Human Capital Ventures are excited to announce we have moved to a new office location within the Harben House Complex in Milton Keynes.

Following a successful 2018, we thought we would treat ourselves to a nice plush new office with facilities to compliment Human Capital Ventures vast growing team based in Newport Pagnell, Milton Keynes.

After a month of the team pulling together to refit the office, we are proud with the end result, ready to kick off the new year in style and will support our continued growth across 2019!

We are very proud of what we have achieved as a team to get things up and running so we can deliver the best possible service we can to our clients and candidates. It took all hands on deck taking only 4 weeks with all our staff offering their services out of working hours to ensure the office was up running and operational before the new year

Take a peek at our before and after pictures for our amazing transformation.

#officemove #newyearnewoffice#2019

The post We Have Relocated appeared first on Human Capital Ventures.

If you are an individual who has been within a line of industry for some time and is now looking for a new adventure, or whether you wish to brush up on an existing skill which may open doors to a potential promotion, there are plenty of resources to allow you to do this.

Human Capital Ventures has compiled 4 personal favorite platforms to help you develop your career!

1) LinkedIn Learning

Everyone’s favorite or pet-hate professional social network now has its own skills development platform, where experts in business, tech and creative reveal some of the secrets of their respective trades. Courses range from general productivity, time management, and cost management, to more career-specific skills such as attracting candidates using social media, proactive recruiting strategies and diversity recruiting. You can opt to watch by video or commit to a whole course.

2) Lynda.com

Lynda is a LinkedIn initiative, offering 6,213 courses across the technology, creative skills and business sectors. The web-based platform consists of video presentations from some of the some of the World’s most inspirational leaders, with courses on everything from business etiquette and technical recruiting, to understanding HR systems and working on a cross-functional team. It also includes Learning Paths, a curated selection of videos that are designed to boost your skills or get ahead in your career.

3) New Skills Academy

Whether you are looking for a Microsoft Accreditation or a Team Skills certificate, The New Skills Academy has a comprehensive range of courses that will stand your CV out from the competition. The browser-based platform offers an impressive 200 courses at present, all of which can be studied at your own speed without having to adhere to deadline dates.

For more interview tips and tricks articles click here.

4) Udemy

Udemy is a Global education marketplace which aims to help technical professionals master news skills which can allow them to branch out into different areas of IT, design or marketing. With a selection of over 55,000 courses across the creative industries, Udemy courses feature a series of videos which can be watched at your own pace.

The post 4 Easy Ways To Upskill Your Career appeared first on Human Capital Ventures.

A cover letter is a popular attachment to a CV. A cover sheet can be an optional letter to introduce with your CV, where you can summarise your expertise, skills, and ambitions.

If you are a candidate who has seen an opportunity which catches your eye, or you are now qualified enough to consider the job you’ve been dreaming about, you’ll have to put forth a little more effort than usual.

Most employers, whether this is startups or Fortune 500 Organisations, expect to see a cover letter with every submitted CV.

Consider a cover letter the opportunity to showcase your personality and convince the employer to call you as opposed to any other applicant.

The cover letter is a chance to explain everything that won’t fit on your resume and present yourself as the perfect candidate. Now that you realise how important it is, here are some tips to boost the quality of your cover letter and get your dream job!

Customise your letter for every position you apply for

Every new application should have a new cover letter. It shows the hiring manager that you’ve carried out your research and you desire the position you’re applying for.

Hiring managers and recruiters have extensive experience reviewing cover letters and can sense a generic letter from a mile away. If you decide to use the same letter and change small details and wording such as the job title or the manager’s name, you’ll eventually slip up and send the wrong letter to a job. This is by far the easiest way for your application to be rejected before even reviewing the CV!

Ensure You Are Addressing The Correct Person

This may take a little research on LinkedIn, but if it’s at all possible, address your cover letter to a specific person, for example, a Hiring Manager or Line Manager. The popular “To Whom It May Concern” could be considered as an alternative if you are unable to find the Hiring Managers details, but it could be portrayed as generic.

A recommendation could be to call the company and find out the name of the person the application is going to. Taking this extra step will not only show that you are sincere about getting the job, but you respect the manager enough to find out his or her name.

