Latest from BLT
What next for UK Aid? by Tariq Siraj
The future of DFID has been a talking point ever since the idea of bringing it under the umbrella of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office was mooted in 2018 and 2019. Since Boris Johnson’s resounding election victory in December it then seemed a matter of ‘if’ rather than ‘when’. However if the most recent reports are to be believed it seems that DFID will remain as a stand-alone department in its own right, but perhaps lose a dedicated secretary of state – currently Alok Sharma – and instead be handed to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. Read More
Culture Shock(ing) Rules – by Davey Peyton
As the UK heads towards another election it feels like everyone is just about ready for a bit of a change. That might be a new role, a new company or just a new way of getting things done. Read More
Who’s interviewing whom? by Tariq Siraj
The traditional advice for job seekers had always been around selling oneself to the company (but not too aggressively), showcasing that you had done lots of research (but not being overly showy about it) and offering examples of your achievements (but not too boastfully). That advice and that thinking, though largely quite common sense, put the emphasis squarely on the company being king. The interviewee was subservient to the interviewer. The candidate can make a difference but will never rock the boat…etc etc Read More
Customs and Global Trade – a hot topic….by Emma Wade
With Brexit on the horizon the Customs market has been very interesting over the last 12-24 months from a recruitment perspective. Customs is obviously a hot topic for most businesses and the consultancy firms have been very busy, resulting in teams growing significantly across the UK including partner appointments – it’s great that Customs has the high profile that it deserves. Not that I am biased at all! The consultants joining these firms have come from a diverse range of backgrounds – the UK is an attractive place to be from a customs perspective right now from both a technical and professional perspective. Candidates have moved over to the UK from other consulting practices overseas, some have made the move from an in-house environment and there has been a steady stream of candidates leaving HMRC, attracted by the bright lights of the private sector. On that note HMRC have recruited heavily themselves into the Customs area, a combination of transferring people internally from VAT over to Customs and Excise and recruiting graduates straight into teams such as the EU Exit Policy team. Read More
ALL ABOUT YOU! The Life and Times of Senior Women in Indirect Tax…
I am delighted to present the next in my series of profiles of senior women in Indirect Tax. The aim is to showcase the talents, experience and stories of these amazing women, and provide some insight into their professional and personal lives, what inspires them and what wisdom they can share. My interviewee this week is Gill Hunter. Read More