort put in and shows potential employers a candidate has great communication, confidence and teamwork skills, which are indispensable in the workplace.”

When it comes to receiving a young person’s CV, three quarters of senior managers say the traditional format does not showcase soft skills in the best possible light. Employers are urging candidates to flip traditional CVs on their heads, highlighting skills and experiences up front, to better reflect their skills and competencies outside of the curriculum.

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, Chief Executive at Virgin Money agrees and said: “There’s more to life than exams. I did 10 O Levels and got 5 ‘A’s and 5 ‘B’s. Sir Richard Branson left school without any qualifications and went on to launch the Virgin Group. Good exam results show you have the discipline to study hard and that’s important, but the right attitude will get you a long way. Be yourself. Find your purpose. Make a difference. Each and every one of us can change the world. Go out and find your way.”

As social media continues to be an increasingly popular tool at the hiring stage, over half (65%) of senior managers say they check a potential candidate’s online presence before recruiting and 86% state they look favourably on candidates who share evidence of volunteering and other extracurricular activities on their social media.

The DofE’s Chief Executive, Peter Westgarth, said: “The results demonstrate that a young person’s potential should not be measured solely on academic achievements. Whilst grades are of course important, they don’t showcase a young person’s full potential. Evidence of soft skills helps employers to see that a young person is more employable and that they will adapt to the workplace culture more easily and progress faster in the job.  

“It’s therefore really important that young people are aware of this and have access to opportunities such as the DofE which is instantly recognised by employers as evidence of the skills for life and employability they are looking for. Over the years, our Charity has helped millions of young people from all walks of life to transform their lives, gain self-confidence and develop essential employability skills.”

Cats Protection outlines simple steps to keep puss purring

Cats Protection has outlined a series of steps which can be taken to help keep felines safe throughout the year:

Although cats often enjoy exploring, their curiosity can lead them into trouble. A few simple measures can help keep cats away from danger and enjoying life.

Keep cats inside during hours of darkness. Cats are at increased risk of road injuries and theft after nightfall. Keeping cats indoors overnight and timing meals to coincide with rush hour will help keep cats away from busy roads.

Ensure cats are neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Making sure cats are neutered provides a host of benefits in addition to preventing unwanted kittens being born. Neutered cats are less likely to roam, lowering the risk of car accidents and less likely to fight and contract serious diseases which are spread by saliva. Microchipping offers a safe and permanent method of identification, while ensuring cats are vaccinated will protect against parasites and diseases.

Encourage cats to stay close to home. If cats are content, they are more likely to stay within their own home and garden. Planting cat-friendly plants such as catnip and lavender, providing logs for scratching and long grass for relaxing or to assist with expelling hairballs can all add to the creation of a cat-friendly space.  Poisonous substances often found in the home or garden, such as antifreeze, disinfectants, insect and pest killers should be kept securely.

Certain plants can be toxic to cats, for example lilies can be lethal if any part of the plant is ingested. If your cat does show any signs of poisoning, you should seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.  A full list of plants that are hazardous to cats can be found on International Cat Care’s website www.icatcare.org

Remain vigilant to possible acts of cruelty. If you suspect somebody is acting suspiciously towards cats in the area, report your concerns to the local police and/or Scottish SPCA, along with any descriptions and car number plates you may have noted. If there is a local Neighbourhood Watch, make them aware and inform your neighbours that there may be suspicious activity taking place.

Mark Beazley, Director of Operations for Cats Protection, says: “We often have reports coming into our branches and centres across the country of cats that have strayed, become injured in fights or been poisoned by seemingly harmless substances around the home. Simply following these guidelines and remaining vigilant can help keep cats safe and enjoying themselves throughout the year.”

For further advice and information on cat welfare-related issues please download http://bit.ly/CatSafeAdvice or for more detail http://bit.ly/CatSafeGuide alternatively call Cats Protection’s helpline on 03000 12 12 12.

The name game: Ed and Liz are quids in!

  • ‘Ed’ is the most valuable male name, with Eds’ average annual earning potential topping £61k, while women named ‘Liz’ earn the most, securing an average of £39k
  • The least valuable baby names for boys and girls are Reece and Paige, with earning potentials of £23k and £20k respectively
  • The most popular babies names, Oliver and Amelia, are worth £36k and £28k
  • The top 186 names for earning potential are all male, further evidence of gender pay gap
  • Using a nickname could mean more money, with ‘Bill’s paid £57k on average, ‘Will’s taking home £45k, yet those going by ‘William’ earning just £36k a year
  • Royal names are a steady bet, with ‘William’s typically worth £36k, ‘Kate’s £34k, ‘George’s £37k and ‘Charlotte’s £27k a year

Mums and dads contemplating names for their new babies might want to consider how a name can affect their offspring’s future earning potential, with ‘Ed’s and ‘Liz’s earning the most, according to new research by job search-engine Adzuna.