Put emphasis on what you as an individual can do for them — not only what they can do for you!

The cover letter is a chance for you to highlight your skills and what makes you the perfect candidate. Providing your CV and Cover Letter are portrayed well, the interview will be a suitable time for more of an exchange, and to convey your enthusiasm for the job. Initially, you must explain to them why you should be shortlisted.

The hiring manager(s) will want to see what you can bring to the company to help them grow and succeed also. It is acceptable to show a little enthusiasm in your cover letter, but ensure it is formal. A perfect example of what to include could be: “I’ve been following your company since it’s startup, and I’ve love to bring my skills and knowledge to the team.” After this, it is important to provide evidence on how you would do this.

The post The Guide To A Perfect Cover Letter appeared first on Human Capital Ventures.

IT Software Development and Engineering vacancies in the UK increased by 13% during the year ending 31 August 2017, according to research from the Association of Professional Staffing Companies.

The data collected shows that overall, IT Vacancies in the UK increased by 5.8% every year, with IT Leadership & Management positions up by 9.1%.

In Greater London alone, the demand for IT Professionals was up 6.2% year-on-year, accounting for around half of all UK vacancies (47.4%). However, the greatest growth in demand was recorded in the East Midlands, where demand increased by 22.7%, closely followed by the North East, which saw a 17.2% rise in new openings.

The research found that spending on software is set to grow by 5% over the next year as chief information officers prioritise investing in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning and flash storage.

With IT being an essential asset to every business, software development is continuing to evolve. As recruiters, we expect the demand for developers to remain strong across the UK moving forward, despite concerns around how reduced access to markets post-Brexit will impact technology organisations.

If you are looking to move into, or continue in a rapidly growing field of Software Development, Human Capital Ventures may be able to help!

Register With Us Today

The post Demand for Software Developers & Engineers Rise 36% in the UK. appeared first on Human Capital Ventures.

Human Capital Ventures were proud to be supporting Hearing Dogs For Deaf People in an 18-hole Charity Golf Tournament on Friday, 11^th August 2017 at the Abbey Hill Golf Course in Milton Keynes.

The format of the game was ‘Texas Scramble’, where the shot closest to the hole played off the tee would be played by the rest of the team.

The team had an impressive start, where they managed to complete the hole achieving a Birdie, but a longer fairway and intense winds on the 2^nd hole meant the team was unable to continue in the same form they left the first hole in.

Despite our efforts, we were unsuccessful in securing the Winning prize but would like to thank the organisers at Challenge House & Hearing Dogs for Dead People for hosting an enjoyable day and look forward to participating in next year’s Tournament.

The post Challenge House Charity Golf Tournament appeared first on Human Capital Ventures.

Like most common fears, interview nerves are very irritating and can arrive at the wrong time!

Here are the tips you should follow to make those nerves disappear:

1) Personal Confidence

You must take time to understand what benefits you can offer to the business. These can be your personal skills, knowledge and experience.

Think about what your motivation is for the position and why you believe you deserve the opportunity.

Consider what strengths you have that would complement the company and position well?

Once you understand what you have to offer to the company you can walk into the interview with confidence.

2) Trust Yourself

If you have carried out research & diligence of the company, gathered around 5 sharp facts and have thoroughly read through the job specification then you are good to go.

If you are prepared and know what the role entails, it’s now time to relax and trust yourself.

3) Focus on YOU

Third and finally, don’t put pressure on yourself by comparing yourself to other candidates you may see applying for the same position as you – whether you know them or not. Ensure you focus on yourself only, what you have to offer them and why you are a fantastic investment.

The post 3 Tips to Make Interview Nerves Disappear appeared first on Human Capital Ventures.

Human Capital Ventures were delighted to attend the “MK Geek Night” on Thursday 15th June, held at the Milton Keynes Theatre to celebrate their 5th Birthday.

This was our first visit to the event, where we met a number of local geeks and businesses including BI Worldwide – A Leading Engagement Organisation with offices based in Newport Pagnell.

Several creative enthusiast gave speeches about their life experiences and how they launched their innovative ideas, including Pip Jamieson – Founder of ‘The Dot’, a social media application for creative designers with over 100,000 active members.

