Frequently Asked Questions As At: 25th April 2008 What is The List/What does it do? The cornerstone to The List is a database of many thousands of former members of the UK Armed Services which then enables extensive recruitment and networking opportunities serving the direct needs of the job-seeker, the in-business member and employers in every sector of the UK economy. It affords members the opportunity for face-to-face business development and job-seeking networking. The unique offerings to employers, recruiters and head-hunters make it highly attractive and competitive in the business market place. Where can I find out more and join? On the website homepage at www.thelistuk.com Who can join? From 25 April 2008 individual membership is available to the following: - Anybody who is serving or has served in the regular UK Armed Forces - Anybody who is serving or has served in the Volunteer Reserves of the UK Armed Forces- Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers - Any former cadet of the UK Armed Forces Cadets who has attained the age of 18 - Any former or serving member of a UK Armed Forces University Training Corps (or equivalent) - An invited individual - who need not have served in the UK Armed Forces - who in the opinion of the Board of Directors, has the potential to or can immediately bring direct and tangible benefits to the ex-service community. Why limit membership to just these people? The unique selling point lies in the fact that the ex-service community consists of a group of people who have recognisable and generic attitudes and behaviours; these are the generic foundations that make the UK Armed Forces world-renowned and highly regarded. Upon that foundation is built a vast and varied array of skills, competencies, technical and trade qualifications along with extensive leadership and management experience at all levels. This is recognised, appreciated and needed by business. We also welcome a contribution from individuals who share this vision but not might not necessarily have served in the UK Armed Services; a special category of membership has been created for them. What are the membership categories and what do they cost? There are 3: - Basic Registrant: simple registration and upload of either job-seeking or business information: Free - Member: affording job-seeking and business networking membership and access to all services for the remainder of the individuals employed life: A one-year subscription at £25 or £40 (both + VAT) for life. - Fellowship: a special category for those who are prepared to give freely of their advice and time to support those leaving the Services and the ex-Service community. Individuals may indicate a willingness to support The List but are invited to join this category by the Board of Directors: they pay no fees. How does The List work? 1. Through their account a Basic Registrant or Member declares him/herself to be either a job-seeker or in-business. Depending on their membership category and the individuals circumstances at the time he/she can adjust their account settings to render him/herself visible to employers, to business and job-seeker networking, to search consultants or elect to be passive. (In due course an individual will be able to register as both employed and job-seeking). Fellowship Members are expected to remain visible to all Members; some may elect to be visible to Basic Registrants as well. 2. The principle vehicle for driving job-seeking activity is the job board; depending on their account settings individuals are e-mail alerted to job postings and thus may apply. In addition, and in support of the job board, a List consultant may, using networking and search techniques approach a registered user who might be suited to a particular position. Furthermore, a (paid-up) Member is potentially visible to research being conducted by a List consultant on behalf of a client. 3. The principle vehicle for driving networking activity is either through the individual Member accessing the database to find those Members he/or she wishes to contact and/or by attending the monthly Liquid List meetings. Who owns and runs The List? With effect 3 April 2008, The List is owned and run by PI Corporate Development Ltd (PICD) through a Board of Directors. Day to day operations are run by an Executive Director of PICD. PICD acquired The List in order to grow and expand membership through new and revised offerings to employers and professional intermediaries (recruitment agencies, search consultants and head-hunters). PICD Ltd has a strong networking and recruitment pedigree in all employment sectors. Is The List being run by people who understand the Service ethos, can do the ‘translation’ and help with the transition of those leaving the Services? Yes – very much so. Mike Nicholson remains as the host and organiser of The Liquid List. Iain Campbell, who set up and has run PI Extra (www.pi-extra.com), an executive search division of PICD Ltd, since he left the Army 2½ years ago, is the new Executive Director of The List. Iain combines 30+ years of Service experience with a wealth of know-how in the recruitment world. Mike and Iain are highly networked to a vast number and network of supportive employers, professional intermediaries, contacts and former Service people; they are both widely supported by a group of like-minded and experienced associates. Can it guarantee that I will get a job? No – there is simply no organisation that can guarantee to get you a job. People buy people so ultimately you getting a job boils down to you, however The List can help you in a way in which no other organisation can. Are you a charitable organisation? No, but we support Service and ex-Service charities and place considerable emphasis is assisting those facing hardship What are the recruitment offerings to employers, recruitment agencies and search firms? There are 4: 1. Basic: Register job and pay* for each job board posting Deliverables: – Feedback on number who fit broad criteria – E-mail alert sent to those who fit criteria – Applicants apply direct to employer 2. Managed Recruitment Solution (MRS) Level 1: Communicate requirement to List Consultant Register job and pay* for each job board posting Bespoke search to identify suitable and willing applicants (fixed fee) Deliverables: - Feedback on number of registrants who fit criteria - E-mail sent to registrants who fit criteria - Pro-active network approach to identify candidates - Applicants apply through The List to employer - No win/no fee %* levy upon job offer closure 3. Managed Recruitment Solution (MRS) Level 2: Communicate requirement to a List Director (normally with a client visit) Register job and pay* for each job board posting (if appropriate) Bespoke search, long-list compilation, initial interviewing and presentation of credible short-list (fixed fee) Deliverables: - Feedback on number of registrants who fit criteria - E-mail sent to registrants who fit criteria - Network & search approach to identify additional candidates - Long-list compilation and telephone interviews conducted by consultant/Director - Long-list discussion with client - Short-list face-to-face interviewing by Director - Short-list presented by Director - No win/no fee %* levy upon job offer closure 4. Research: A bespoke and confidential search to identify possible candidates to enable a client to approach individuals (fixed fee) Deliverable: - Target list of potential candidates, incl provision of contact details, channelled through a List consultant Where indicated * the quoted fees are abatable and negotiable for Members and those recognised and recorded as early adopters and/or supportive employers. To initiate a discussion and/or to receive a Rate Card please e-mail info@thelistuk.com or call 0870 752 0010. Business to Business fee quotes are excl VAT.You used to produce The List Book and CD Rom as other offerings; are those still available? Not at present; the intent is that some of the requirement will be encapsulated on a re-launched and more ‘powerful’ on-line functionality. We recognise the value in the book and CD Rom and intend to produce both again in the future; the scope and content will be driven by the future functionality of the website and database. I have placed a job advert on-line; how does the system work and then bill me? On the assumption that your requirement is managed through formal company accounts the normal procedure is as follows. Once you have completed the vacancy form on-line and transmitted it, the job requirement will be tested against the database; the feedback of that test along with our recommendations will be presented to you. That recommendation will include our suggested recruitment solution which you will be invited to accept. You will be expected to e-mail an acceptance (in effect agreeing to the fee liability) which will result in The List raising an invoice; the recruitment solution will commence as soon as your acceptance is received. If your company operates a Purchase Order system you should either provide a PO number or attach the PO to the acceptance e-mail. Can you be specific about the business development benefits? Much depends on the individual and what he or she seeks to gain – in essence the boundaries are limitless, it may be: straight forward partnering in a joint venture; advice on mergers and acquisitions; business buy-outs and sales; product positioning; market research; test-driving initiatives on a regional basis; obtaining informed opinion and advice on innovative and entrepreneurial ideas. Can more than one person from a company join The List? Individuals join The List, there is no corporate benefit arising from the number who join. Corporate benefits derive from being registered as a supportive employer. Why should I now become a paying Member? Success of the re-launched List depends on the support of both the ex-Service community and supportive employers (and recruiters). The number of Members and volume of employer activity is what will make The List a lasting success; you can do your bit by joining as a Member for life thus giving something back to those who have either helped you and/or are destined to follow you. What is a supportive employer? Supportive employers are those recognised/registered as such because they place value in the human talent represented by the Members of The List and are prepared to manifestly support and present employment opportunities for the job-seeking community to apply for. Supportive employers will derive commercial benefit and recognition for their support through fee abatement. How do companies get hold of job-seekers? They elect to purchase one of the offerings depending on the nature of their requirement. If I get a job as a Basic Registrant, why should I upgrade my membership of The List? We assess that you will derive some 25% of the full value of The List by remaining as a Basic Registrant; apart from the financial benefit of becoming a Member upon first joining you are immediately able to benefit from full job-seeking and business networking. You should view full membership as an investment in your career for the remainder of your employed life; it represents the opportunity for you to remain within an extraordinarily powerful network in the business community. And what is more you are ideally placed to help those who are coming along behind you. Suppose I am in work but am actively looking for a change – or just want to be classified as a job-browser? There is currently limited database functionality for a Member to be both employed and job-seeking at the same time; this will be rectified in the future. In the meantime individuals should alert The List by e-mail (info@thelistuk.com) so that they can be added to a separate, off-line, consultant-led system that will support their needs. Why charge for membership? The List is a membership organisation; as such we need to make a small charge to be able provide the service to all Basic Registrants and Members. Were we not to charge a membership fee the costs would have to be placed with employers; that in turn will drive their costs up. It follows that we need to balance our price-pointing to ensure that we attract supportive employers and Members alike. What is The Liquid List? Monthly business and job-seeking networking meetings held on the first Thursday of every month across the country. More details are on the website. How do I log in/what are my log-in details? You need to register first and once approved your log-in details will be sent to you within 24 hours. I have been well-served by The List over the years and wish to leave a legacy – how can I do this? Whilst we would heartily appreciate and value any such bequest, we would not normally expect to be involved in the arrangement process. Should you wish to leave a legacy for a specific purpose we will happily make suggestions to you or your appointed representative. How did The List start? Following market research among the Service and ex-Service community The List was launched in early 1996 with a membership of 440 that has now grown to thousands. The market research had confirmed a belief that there were many ex-Service people in the community who wanted to: help their successors move into civilian life; have recruitment access to Service personnel; develop their businesses via a network of like-minded people; and to keep in touch with old friends. The original focus was clearly on business networking; since then the value of networking in support of creating employment opportunities has continued to flourish bringing us to a unique organisation that now supports and delivers both. (Also see Background via homepage)Is The List an All Ranks and all Services organisation? Yes – very much so. When it was first established it tended to serve the needs of the officer being made redundant however it has rapidly become all ranks and all Services. That is its strength; a one-stop-shop for employers and those who want and need to make contact with the ex-Service community.
