Official CUK bench - Late Summer 2015

[I just need to test it]

Official CUK bench - Late Summer 2015

Week Four. Recovering from yesterday's bike ride. The climbs were killers but the descents were sheer bloody adrenalin. Fantastic.

I got three contract offers on Friday. One was rubbish, one (short-term, closeish to home) was the best rate I've been offered in 7 years, then the last one came out of the blue - a day earlier I'd have snapped their hand off.

[Pogle]

Morning all

Am still rather enjoying being at home, but have decided that maybe 3 weeks into bench time I should dip my toe in the job market this morning.
I am getting through my list of things I needed to do around the house, which is very satisifying.
I have 9 bin bags of clothes and bedding and a large bag of christmas goodies and kids toys that are being collected this morning for a local charity.
I have conted up all the piles of 'scrapnel' (copper coins) that we had in various places and the total is 51 quid - so will take them to the bank.
Have chucked out a LOAD of stuff that Himself and Jr wont miss (hopefully )
I have cleaned, hoovered, flea sprayed, washed, baked, cooked and ironed myself silly!
I have had coffee and catch up with old chums and taken a few out to lunch.
Its been great!

[Troll]

So do the Benchies have a view on the latest visa relaxation rules?
2,3 & 4 will be open to abuse

A staffing body’s wish that immigration policy should be relaxed so skilled IT workers from outside the EU can be more easily imported into Britain seems to have been granted.

In a surprise announcement on Friday, the government said that a new visa scheme for digital firms would offer four new ways for them to bring over non-EU citizens with top IT skills.

From November 12th 2015, the application process will open for all four of the new ways, which have been created as a result of “direct feedback” from the digital sector, officials said.

The first of the four is a visa provision specifically designed to help high-growth UK firms import “very specific technical knowledge” in areas like cyber security and development.

The second is a criterion aimed at opening the route to a “broader base of aspiring talent from outside the EU” – workers who UK firms want because they show “exceptional promise.”

The third visa provision is for a fast-track applications procedure for firms located in seven cities of North England, to add to the 170,000 people already working in the region’s IT hub.

Tied to this, the umbrella outfit Tech North (the sister of Tech City UK which launched the four new IT visa routes) will help firms in the seven cities that want to hire from overseas.

Meanwhile, aimed at UK firms that want “entire teams ”of skilled, non-EU IT workers, the fourth visa provision is to let groups of up to five workers to apply for permits all at once.

[Dallas]

Week 7 and still not ready to go back.

Security clearance completed, I am trying to stall the start to Nov....

Ocado delivery this am, the slow cooker is smelling blinking marvellous and I am off to the gym at 2 when all the muggles are back at their desks!

[MarillionFan]

Week 189 and still employed. Damn!

[oliverson]

Start of week 12. First 10 were planned for with the intention of finding something early/mid September when the market improved but sadly it didn't. It's the worst I've ever seen in 11.5 years contracting. The worst by far. I did get an offer 2 weeks ago, subject to the usual London banking compliance checks. Sadly the checks still aren't complete and it's looking a little ominous. All kinds of stuff start going on in your head - have they found somebody cheaper, has the project been canned, has the budget been pulled?

[Gumbo Robot]

Oh no...

This afternoon's interview at 4 will be a 1 hour technical interview followed by a 1 hour HR interview.

Is there a "Groan" smiley?

[I just need to test it]

Hope you made it and can look forward to an easy commute.

My contract should be with me today. I hope it is. They want me to start tomorrow.

In the meantime it's a beautiful sunny morning (rain moving in later) and I'm off to buy a new mountain bike.

Happy Tuesday, all.

[Gumbo Robot]

Hope you made it and can look forward to an easy commute.

My contract should be with me today. I hope it is. They want me to start tomorrow.

In the meantime it's a beautiful sunny morning (rain moving in later) and I'm off to buy a new mountain bike.

Happy Tuesday, all.

You'll be needing the qdos 24 hour turnaround then

[Dark Black]

Game on

Result - been offered the local contract, 15 mins drive, 12 months, decent rate + I get my clearance back



Hoping to get the paperwork through before tomorrow - I'm supposed to be having an interview with another client then but it's a 2+ hour drive so rather not if I don't have to.

To finish, I've just had a pimp call about another localish (40 mins drive) gig - and it's been so quiet for months..