Human Capital Ventures would like to thank the sponsors and organisers of the event, notably our client Dominos Pizza for an endless supply of complementary Pizza throughout the evening.

We look forward to attending the next MK Geek Night and seeing a few more creative faces!

The post HCV Go Geek! appeared first on Human Capital Ventures.

Overview:

Founded in January 1967, Milton Keynes is often regarded as the fastest-growing town in Europe. In 2013, it was estimated that the population of Milton Keynes was approximately 255,000 people. Prior to being built, the 21,870 acres of land to be developed was largely farmland and undeveloped villages. Milton Keynes lies in the northernmost district of the South East of England. 74km away from London, MK was originally designed to relieve housing congestion in the country’s capital.

Location:

Roughly half an hour away from London, Milton Keynes is situated next to the M1. There are many surrounding towns and villages, such as Bletchley, Fenny Stratford, Woburn, Buckingham, Newport Pagnell, Wolverton, Stony Stratford, and many more. Places that primarily attract tourism are Bletchley Park, where tourists go to see the home of the codebreakers; Buckingham, an old market town, home of the Old Gaol; Stadium MK, a 30,000 capacity football stadium which is home to the MK Dons. Also, there is a concert venue in Milton Keynes called the National Bowl, where acts such as Green Day, Queen, Robbie Williams, Swedish House Mafia, Michael Jackson, Status Quo, and Guns N’ Roses have performed.

Job Opportunities and Creation:

As it is the number one city for job creation and opportunities in the UK, there is no greater advertisement to MK than the thousands of businesses that have been developed here, and the businesses that have chosen to relocate to here. Milton Keynes’ business base has increased by 36%, attracting 5 new companies each month, therefore creating more jobs in Milton Keynes. Also currently, the city’s phase 2 is underway – new growth will see the city compete economically and culturally with other cities worldwide. Milton Keynes presently is headquarters to some of the world’s biggest brands, coming from different countries such as America, Germany, Japan and Taiwan.

Growth:

Milton Keynes is the number one city for growth in the UK; MK’s business base has increased by 36%, attracting five new companies each month. Because of this, the population has quadrupled from 60,000 in 1967 to 249,900 in 2011, and it is predicted to exceed 300,000 in the next fifteen years. Due to the growing population, at least 10,000 new houses need to be built. Approximately £1 billion has been invested privately in companies based in MK over the last ten years. As for statistics, Milton Keynes is the number one city for startups outside of London, and is among the top ten cities for new patents registered.

Profit:

As far as profit is concerned,the operating cost compared to London is far lower and commercial properties in Milton Keynes are a fraction less than the equivalent in the country’s capital. Unsurprisingly, one could buy grad A office space for between 1/2 and 1/3 of similar in London. Industrial land is equally as competitive, and is a fraction of competing location costs. According to Official Government Data from 2011, the Milton Keynes commuter area had an average salary cost that was 30% lower than those of London. MK’s roads were designed on a dual-carriage grid system to enable commuters to be able to drive from one side of Milton Keynes to the other in under ten minutes. It is uncongested which means there are less traffic jams, meaning it is a more efficient business environment.

Interesting facts about Milton Keynes:

There are many interesting and attractive qualities that would make anyone want to relocate to Milton Keynes. Here is a list of some of the more obscure:

1. It was purposely located in equal distances from major cities such as London, Birmingham, Leicester, Oxford and Cambridge.

2. The concrete cows sculpture created by Canadian artist Liz Leyh in 1978 are currently located in Milton Keynes Museum. However, there are replicas in Bancroft, directly next to the A422. The cows have previously been kidnapped, held for ransom, vandalized, painted pink, been converted to zebras and have been decapitated.

3. The National Bowl was formerly a clay-pit that was erected to form and amphitheatre with a capacity of 65,000 people. It was opened in 1978 and has a permanent sound stage.

4. In September 2000, Bronze Age era gold (what is now known as the Milton Keynes Hoard), was discovered in a field nearby Monkston. The Hoard is made up of a pair of torcs, three bracelets, and a piece of bronze rod. The items were dated to around 1150BC-and it was valued at £290,000 and is now displayed at the British Museum.

