Released on = July 17, 2007, 1:31 pm

Press Release Author = For further media information or suitable photos, please
contact: Chris Date at Rave Communications Tel. +44 (0) 1675 467462 or email:
cdate@rave-communications.com

Industry =

Press Release Summary = Research undertaken by office recruitment specialists, Tate,
has identified that London is rapidly losing out to the rest of the UK when it comes
to sourcing quality secretaries, PA's and receptionists, as there is now a
significant quality staff shortage in the capital.

Press Release Body = Research undertaken by office recruitment specialists, Tate,
has identified that London is rapidly losing out to the rest of the UK when it comes
to sourcing quality secretaries, PA's and receptionists, as there is now a
significant quality staff shortage in the capital.

Independent analysis and research of trends in office and secretarial work,
commisioned by Tate, has identified a so-called 'Secretarial Drain' away from
London, and a number of reasons as to why this deficit has occurred. This includes
dramatic rises in house prices and the cost of living, a more self sufficient
workforce and increased competition from the regions.

Since 1996, 145,000 secretaries have been shed from the overall UK workforce due to
an increase in technological developments, non-replacement of retirees and staff
re-organisation, the changing and merging of roles and substantial adjustments to
the way previous bosses worked.

However, London has been hit hardest with a massive 27% drop over the past ten
years, the equivalent of more than 33,000 quality and highly qualified secretaries
disappearing from the capital's workforce. The figures make alarming reading for
top executives in the city, who have traditionally demanded 'the best'.

This noticeable shift has been caused by a limited increase in pay for office
trained staff, compared with highly inflated house prices in and around London. By
comparison it seems that London's loss is the South East's gain, with the region
experiencing a loss of secretarial staff that is only half the national average, and
many of the premier candidates migrating there.



Managing director at Tate, Julia Robertson, comments: "Our research found that the
ratio of house prices to secretarial salaries has increased by a massive 118 per
cent in 10 years. This suggests we are at crisis point in London, as more and more
high quality secretaries choose to work outside London in a bid to reduce cost of
living.

"It's clear that secretaries have done their sums and voted with their feet. The
only way to attract and retain is to stop thinking cheap and start thinking
quality."

The report also suggested ways in which London's employers might be able to buck the
trend and continue to attract the best candidates. These included:
1. Provide a housing allowance for office talent in high priced areas
2. For staff needing to commute long distances, pay for a season ticket
3. Operate staggered working times where possible as travel is much cheaper after
9.30am across the Uk
4. Where possible and practical, encourage some flexible and home working practices

Since 1985, Tate has grown through innovation, service excellence and passion.
Tate's distinctively different approach consistently allows us to place the most
able candidates into organisations which deserve their talents. It is a philosophy
that touches each one of Tate's recruitment services, all underwritten by the
company's industry-unique 100 per cent satisfaction guarantee.

For more information Tate or to download the full version of The Tate Report, please
log onto www.tate.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
1. The data in the Tate Report is based on national statistics of the whole UK
secretarial and administrative workforce, obtained from the government's Labour
Force Survey, which is available from the Office of National Statistics.
www.statistics.gov.uk

Web Site = http://www.tate.co.uk

Contact Details = For further media information or suitable photos, please contact:
Chris Date at Rave Communications
Tel. +44 (0) 1675 467462 or email: cdate@rave-communications.com