City firms still hiring despite slower growth November 9, 2014 London firms are maintaining their strong hiring patterns despite signs the UK’s economic growth may be losing momentum. The total stock of job opportunities was two per cent higher in October than it was in October 2013, according to figures released this morning by recruiters Morgan McKinley. Further data from recruiters Astbury Marsden show that [...]
Business confidence unfazed by Euro woes and lower inflation November 9, 2014 CONFIDENCE remains high among UK firms, with signs for both output and employment looking positive. The BDO Optimism Index, compiled by accountants BDO, was 104.6 for October, figures released this morning reveal. Despite this being marginally lower than September’s 105, it remains above the UK’s long-term average of 100 and marks a significant improvement on [...]
London companies gear up to take advantage of technology November 9, 2014 LONDON firms are planning to take on more workers over the next five years in order to exploit advances in technology. Three quarters of London businesses plan to increase their headcount over the next five years, with half saying they will add at least 10 per cent to current staff numbers, according to research commissioned [...]
UK economic recovery starts to lose traction November 9, 2014 MOST regions in the UK are experiencing a slowdown in growth, a set of survey data released today shows. Output growth slowed in six of the nine English regions, according to the results of the purchasing managers’ index (PMI) – a survey of private sector firms – published by Lloyds Bank this morning. The overall [...]
Small firms put off exporting by legal barriers November 9, 2014 LEGAL barriers are putting off smaller firms from entering overseas markets, new research shows today. The joint study by KPMG and YouGov surveyed 1100 UK small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The main barriers to entry to foreign markets cited by SMEs were complex legal regimes, followed closely by not having strong enough networks overseas. Currently, [...]
UK construction boom close to pre-crisis level November 9, 2014 THE CONSTRUCTION industry continues to make impressive headway as the sector soars towards pre-crisis levels of output, a set of data shows today. The majority of firms are reporting rising output. The net balance – the per cent of survey respondents answering positively minus those answering negatively – of building contractors that said output rose [...]
Euro at two-year low after hint of early Xmas present November 6, 2014 THE EURO fell to a two-year low and stocks were buoyed yesterday after European Central Bank (ECB) chief Mario Draghi signalled that quantitative easing could soon become a reality. “The Governing Council has tasked ECB staff and the relevant committees with ensuring the timely preparation of further measures to be implemented,” Draghi said during his [...]
Buying slows as house prices fall in October November 6, 2014 THE HOUSING market is slowing down as high prices and strict mortgage regulations put off buyers. The average house price fell by 0.4 per cent in October, according to figures released yesterday by Halifax. Monthly data can be volatile, but growth in the three months to October also slowed to 0.8 per cent – the [...]
Industrial production jumps but fears remain over UK slowdown November 6, 2014 INDUSTRIAL production in the UK rose by a healthy amount in September but indicators of overall economic conditions point to a recent slowdown in the economy. Production – which includes manufacturing, mining and quarrying – rose by 0.6 per cent month-on-month in September, data released by the Office for National Statistics yesterday show. Yet the [...]
Job creation up but skills are in short supply November 6, 2014 JOB CREATION remained strong last month, but a skills shortage could be looming on the horizon. A report released today by consultancy giant KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (Rec) showed that permanent staff placements rose for the 25th consecutive month in October. Meanwhile, another KPMG report warned that a huge skills shortage in the [...]