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1. Seven ways to change your management style

Changing management styles and approaches are challenges for every manager and change is a key component of business ownership. The ability for entrepreneurs to successfully manage change – and that includes changing their own approach – can prepare the groundwork for growth and establish foundations for a positive and vibran...

2. Australia's fastest-growing recruiters

Few industries were hit harder by the downturn than the recruitment sector, but it is amazing how quickly the wheel turns. While the financial crisis saw clients freeze their hiring, the looming skills shortage means recruitment agencies will once again encounter difficulty finding talent. The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet...

3. Recruitment firms evolve to survive

The SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List for the recruitment industry shows that employment services are suffering under skyrocketing unemployment, but are surviving by changing their focus. While businesses are hesitant to hire, and retrenched workers are facing an increasingly competitive job market, success...

4. Hungry Jack’s owner Jack Cowin considers bid for Julia Ros

Rich list member and fast food entrepreneur Jack Cowin will perform due diligence on recruitment firm Ross Human Directions and consider making a bid for the company, just days after Malaysian company Peoplebank Holdings made its own takeover play. Peoplebank, which is owned by Malaysian private equity firm Navitas, made a takeover bid for Ross Human Directions (RHD) in July in a deal that valued the recruitment company at 61.5c a share – a large premium to the where the company's shar...

5. Julia Ross eyes $26 million payday as battle for recruitment

The takeover battle for Ross Human Directions, the recruitment firm owned by leading female entrepreneur Julia Ross, is set to drag on until at least December 16 as the company's board continues negotiations over a takeover bid from listed recruitment company Chandler Macleod. While shareholders were due to vote on a takeover proposal from Malaysian company Peoplebank yesterday, that meeting was adjourned to allow the RHD board to continue its negotiations. While Peoplebank has of...

6. Recruiters play the field

Introducing the SmartCompany Dun & Bradstreet Industry Growth List, which today focuses on recruitment firms and the labour hire market. The results show that solid growth is achievable – at a cost. By TIM TREADGOLDBy Tim Treadgold  

7. Last-minute rival bid halts takeover of Julia Ross’ recrui

The takeover battle for Julia Ross's listed recruitment company Ross Human Directions took an unusual turn yesterday, with a shareholder vote on a takeover offer from Malaysian company Peoplebank Holdings adjourned after a last-minute rival bid was launched by Australia company Chandler Macleod. RHS shareholders were due to vote on the Peoplebank bid – which values RHD shares at 70c – at 11am yesterday, but just hours before the meeting, RHD chairman Allan McDonald revealed to the ...

8. Going public: The pain and the pleasure

Floating your company may be the dream for some, but several realities need to be seen in the daylight to be appreciated. BRENDAN LEWIS By Brendan LewisDuring the dot-com era, the Holy Grail was to...

9. Directors back takeover of Julia Ross’s recruitment firm d

The board of listed recruitment firm Ross Human Directions, founded by leading female entrepreneur Julia Ross, have re-iterated their support for a takeover bid from Malaysian company Peoplebank, despite an independent expert’s report finding the offer does not represent fair value. An initial independent report in early October found the 70c-a-share bid was fair, but after RHD produced a better-than-expected result for the three months to 30 September, the experts were called bac...

10. Adviser advice

When you decide to float, choose an adviser who will stick by you for the long haul. BRENDAN LEWIS By Brendan LewisI recently talked about the

11. Unemployment figures underline fears of skills shortages

While economists have praised yesterday’s drop in unemployment to 5.1%, various industry representatives are bracing for the worst as skills shortages worsen in the housing construction, engineering and IT sectors.   The warning comes after some industry experts have warned against small businesses increasing salaries and over-promising promotions and benefits to staff to convince them to stay on. Harley Dale, chief economist at the Housing Industry Association, s...

12. How to manage staff working from home

The talent shortage is affecting a range of industries, forcing employers to consider new ways to attract and retain staff. Increasingly, employees are raising the possibility of working from home as being an appealing proposition, forcing businesses to consider loosening the reins. It works for many businesses, including ...

13. IT job vacancies to grow

Hiring intentions within the IT industry are the fourth strongest in the country, behind construction, professional services and the non-for-profit sector, according to the findings of a recent Hudson survey. The report found that hiring sentiment for the IT sector is at its highest for the fourth quarter, with 25.5% of all employer...

14. Time to make a deal

In the last few weeks, all sorts have people have declared that the economy has passed the bottom and is now in recovery mode, including veteran investors George Soros and Warren Buffett, famed economist Nouriel Roubini and even RBA Governor Glenn Stevens. Judging from the events of the last few weeks, Australia's wealthiest entrepreneurs have ...

15. Peoplebank founder attempts to take business private

The founder and managing director of recruitment firm Peoplebank is launching a takeover bid against his own company, along with its largest institutional shareholder, Navis Capital Partners. If successful, managing director Leon Lau says the company will be delisted, making it the second privatisation bid in one week, after the founding family behind Village Roadshow announced they are preparing to acquire the rest of the company and delist it. Following the close of trad...

16. Anger grows about attack on employee share schemes

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has backed the crackdown on employee share schemes announced in the federal budget, despite growing criticism and threats of a Senate inquiry into the decision.   A string of companies have announced they have suspended or are reviewing their share schemes. While market giants such as National Australia Bank, Optus and Macquarie Group were among the first to move, s...

17. Battle for Ross Human Directions heats up as Malaysian firm

The battle for control of listed recruitment firm Ross Human Directions is heating up, with Malaysian bidder Peoplebank increasing its bid by more than 13% in response to suggestions that Hungry Jack's owner Jack Cowin may launch a rival bid. Peoplebank, which first announced back in July that it had bit 61.5c for Ross Human Directions (RHD), increased its bid to 70c yesterday, after Cowin revealed he will be conducting due diligence on RHD ahead of a potential bid. Cowin, who is ...

18. IT sector stopped in its tracks as spending dries up

The IT sector has hit a wall, with many employers forcing IT workers to take leave over the Christmas break after a slump in IT spending.The IT sector has hit a wall, with many employers forcing IT workers to take leave over the Christmas break after a slump in IT spending.Paul Wallbank, owner of tech support site PC Rescue and SmartCompany blogger, says he is surprised by how much the sector has been affected. “I thought for about 18 months we were going into a ...