Australian Professional Recruiters Group

The tight labour market in the nation’s fastest growing state will provide Queensland recruiters with the chance to develop innovative solutions and build on clients partnerships in 2008, according to the new Queensland Region President for the RCSA (Recruitment & Consulting Services Association).

Mr Robert Bromage said that the coming year will provide both challenges and opportunities for the state’s recruitment and on-hire industry.

With the tightening labour market, I believe we have a great opportunity to further increase the professionalism of the industry and add value through innovative consulting. Now, more than ever, we need to work with employers to help them boost productivity through effective people resourcing and forward-thinking recruitment practices.

"At an agency level I think the key issue over the past year has largely been candidate sourcing, in terms of competitiveness for “active” applicant pools and an increasing sourcing cost to placement ratios. These trends will continue well into 2008," he said.

The new Federal Labor Government will also have an impact on the industry as the coming year unfolds, Mr Bromage says.

The past year has seen a strong focus on understanding WorkChoices, but now that these IR laws are on their way out, the transition to a new regime will be a key item on our agenda. The RCSA Region Council will work closely with our Members to keep them updated and educated about the latest developments in workplace laws.

"We will also be engaging with our Members to ensure their issues and concerns are heard and communicated to decision makers," he said.

As the search for talent in Queensland gets tougher, the Council will also help Members to develop the skills and knowledge needed for success.

"In Queensland, we hope to drive a greater uptake in the RCSA’s Accredited Recruitment Professional program. We want to continue to drive the professionalism of the industry forward by enhancing the skill level of consultants, providing leading edge training, and giving them access to successful and recognised industry professionals to learn from," Mr Bromage said.

Business leaders of today need to think freshly and prospectively and tap into their ever evolving human capital in order to meet the business demands of tomorrow.

That was the key message delivered to 110 of Brisbane’s business leaders at the annual APRG Local Business Leaders Forum (LBLF).

Now in its third year the Forum’s key objective is to acknowledge the support of APRG clients and to show our appreciation by providing them access to industry experts who share their insights on timely and relevant people issues.

"The Forum provides our clients an opportunity for personal development that may give them a competitive advantage. Our client’s business success is our focus when we recruit for them. A strong relationship and intimate understanding of their business is paramount to a successful placement, said APRG managing director Rob Bromage. This is even more important given the modest growth levels in the economy combined with a tightening labour market and increasingly competitive market for staff."

This year’s keynote speaker Robert Quinn, CEO and Co-founder of the Entrepreneur's Success Programme (ESP), spoke about leadership and the future challenges business leaders will face.

"The internet has changed our lives significantly and permanently, said Mr Quinn. It has changed our business models and made the marketplace highly competitive and fast paced".

Yet management thinking hasn’t developed significantly for the past 100 years, whilst the business landscape has changed rapidly with the introduction of the internet. Today’s business leaders must create their business around the internet and its commercial culture to capture the thinking and innovation of everyone within their organisation.

Mr Quinn said businesses need to invest more in their human capital by motivating and encouraging employees to be creative, passionate and innovative. Fresh thinking is required in order to remain competitive and to maintain the rapid pace of change that the internet demands.

Australian Professional Recruiters Group's Managing Director, Mr Rob Bromage, has been appointed as President and Chair of the RCSA (Recruitment and Consulting Services Association) QLD/ NT Council.

The RCSA is the voice of the Australian & New Zealand recruitment and on-hire industry. RCSA promotes the interests of the recruitment industry through legal and legislative advocacy, public relations, education and the advancement of business and individual standards and professionalism.

The RCSA Member companies operate more than 2334 offices across Australia and New Zealand and contribute over $12 billion to the Australia New Zealand economies collectively. RCSA also has over 120 Affiliates who supply services to the industry as well as over 600 Individual Consultant Members and nearly 700 Students progressing to industry accreditation. For more information about the RCSA visit www.rcsa.com.au

APRG welcomes our newest local recruitment specialist, Nicole Stephenson to the Banking Recruitment (QLD) practice.

Having worked in the banking and finance & motor vehicle finance industries in excess of 11 years, Nicole brings to APRG invaluable experience in team leadership; loan assessment; customer and client service; loan processing and compliance. At APRG Nicole will focus on temporary recruitment for the Banking Recruitment (QLD) practice.

600 people have now been placed into jobs since the 1st of February 2005.

Congratulations to the team on a great effort and thank you to all those who have supported us.

APRG welcomes our newest local recruitment specialist, Corey Shaw to the newly formed Sales and Marketing (QLD) practice.

Corey has 12 years experience in the retail industry working for a leading national company. He brings to APRG a detailed understanding of the sales industry with experience in the areas of operations, management and human resources. Having lead large sales teams and with proven success achieving business targets, Corey's experience encapsulates all areas of business. At APRG, Corey is responsible for the Sales and Marketing practice.

On 22nd October 2007 APRG expanded its capabilities with the addition of the newest APRG practice — Sales and Marketing (QLD).

Headed by Corey Shaw, the Brisbane based practice recruits sales and marketing roles at all levels across all industries including sales, retail, marketing and general administration.

Corey has 12 years experience in the retail industry working for a leading national company. He brings to APRG a detailed understanding of the sales industry with experience in the areas of operations, management and human resources. Having lead large sales teams and with proven success achieving business targets, Corey's experience encapsulates all areas of business.

