UK businesses must start utilising social networking sites to recruit staff and boost business. This was the message from internet security firm Clearswift at the Brands2Life debate which was held in London last week.

Vice president of strategy at Clearswift Stephen Millard told Recruiter two thirds of HR managers say their businesses are blocking access to the sites and half have encountered — or have had to discipline — staff for time-wasting on the internet.

Millard revealed that only a fifth of the 300 UK HR professionals polled were familiar with social networking sites and just 40% of companies' internet