I have heard of ‘Singing for the Brain’ to improve the quality of life for those suffering from Altziemers, but improved milk production when offering Shakespeare to Dairy Cows?

Apparently its true, the 170 herd of Holsteins living near Maidstone in Kent have been treated to regular performances by The Changeling Theatre Company of exerts from the Merry Wives of Windsor amongst others.  During the time of the rehearsals milk production rose by 4%.  In 2001 Leicester University undertook a study to show that stress on Dairy Cows was reduced when exposed to the calming effect of classical music.

If you are looking for new was to boost your milk production and provide a little bit of culture for your workforce you could do worst than offer rehearsal space to your local theatre group.

Source: www.localriding.com

With 2012 fast approaching all those international riders who currently don’t have a mount in mind are trying to find, consolidate or bring on horses for the Olympic Games. Owners are being encouraged to dig deep into their pockets to find the money.

As Zara Philips best hope Toytown is still not out and about competing so looking less likely for selection and Italian Rider Alberto Giugni has lost Jakarta to Piggy French and Crown Obsidian to injury, these are just two big names searching for new horses.

Interim government employment once appeared to be a permanent part of the job market, but Federal cutbacks are taking their toll as department heads wait for spending reviews before committing to hiring any new interim employees. According to Charles Wilson, the head of the public sector at Penna Interim, the effects have been devastating, “with no interims being taken on unless it’s for a business-critical or front-line post. In large government departments taking on an interim means going directly to the director-general of finance.”

The same mentality is affecting many public sector non-permanent positions, and according to Jamie Houlder, the Director at the Hays Public Services, the “reluctance to take on interims to fill business-critical positions” has increased because employers simply ask their existing staff to absorb the workload while they search for permanent replacements.

The majority of the part-time/contract jobs have fixed-term contracts that range from 3 to 12 months, and are either employed in IT projects or serving as “seat warmers” while recruiters search for more qualified candidates. Currently, this  market is worth £300-500 million per year, although the exact figure is hard to calculate because many such appointments are informal and made through word of mouth contacts.

Most interim employees are usually quite qualified – if not over qualified – for positions they hold and often have decades worth a private sector experience to contribute. Even though there are claims that some interims make more than the Prime Minister, their pay cannot be directly compared with salaries that include benefits, insurance, retirement plans and a lower overall tax rate.

Another threat to interim jobs are the many soon-to-be redundant civil servants who are trying to stay in the work force by re-branding themselves as interims. Interim jobs in the IT field, CRM and procurement seem to be the most targeted for this type of strategy.

Experts are also noticing that the pay interims usually command is suffering as well. The director of BIE, Steve Dengel, says that even though interims are far cheaper than “calling in one of the Big Four accountancies as consultants,” but even that hasn’t stopped employers from tightening down on their budgets by designing contracts with terms that have performance stipulations. Dengel explains, “I suspect we’re going to see price reductions that change the way terms are paid… we recently placed an interim chief executive in a quasi-public body, and while the day rate has remained steady it’s been done on the agreement that 20% of their pay will be held back until they’ve hit agreed targets.”

However, some interims are becoming more valuable, especially those skilled in cost reductions, lean manufacturing solutions and change management. Such project managers have seen up to a five-fold increase in their pay rate, even in the public sector. The managing director of Interim Partners, Doug Baird, explains that “demand for lean and six sigma specialists is likely to grow. These project directors have a really specific skill-set, so demand for them can increase at the same time as other consultants are facing cuts.”

Although being unemployed has many drawbacks, it can be transformed into a chance to see the world and tackle new challenges. What stops most job hunters from taking advantage of this “free time” is the expense involved in staying in an exotic locale long enough to learn about another culture and hone your skills.

But thanks to an organiation known as Work & Volunteer Abroad (WAVA), English speaking UK residents can sign up for a program to work in the hospitality or agricultural business in Norway.

Although there is a charge for the service — from £580 for 8 weeks to £800 for 22 weeks, the expenses are a fraction of what a vacation would cost because of their work/exchange program. Participants stay with a local family and are provided three meals a day.  In exchange, they work 35 hours per week at a job arranged in advance by WAVA. Each week a stipend of about £75 is provided for pocket money. Personal transportation is not provided –although workers can bring their own bicycles — and most employers provide transport to and from work.

WAVA workers learn about the Norwegian culture up close and personal, making their journey much more than just a sightseeing tour or a typical “job abroad.”

Total immersion in the local community provides a chance for UK participants to appreciate how many common concerns people share – regardless of their location – while learning the facinating differences that are created by climate, religion, government and education.  In return, the hosts are exposed to fresh perspectives on their business and society as well as provided with much needed assistance during peak seasons, making it a win-win situation for all concerned.

WAVA programs in Norway are available for citizens of the UK and Eire over 18 years of age who speak fluent English and are able to perform the types of tasks required by their host.

Experience in agriculture, animal husbandry and hospitality are matched with appropriate positions, and participants are briefed on the program before departing. Letters of intent are sent by WAVA participants to the host families who select candiadates suitable to their lifestyle and job requirements.

Of course, working for WAVA is not going to replace the need to secure full-time, permenant employment, but it can provide fresh insight and perspective into the truly important things in life while learning valuable lessons about yourself.