• SFR RECRUITMENT SOLUTIONS

Category: Blog Post

Office items that our team just can’t live without!

Hey there everyone,

How’s your January going?

Let me guess,

You’ve already caved on your month-long promise of cutting out chocolate and only been to the gym once since signing up? Really was the extra fee so you could use the spa necessary? – also take the Christmas decs down in the office (you know who you are)

It’s still dark and cold outside, however we’re in a brand-new year! A new year brings potential exciting opportunities and changes. Going back to work maybe you’ve made the decision to change around your desk? Be more organised and efficient! With that we present to you 2 favourite items that we just can’t live without on our office desk – minus a computer and multitude of free pens!

Connor – Recruitment Consultant

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Our recruitment consultant Connor has a very tidy desk most of the time. Multiple post it notes and scrunched up pieces of paper are never to be seen! However, a very well organised whiteboard with day today tasks and a fancy glass water bottle are two never changing features, without them we’re not entirely sure how he would function. Furthermore, Connor’s favourite non chewable metal pen (you should see some of the others) is always on his person ready to take notes.

Beth – Media Executive

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Beth the media executive has quite the vibrant desk. On counting there is 7 pink items on it (ranging from a coffee cup, pencil case to notepads). Presenting her creative side Beth has decorated the desk with two fake plants and two desk organisers. Why this is necessary, we don’t know – but at least her desk is organised! A calendar counting down the weeks until her partner returns home (yet to discover if he’s real) and marketing organiser is two of Beth’s prized possessions.

Jamie – Director

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Our Director Jamie has a chaotic desk, just like our Media Executive’s. Pieces of paper engulf the desk, yet he never loses anything! Highlighters and Tipp-ex appear to be common items which Jamie doesn’t live without (there’s a mouse Tipp-ex which he particularly likes), alongside a sweet photo of his family and a coffee cup which is regularly refilled. 

Matthew – Director

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Where do we start with Matthew’s desk? All I can say is that it looks like an image from Pinterest. Everything on the desk is placed evenly, all variations of monochrome with a plant to add a pop of colour. The organisation of this is minimalist to a new level! The most important items on Matthew’s desk is his air pods (we question as to whether he may sleep wearing them) and his 2020 Diary. 

So there you have it, 2 office items that we each can’t live without! All we need now is a office dog!

How to survive the work Christmas party!

It’s that time of year when the workforce is full of Christmas Party chatter, so here are some tips to help you survive the Office Christmas Party and wake up the next day with your job still in-tact!

1-   Drink Responsibly!

Yes, doing shots with your co-workers may seem as a brilliant idea at the time but drinking too much can only cause embarrassment for yourself and a sore head the next day. Therefore, I advise that you (yeah you) to pace yourself. Make sure you know how many drinks you’ve had and have the odd glass of water + If you don’t drink or can’t, just say so. There’s no need to worry what others think.

2-   Mingle!

I know the most comfortable thing to do is to stick to the people you know the best at the Christmas party, however, try and mingle with other colleagues that you may not usually converse with. This may help develop good working relationships and grant potential of striking unlikely friendships!

3-   Dress appropriately to the occasion!

Whilst you may be aiming to dress to impress, showing up to the Christmas party in a full suit, ballgown or clubbing entire may not always be entirely appropriate. Dress to the occasion and the location of the party. This will save embarrassment! Text your colleagues if your unsure. By dressing appropriately for the occasion, you will feel comfortable and confident!

4-   Don’t be a bore!

 Whilst it’s tempting and inevitable that you will talk about work whilst on a work Christmas Party try and refrain yourself from this being one of the main topics of conversations. The work Christmas party is a brilliant time to learn about your colleagues outside their responsibilities at work and also express yourself. Be fun! Show your personality (without being irritating) and as point 2 states- GET TO KNOW PEOPLE! At the end of the evening it’s best to be known as someone that is fun and nice to chat to rather than bore that just talked about work and sat in the corner.

5-   Take Care of yourself and others!

Make sure you and your colleagues get home safe! Look out for each other!

6-   Help out your co-workers!

Notice one of your colleagues is getting a bit worse for wear? Grab them some water, fetch them some food or call them a taxi. Help your colleagues not embarrass themselves by bailing them out. The gesture will go appreciated!

7-   Refrain from office gossip!

Don’t be a gossip, whilst it may be exciting that “Mary from HR and Dave from Accounts are apparently a thing”, you don’t want to be known as a gossip, it comes across as unpleasant and untrustworthy. Remember that you work with these people every day so try not to upset anyone!

8-   Don’t announce your undying love for one of your colleagues!

Ask yourself whether hitting on Jean from Accounts is really appropriate, will you regret it the next day? Remember you have to see this person every day! + use your common sense, you don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable. Likewise, if you’re the person getting hit on and feeling uncomfortable ensure to be tactful, polite but firm.