With an ever and fast changing business dynamic, it is natural to anticipate that the demands on leaders today will be very different 10 years from now. Today's leaders are constantly juggling more than one ball at a time. What skills will they need today to maintain momentum in the future? What strategies can they implement today to assist them in the future?

The 2007 APRG Local Business Leaders Forum, on Friday 30th November, will address this and many more issues faced by today's leaders.

Mr Robert Quinn, CEO and Co-founder of Entrepreneur's Success Programme (ESP) will share his insight and expertise on the topic of Leadership over the next 10 years at an intimate lunch in Brisbane, hosted by APRG. Mr Quinn, will discuss the tools and strategies leaders can use to maintain their competitive edge.

The APRG Local Business Leaders Forum is an annual client event. Now in its third year the key objective of the forum is to acknowledge the support of our clients throughout the year and to show our appreciation by providing them access to industry experts who share their insights on timely and relevant people issues.

APRG welcomes our newest local recruitment specialist, David Miller to the Banking Recruitment (QLD) practice.

David has extensive banking experience including holding positions within commercial and retail lending; consumer lending; consumer and business credit; and relationship management. At APRG David focuses on the recruitment of business bankers and retail lending staff.

Australian Professional Recruiters Group (APRG) was named as one of Queensland’s top 400 companies at a reception in Brisbane last night.

The annual Queensland 400 (Q400) awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of privately owned businesses, and the contribution they make to Queensland’s economy. In 2007 privately owned businesses were responsible for employing 40,737 people and generating annual sales of over $14.035 billion.

APRG’s managing director, Mr Robert Bromage, said it was an honour for APRG to be recognised as one of Queensland’s high performing companies, and was testament to the commitment of our staff, support of our clients and our unique business model.

“Making the Q400 list is a major achievement, especially given we opened our doors only two and a half years ago and are still in a growth and development phase“, Mr Bromage said.

“Our business model is unique in we operate a franchise business model, giving specialist recruiters the platform to achieve business ownership, with the support of a proven back office infrastructure,” Mr Bromage said.

“As a result our team enjoys greater personal reward, is passionate about customer service, committed to achieving results for our clients and most importantly in our industry, provides an enduring continuity of service.”

Established in November 2004, APRG has grown rapidly and includes three Brisbane CBD based practices.

The first, APRG Banking Recruitment (QLD), began trading in February 2005 with APRG Financial Services Recruitment (QLD) following in May 2006, and APRG Accounting Recruitment (Brisbane) in March 2007.

2007/2008 will see APRG expand further with IT, Marketing and HR Recruitment practices.

500 people have now been placed into jobs since the 1st of February 2005.

Congratulations to the team on a great effort and thank you to all those who have supported us.

APRG welcomes our newest local recruitment specialist, Dale Head to the Financial Services Recruitment (QLD) practice.

With in excess of 20 years financial services experience in Australia and the USA, Dale has worked as a consultant for some of the world's largest risk consulting companies servicing well known and leading corporate clients. With direct experience in risk, pensions and banking, Dale recruits in the area of insurance and financial planning.

We all know that a career is more than just the money. The question is, what else do we want? Once we have identified it, how do we obtain it? APRG is here to help.

APRG hosted its inaugural Careers Workshop with key note speaker, Edwin Trevor Roberts from Trevor Roberts and Associates - Career Architects. Edwin presented to a group of 50 APRG Jobseekers on the topic "How to find fulfilment in your career".

On the night, the dynamic and interactive presentation explored:

• The factors that are altering the foundation of our working lives
• The seven career skills that you need to survive and thrive
• Practical strategies to create more meaning in your work.

Trevor-Roberts Associates is a leader in Australia in the careers field, as a result of the high calibre and experience of its staff and a strong research focus - keeping Trevor-Roberts Associates at the forefront of international developments in careers.

To find out more about Trevor Roberts Associates

APRG welcomes our newest local recruitment specialist, Darren Raiteri to the Banking Recruitment (QLD) practice.

With over a decade of experience in the banking and finance sector, Darren has worked for a range of banking organisations from locally based banks and finance companies to global players such as GE. At APRG Darren focuses on temporary recruitment in the areas of customer service, loans processing, credit assessment, collections and administration.

With the recent appointment of Sherin Leung, APRG is pleased to announce the first accounting recruitment practice is now open for business.

Sherin has six years accounting and audit experience including three years with Ernst & Young from graduate through to senior accountant level. Leaving Ernst & Young, Sherin worked in regulatory reporting with Suncorp as a financial accountant and most recently in audit and compliance. She has a Bachelor of Business Accounting, a Bachelor of IT and is currently completing her CPA. At APRG, Sherin recruits in the areas of accounting and audit.

APRG welcomes our newest local recruitment specialist.

400 people have now been placed into jobs since the 1st of February 2005.

Congratulations to the team on a great effort and thank you to all those who have supported us.

Dickon Doe has been appointed as Director in addition to existing Directors, Robert Bromage, Carl Lawback and Scott Wiseman.

Mr Doe's extensive marketing and business background will compliment the existing boards experience and provide strategic marketing expertise in the areas of analytics, customer insight, loyalty, retention and marketing communications.

APRG will be upgrading its central recruitment database to Bond International's 'Adapt'.

The decision to move platforms was made to allow APRG to move to the next level in terms of system functionality and in readiness for growth. APRG have full capacity to make business specific customisations to Adapt allowing further integration of systems and quality processes whilst also achieving greater automation and process efficiency for our practices.

The system will be implemented by April 2007.