With all the interest in food miles and the need to source food locally, where possible, it's only a matter of time before the issue of locally sourced food-employees becomes an imperative. With petrol prices on the way to £6 a gallon, a 20 mile commute could add anything up to £50 per week to travel-to-work costs.

What's more the option of re-locating is becoming increasingly unrealistic with stagnation in the housing market. So people are going to value the opportunity to get the right job on their doorstep. Who knows, we could see Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Sainsbury's re-branding locally sourced produce and extolling the virtues of "Lincolnshire potatoes packed by Lincolnshire folk."

The challenge for the employer is to maintain high standards in recruitment while at the same time shrinking the geographic catchment area. For all concerned it will be worth the effort.