Multi-sector recruiter Randstad has backed £1.7bn extra funding for the Job Centre network, as announced in yesterday’s Budget.

Diane Martyn, chief executive of Randstad UK, says: “Jobseekers should include active networking as part of their strategies to find job opportunities. This should be through family, friends, online, and through associations jobseekers may be involved with, such as sports clubs.  

“Many people will need to have a flexible approach to finding work - it may mean retraining, or perhaps realigning career targets.  For others, it may mean considering working in a different part of the country or perhaps overseas.
 
“Temporary work can be a valuable way of gaining work experience.  Typically, around a third of temps are able to use temping as a way to gaining permanent work.

“However, since April, changes in VAT have increased the cost of hiring temporary workers in the insurance, banking, education, charity and healthcare sectors.”