PLIGHT OF EX-BARKERS EMPLOYEES PROMPTS INDUSTRY-WIDE RESPONSE

A group of senior managers and leaders from across the UK’s recruitment advertising industry has come together in response to the plight of former employees of Barkers, the world’s oldest advertising agency, and its sister agency TCS, both which went into administration this month. They have launched RecAid, a benevolence fund for the recruitment advertising industry, with the immediate aim of providing help for an estimated 250 people affected by the collapse of the company.

The fund will be launched in partnership with NABS, the National Advertising Benevolent Society, which will oversee the management and use of the fund. However, the fund will be specifically for the recruitment advertising industry.

Although the Barkers and TCS were bought out of administration saving many jobs, up to 250 former employees have lost their livelihoods and the redundancy pay that they were promised, leaving many facing severe hardship. The fund aims to raise an initial £100,000 to help these people in particular.

The immediate focus will be an event at one of London’s most exclusive clubs, The Paramount at the top of Centre Point, which has donated its event space for the evening of Friday 17^th July at the request of Simon Howard of Work. 400 people will be able to attend at £10/head, all of which will go to the fund, plus the proceeds of raffles and competitions to raise money on the night.

Jon Dobinson, Executive Creative Director of other, will chair the new fund and said, “It is just a week since the news of what had happened at Barkers and TCS broke, during which it has become clear that hundreds of people may face the prospect of severe hardship. We want to show that their industry has not abandoned them and provide a channel for the many people who want to help. It’s not about charity, but trying to give back something of what they have lost to those who had, in some cases, spent their entire working lives at Barkers. Longer term, the partnership with NABS offers a lifeline to people throughout the recruitment advertising industry when they really need its help.”

“The situation that the staff from Barkers and TCS are facing is one that is sadly all too common throughout the advertising industry at the moment, with talented people finding that, through no fault of their own, they are facing unemployment and financial hardship, possibly for the first time in their careers. NABS is committed to supporting everybody who works in the advertising industry and I am glad that we will be able to work with the organisers of RecAid to reach out to the recruitment advertising sector. The fact that these senior figures have decided to take steps to help their colleagues is a clear parallel with the work that NABS does as the need for the advertising industry to support the industry is at the heart of our vision”.

The committee of RecAid also includes Simon Bolton (Executive Creative Director of Penna Barkers), Rose Colledge (International Managing Director of Work), Jamie Haskeyne and Martin Rimmer (joint Creative Directors of AiA), Simon Howard (Chairman, Work Group plc), Jim Landen and Andy Rigden (joint Creative Directors of Bernard Hodes), Peter Rice (Executive Creative Director of Euro RSCG Riley), Michelle Roberts-Clarke (Managing Director of other), Andrew Wilkinson (Chief Executive, TMP), and Karen Williams (of AMRA and a committee member of the Small Circle). Additional committee members are expected to join in the near future from senior staff at agencies including JWT and 33.

Recruitment industry workers, agencies, media owners and former Barkers clients have already begun offering support. The first pledge came from Frank Hutton, of Bristol-based Adlib Recruitment, who will donate at least £1,000.

To attend the event on 17^th July, please register on www.recaid.co.uk. All those wishing to donate to the fund, provide help or attend
on the 17^th July should contact Jon Dobinson by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Last update : 27-07-2009 09:08

Keywords : News, Today, RECRUITMENT BENEVOLENCE FUND LAUNCHED IN PARTERSHIP WITH NABS, Recruitment advertising.

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