• A bootcamp for career returners in the marketing, media and comms industry has launched today [18 October 2024] for 2025. Back2Business Career Accelerator Programme, a free-to-attend six-day reorientation bootcamp for professionals who have taken three or more years out of their careers for caring reasons, is now open for applications. 

Back2Business is aimed at successful professionals at mid-senior level with an expertise in marketing and comms before their time out of the workplace. Co-founded by f1 recruitment CEO Amanda Fone and consultant Liz Nottingham, it’s been delivered by f1 recruitment since 2013. Havas Media Network UK has been announced as headline partner for the 2025 programme.

As part of the programme, participants are offered the opportunities to apply for current vacancies with Havas Media Network UK and the wider Havas Group in the UK and other partners, including SSE energy company, Rail Delivery Group and the Ad Association. Candidates can apply here by 7 February 2025.

• Personio, a European HR software company, has introduced AI-powered features aimed at enhancing recruitment processes for small and mid-sized businesses. The new Proactive Insights tool allows HR teams to identify key trends, such as high sick leave in certain departments, enabling smarter, data-driven decisions.

A forthcoming AI assistant will further streamline recruitment by answering queries instantly, such as the number of open roles in a company, breaking them down by location, and visualising the data for stakeholders. Personio’s Smart Automations detect repetitive tasks, such as processing vacation requests, and suggest workflows that save time, freeing HR teams to focus on higher-priority tasks like recruitment.

• Sapphire, a UK-based contracting and accounting firm, has announced its expansion into the German market with the launch of AUG (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung), a licensed payroll solution. This move is designed to support recruitment agencies and businesses as they navigate the complexities of engaging temporary workers in Germany’s highly regulated employment environment.

In Germany, where compliance with employment laws is particularly stringent, Sapphire’s solution enables recruitment agencies and end clients to legally and confidently hire temporary workers without the risk of penalties for worker misclassification or illegal engagement. Sapphire’s AUG payroll solution streamlines the process of placing temporary workers, handling employment tasks such as tax deductions, social security and employee benefits. By reducing the administrative burden, the service allows recruitment businesses to focus on growth while ensuring full compliance with German law.

• Superdrug has launched a recruitment drive across its stores nationwide. The accessible beauty and health retailer is looking for an additional 1,000 sales assistants to support stores over the festive period, as it prepares for busy shopping periods and high footfall during Black Friday, Advent and Christmas. While these roles are temporary, Superdrug always aims to move talented team members into permanent roles where possible.

Earlier this year Superdrug announced plans to open 25 new stores across the UK, with remaining new stores collectively creating a further 350 jobs, in locations such as Bedford Interchange, Metro Centre Gateshead, Rotherham and Chelmsford. The business also continues to recruit managers, as well as health and beauty team members.