I’m a sucker for a great orator and must admit to finding Barack Obama’s presidential acceptance speech thoroughly energising. Now, I am well known for being apolitical (neutral), which has served me well in the past, but I thought his statement of hope could be the new call to arms for the UK recruitment industry (and especially the public provision, Jobcentre Plus).

When he said: “We want to extend opportunity to every willing heart,” I thought the message was profound, insightful and extremely clever. You get our wholehearted support, if you want to succeed. We are here for those who are engaged, and committed.

Resolve is a great personal asset and one the recruitment industry can place every day of the week. Intransigence, disinterest
and apathy are the traits that caused the demise of many great industries, like manufacturing.

Instead of funding training programmes, the UK government could also learn from this message and fund courses in ‘prolonged passion’.

Gareth Osborne