5. The second tallest building in Milton Keynes (Xscape Centre) was opened it 2000. It features a 170m long authentic-snow ski slope, a 16-screen cinema a number of shops and restaurants and a climbing wall.

Key Employers in the Milton Keynes area:

• A.G Barr
• Aculab
• Airwatch – VMWare
• Amazon
• Amscam International
• Amway
• Aston Martin
• Baker Tilly International
• Babcock International
• BI Worldwide
• Boeing Defence
• BP Oil
• Brioche Pasquier
• British Standards Institute – BSI
• BSH Home Appliances
• Buckingham Foods
• Catapult Transport Systems
• CGI
• Charles Tyrwhitt
• CLM Fleet Management
• Coca Cola Enterprises
• Cognita Schools
• Computacenter
• Countrywide
• Data Research Services – DRS
• Dawson Group
• Deloitte
• Dentons
• DHL
• Dominos Pizza Group
• EDW Technology
• EMW Law
• Foreign & Commonwealth Office – FCO
• Fossil Group
• Getronics
• Gray Matter
• Her Majesty’s Government Communications Centre – HMGCC
• Home Retail Group (Argos, Homebase & Habitat)
• Honda Mugen Euro
• HP Enterprise Services
• Hughes Network Systems
• IMServe
• Inchcape
• Infiniti Red Bull Racing
• Ingram Micro
• Isotrak
• John Lewis Partnership
• Knorr-Bremse Group
• Konecta
• KPMG
• Kuehne + Nagel
• Leica Geosystems
• Lynx Networks
• Macintyre Hudson
• Manage 24/7
• Makita
• Market Force Information
• Marshalls Amplification
• Marsh & McLennan Companies
• Matrix SCM
• Mercedes Benz UK
• Mercedes Benz Finance
• Milton Keynes College
• Milton Keynes Council
• Milton Keynes National Health Service – NHS
• Milton Keynes Service Partnership
• Mirus IT
• Motor Insurers Bureau – MIB
• Nampak Plastics
• National Energy Services – NES
• Network Rail
• NHBC – Nation Home Builders Council
• Niftylift
• Nikken UK
• Nikon Official
• Office Depot
• Oracle Micros
• Papa John’s
• Parcel Force Worldwide
• Prodrive
• Radley & Co.
• Redbull Technology
• Retail Merchant Services – Dimension Data
• Rexam PLC
• Rightmove
• Rockwell Automation
• SAI Global
• Santander
• Scania Trucks
• SHI International
• Silverbug
• Satellite Information Systems – SIS
• SMC Pneumatics
• Sodexo Group
• Sonatest
• SRBE
• Strictly Education
• Suzuki
• T-Sys Managed Services
• T-Systems
• TEAM Energy
• Tech Mahindra
• The Guinness Partnership
• The Open University
• Timico
• Trek Bicycles
• UCC Coffee
• Unify
• Unisys
• Volkswagen Financial Services
• Volkswagen Group
• WD40
• Welcome Break
• West Coast
• White Clark Group
• Worksmart
• World Vision
• Xero
• Yamaha Music

If you are an employer in the Milton Keynes area seeking to recruit staff, or looking for employment in the local area, please contact us.

The post Employment and Job Creation in Milton Keynes appeared first on Human Capital Ventures.

As of February 2016, Human Capital Ventures will be moving to our new UK office premises located within Challenge House. It is still located on Sherwood Drive; saying a fond farewell to Bletchley Park where the company was conceived.

The new offices will provide us further room for expansion along with better facilities for our footfall of visiting guests. It even comes kitted out with 3ft marine aquarium; with our very own custom insert, a 3D printed HCV logo courtesy of the students of MK College.

We would like to say a big thank you to Jacqui Garrard and her team as Bletchley Park will be sadly missed, not knowing if you are going to bump into a member of the Royal family, sport personality or a rockstar on a daily basis or return to an office full of tourists as someone had left the fire door open.

For our clients and candidates who enjoyed our regular open days and ad hoc tours, we still retain a number of annual passes so feel free to get in contract if you would like to arrange a visit.

The post We have moved! appeared first on Human Capital Ventures.

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