9-   Don’t call in sick!

Whatever you do- DO NOT CALL IN SICK! If your office Christmas party on a ‘school night’ make sure you don’t call in sick the next day. Get up, have a decent breakfast and get on with your day. Everyone is in the same boat!

10- HAVE FUN!

Finally – have fun! Have fun at the party! Don’t feel nervous about it and try not to miss it! This is a perfect time to get to know other colleagues and build relationships outside of work hours. Having healthy working relationships with your colleagues makes everyday working life far more enjoyable!

So, go and have fun, enjoy a brilliant work Christmas party and look after your sore head the next day!

How To Stay Productive During The Winter Months – An office discussion

Here at SFR Recruitment Solutions we were having a lunchtime discussion about the Winter, how it can make you feel and how some of us try and put things into place to combat SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Winter can be a hard time for many, we would rather hibernate until Spring like lots of animals do rather than get on with our everyday tasks. Unfortunately, this is something that we can’t do, so here’s some compiled tips from our team for you to be productive this Winter! 

1- Seek Out Some Sunshine!

Image of a field, with the sun shining

Yes, I know that during the winter months it’s hard to find any Sunshine during the day due to the typical bleak weather. However, when you do see a burst of sunshine during the day why not go and soak it up? Work in an office? Walk around the block or take a gentle stroll during your Lunch break. Sunshine lifts a person’s mood which encourages productivity! 

2- Make your home extra cosy and organised!

What makes for a productive day? An organised and cosy environment! Both your home and office should be at a comfortable temperature and be organised because the likelihood is that you’re going to be spending a lot more time in them over the next few months! Organising whilst also making a home and office feel cosy and comfortable helps declutter your mind!

3- Get reading!

Person reading a book

Many of us find that during the winter months we are all glued to our screens, binge watching our favourite Netflix series or watching Love Actually for the 200th time! Why not have some non-screen time? Find yourself a good book and enjoy abit of escapism from everyday life. From doing more reading you might learn something new, feel calmer and content with your thoughts or re-discover how much you enjoy the simple pleasure of reading! 

4-   Create a good mood playlist!

Combine some of yours, your friends, family and work colleagues favourite tunes into one amazing good mood playlist. A little bit of gentle music in the background of an office can really boost morale! Walking to work in the rain? Put on your good mood playlist to combat it! Good music is a simple mood booster during a bleak season. 

5-   Set yourself a few achievable goals! 

A person writing in a notepad

Write down a few goals which you think could be achieved over the next few months to keep yourself productive, the achievement will not only boost your mood but also keep you feeling productive both in work and home life.

6-   Exercise and eating well!

Exercise is key! Whilst many of us oppose from doing exercise in the winter and choose to eat comfort food and watch TV it’s still very important to keep active! Exercise is brilliant for the mind, body and will aid a good night’s sleep. Furthermore, even though the winter months tend to be popular for comfort food which is high in calories ensure that you try and eat a reasonably healthy diet with plenty of veg! A combination of a well-balanced diet and exercise will do wonders for your mind and body. 

7- Last but not least SOCIALISE! 

Two people on a walk together

Socialising is all part of productivity for both your work and home life. Talking to people can help you produce ideas and overall boost your mood. By staying in every evening on your own you can get lost in your own thoughts – So go and surround yourself with your favourite people!

We hope these tips have inspired you for a more productive Winter!

From,

The SFR Recruitment Solutions Team

MLA EXPO 19

MLA EXPO 19 – A team day away!

Beth Wilshaw-Rhead, Media Executive of SFR Recruitment Solutions.

Yawning, in the dire need for a morning coffee our team embarked on the journey to the international centre in Telford to attend the Master Locksmiths Association 2019. After a few hours in the car and a slightly disappointing pastry from the services we made it! Slightly confused about the whereabouts of the car park we decided to follow a van with the word ‘locksmith’ on it and surprisingly enough we found our way to the right car park.

MLA EXPO 2019, Telford International Centre

The exhibition was well laid out, professional stands and unique products filled the space, meaning that it took many laps around the event to see everything and engage with people. It was enjoyable to see the passion that many had for their company, brand or product. From antique locks, bespoke safes and underwater security systems there was so many interesting products which demanded our attention. Overall the day was interesting, hectic, yet enjoyable. Anyway, enough talking, here is 5 points from each of our team members describing their own personal experience from the day- so enjoy

“Give me 5 points of what you enjoyed at the MLA Expo 19!”

