Who's hiring?

•Logistics giant The Stobart Group is to create more than 1,000 jobs with two major developments at the Port of Weston on the River Mersey and at nearby Widnes.

•Citco, the global financial services organisation, is to create 150 new jobs in Cork. It said most of the posts will require business or accounting graduates or similar qualifications.

•Supermarket firm Asda is to embark on large-scale expansion plans this year and will create 9,000 new jobs and open 22 stores.

•A regeneration plan for Whitehill Industrial Estate in Glenrothes could create up to 500 jobs. Proposals include 400 new homes, a shopping complex, nursing home and play areas.

•A joint venture between Exeter University, Exeter City Council, Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, the Met Office and the South-West Regional Development Agency for a commercial centre for science and knowledge-based businesses could create 3,000 jobs.


Who's firing?

•Bosses at Greater Manchester NHS Trust plan to axe 210 jobs, two wards and two operating theatres in a bid to avoid a £7m deficit.

•Reed Elsevier, the Anglo-Dutch media group, is planning to axe more than 1,000 jobs as part of a continuing efficiency drive.

•Alliance & Leicester says that it is to cut 200-300 middle and back office jobs in the fallout from the US sub-prime mortgage crisis.

•IT giant Capgemini is to axe up to 450 staff who are employed on contract around the country with Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs.