A salary guide from Hays Human Resources shows that a head of HR can now earn £3,000 more than last year, while there has been 5% growth in roles at officer and advisor level and a shortage of candidates to fill them.

Heidi Waddington, managing director at Hays Human Resources, said: “At a time of uncertainty, HR professionals often come to the fore; the focus is on improved retention and enhanced productivity, and this can often be achieved through effective training and development initiatives. Where redundancies are unavoidable, the HR community can manage this process with minimum risk, ensuring best practice and the best possible outcome for all parties.”

Michael Bolger, managing director at Badger Associates, told Recruiter that he had experienced an increased demand for interim HR professionals.

“We have been recruiting in the interim market in East Anglia. There is a huge demand for interims. In the past six months, we have noticed an increase in companies taking on interim people while they pause for breath,” he said.