Matt’s Points:

Matthew Robinson- Director
  • Perfect setting for the SFR Recruitment Solutions team to meet up with clients.
  • Several candidates that have found new career challenges through the help of our team welcomed us on the stands to view the product range.
  • Great to see the new innovations in the industry + a brilliant atmosphere in the arena
  • The show successfully showcased the wider industry and the solutions for all security needs. 
  • Attending the show helped us learn a lot which will only help us recruit talent in the sector.

Jamie’s Points:

Jamie Smith- Director
  • I personally had an amazing experience at the MLA 2019 EXPO, a chance to meet and greet face to face with clients new and old.
  • Always good to break away from the office and have a team bonding day to an event within our industry.
  • A great range of products that I am particularly interested in i.e. Architectural Hardware, Door hardware, Locks. Locking systems and safes.
  • Always interesting to see the existing locking systems and what the future holds with finger recognition and smart locks/security products.
  • A very friendly and well organised environment, with a good selection of refreshments.

Also, a big thank you to Access2, Dormakaba, Henry Squire & Sons, Abus and Securikey, for engaging us with there product demonstrations and Free gifts, it was much appreciated indeed!

Connor’s Points:

Connor Delbridge-Card
Recruitment Consultant
  • Great environment to get hands on with the latest products
  • Fantastic to meet with new people throughout the sector
  • A great setting, representing the size of the industry
  • The chance to finally experience the ABUS Touch Padlock
  • Great hospitality by all businesses in attendance – importantly the free beer from Access2

Beth’s Points:

Beth Wilshaw-Rhead
Media Executive
  • The exhibition was very well laid out and was a pleasure to attend
  • There was so many interesting products to see – particularly some of the antique lock hardware.
  • Brilliant hospitality!
  • Great opportunity to meet different people and see the shared enthusiasm and passion for the industry that we work within
  • Loved the eco friendly stand presented by Securikey Ltd and the free eco-friendly travel mug! Thank you guys!

Overall our team at SFR Recruitment Solutions had a brilliant time at the MLA Expo 2019- See you all in 2020!

The 100% design experience

100% design-An office day away!

Beth Wilshaw-Rhead, Media Executive of SFR Recruitment Solutions.

Armed with four coffee’s and sandwiches, our team was ready for a long but exciting day ahead attending the 100% design show, in London Olympia. Intriguing right? For those that are unsure the 100% design event is ‘the largest and longest-running design trade event for industry professionals in the UK (100% design, 2019).’ Every set owned by a diverse range of brands and companies, were carefully designed to present themselves in the most eye-catching way possible, to assist successful networking and show off some of their products.

100% design show, London Olympia, 18/09/2019

Enchanted by many of the design sets at the 100% design, as a team, overall we found the event to be compelling and thought-provoking! For us as a specialist company it is important to meet our clients face to face which, was greatly achieved at the event. The day entailed engaging with clients and looking at some very interesting products. This was an enjoyable process for the team of SFR Recruitment Solutions! Ending the day with a trip to M&M World in Leicester square and a stroll to our train ready for the long journey back, we each reflected on our experience at the event..

100% design show, London Olympia, 18/09/2019

What was my experience at the 100% design show?Beth Wilshaw-Rhead, Media Executive.

“It was my first time attending the 100% design show so I had very little knowledge or expectations of the event. I was happily surprised with the vibrant rainbow carpet and enchanting designs, from power showers to professional hardware and even a DJ! Documenting the event and our team’s experience throughout the day on all our different social media platforms was fun and gave our followers an insight of our day out of the office. Being from a art and design background I found the event to be incredibly captivating and vibrant and my overall experience at the 100% design show was enjoyable, motivating and inspirational.”

Beth’s 100% design show mirror selfie + DJ design

What was my experience at the 100% design show?Matthew Robinson, Director.

“100% design was a fantastic day for the SFR Recruitment Solutions team. The true benefit to visiting expo’s is for our ourselves and clients to meet face to face. Its also clear to see the importance businesses place on recruiting the right people and also the clear passion for the business and products.”

Matt examining the event guide + an intricately textured handle

What was my experience at the 100% design show?Jamie Smith, Director.

“Had an amazing day at the 100% Design expedition! From all aspects ranging from high end bathroom suites, quality retro and designed furniture and associated architectural ironmongery. A great change to meet face to face with existing client’s and meet and greet with new potential clients. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience! See you hopefully next year 2020 Keep up the good work guys….”

Polished mirrored handles + Jamie, Matt and Beth

What was my experience at the 100% design show?Connor Delbridge- Card, Recruitment Consultant.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the event, it was a great opportunity to meet with people, get hands on with products and check out the wider market of interior design. Overall it was a brilliant day and there are some exciting new products coming to the market!”

100% Design food and drink bar + Connor conversing

Our team at SFR Recruitment Solutions had a brilliant day at the 100% design show! Can’t wait to come back next year in 2020!

M&M World, Connor and his new client!
SFR Recruitment Solutions