UK limps in last

I didn’t bother to watch the entries in the Eurovision Song Contest last night but the voting always makes for an interesting half hour; if only to remind me where the UK stands within the European ‘Family’ of Nations.

Most of us have no idea how legislation in Europe is drawn up or voted upon. Well, having spent a considerable amount of time in discussion with the European Commission and Parliament over the last few years, I can confirm your worst fears are true and that the Song Contest is a very close and real analogy. And it equally offers no short term hope of success for the UK.

In summing up the Song Contest you might conclude that the truly talented people always steer well clear, leaving the music, lyrics and performance to a group of talentless ‘D-listers’ who struggle to produce a decent delivery. They get stacks of airtime ahead of the competition and look and seem genuinely hopeful throughout and everyone nods their acceptance and support. But when it comes to a decision the judges, who might not even be in attendance, cast their votes according to some historical prejudice or political allegiance to ensure that friends or allies win the day.

Well sadly the EU is much the same and until we put forward our ‘A-list’ performers we will never win the day; at anything.

This is particularly true in recruitment where European staffing practice is quite different to our own and we need to argue the case that we do have the best, most flexible and most sustainable model within the community (at the very least, the best for our own marketplace) and it is being destroyed by endless, unnecessary legislation. There are three things that will destroy the recruitment industry and all are gaining in strength, these are; 1) the mediocrity of Europe, 2) the rebirth of the Unions, and 3) the apathy of UK agencies.

Its time we made the last legislative imposition the final assault on the industry.

Gareth

PS. Apologies to all those who think that winning is a Neanderthal ambition and believe it is better to run with the mediocre masses in a modern caring society; I certainly don’t.

PPS. Sorry to Andy Abrahams for inferring he is a talentless ‘D-lister’.