The study, conducted in August 2017, analysed over 155,000 CVs of recent job seekers using Adzuna’s ValueMyCV algorithm, to reveal the average earning potential of workers with different names.

Traditional names top the list, with boys name ‘Ed’ and girls name ‘Liz’ proving the highest value. Workers called Ed can typically earn £61,400 per year, while those going by Liz can take home an average of £38,800. Following close behind the leaders, the next most valuable boys names are ‘Bill’ (£56,700), ‘Geoff’ (£54,000) and ‘Bob’ (£53,000), while female names ‘Jo’ (£38,700), ‘Michele’ (£36,300) and ‘Alexis’ (£36,200) are also top earners.

By comparison, workers named ‘Reece’ and ‘Paige’ are at the bottom of the wage pile with average potential earnings of just £23,000 and £20,200 respectively.

Those baby names currently proving most popular among new parents, ‘Oliver’ and ‘Amelia,’ are worth £35,500 and £27,600.* Meanwhile, names with a royal heritage are a steady bet for mums and dads, with ‘Will’s typically taking home £45,400, ‘Kate’s showing an average earning potential of £33,800, ‘George’s worth £37,300 and ‘Charlotte’s typically paid £26,500.

Overall, male names make up the top 186 highest value names, providing new evidence of the existing gender pay gap in the workforce.

Workers with nicknames earn more

The research also suggests that using a nickname at work could help you get ahead in the salary stakes. While the average earning potential of those named ‘Bill’ is £56,700, those going by ‘William’ are worth just £36,100 a year. Similarly, those named ‘Mike’ typically earn £53,000, topping ‘Michael’s at £38,700. The trend is also evident in female names, with ‘Sue’s earning £35,000 compared to ‘Susan’s’ £28,100.

Doug Monro, co-founder of Adzuna, commented: “’Ed’ and ‘Liz’ top the chart of most valuable names in the UK, meaning workers with these names are worth the most to potential employers. As a rule of thumb, those with traditional names consistently rate as higher earners. New mums and dads may want to bear this in mind when christening their babies.

“It’s interesting that the most successful workers typically use a nickname in their professional lives. This could signal an informality and approachability that has helped them climb the career tree. Or it could reflect the confidence that comes with success. Either way, job seekers may want to try adopting a nickname to help secure the highest pay levels possible.

“Also of note, the top 186 highest earning names are typically seen as ‘male’ names, showing there is still work to do to close the gender pay gap. ‘Blind’ recruitment practices may help to correct this imbalance, at the same time as helping to eliminate discrimination against those with ethnic names. As the workplace becomes both more gender neutral and more diverse, we expect the weighting towards traditional male names to become less pronounced.”

Top 10 Most Valuable Male Names

  1. Ed – £61,400
  2. Bill – £56,700
  3. Geoff – £54,000
  4. Bob – £53,000
  5. Mike – £53,000
  6. Phil – £52,900
  7. Dave – £52,300
  8. Andy – £51,900
  9. Ken – £51,200
  10. Tim – £51,100
Top 10 Most Valuable Female Names

  1. Liz – £38,800
  2. Jo – £38,700
  3. Michele – £36,300
  4. Alexis – £36,200
  5. Jean – £35,500
  6. Philippa – £35,000
  7. Sue – £35,000
  8. Anne – £34,500
  9. Carolyn – £34,400
  10. Kate – £33,800
Earning Potential of Most Popular Baby Girl Names*

  1. Amelia – £27,645
  2. Olivia – £26,011
  3. Emily – £27,420
  4. Isla – £36,318
  5. Ava – £32,413
  6. Ella – £28,623
  7. Jessica – £26,342
  8. Isabella – £28,935
  9. Mia – £26,981
  10. Poppy – £24,677

Earning Potential of Most Popular Baby Boy Names*

  1. Oliver – £35,536
  2. Jack – £29,738
  3. Harry – £31,996
  4. George – £37,342
  5. Jacob – £30,233
  6. Charlie – £33,298
  7. Noah – £36,496
  8. William – £36,121
  9. Thomas – £33,817
  10. Oscar – £37,786

Private schools and arms-length council companies to lose rates relief?

Private independent schools and so-called ‘arms-length’ council companies like Edinburgh Leisure could lose their charitable status and resultant business rates relief under proposals published yesterday. The independent Barclay review group’s report on non-domestic business rates  has made a number of recommendations to improve the current business rates system by stimulating growth, reducing administration and increasing fairness. Continue reading Private schools and arms-length council companies to lose rates relief?