Entrepreneurs are holding on to staff and not seeking to make redundancies, according to a survey by business and financial adviser Grant Thornton.
The survey shows that cutting jobs was the single biggest issue for 1.6%, while 51.5% expect to maintain headcount and more than half expect an economic upturn in the next two years.
Senior level HR recruitment has been hit hard by the recession, according to multi-sector recruiter Badenoch & Clark’s professional talent survey 2009.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is searching for an industry partner to help recruit army personnel in a contract said to be worth £100m over 10 years.
Capita has signed a £523m deal to become the strategic outsourcing partner of AXA Sun Life (AXA) to administer 3.2m mature life and pensions policies.
Under the 15-year partnership, Capita will provide customer servicing, policy administration, claims activity and related IT support to a proportion of AXA’s business. The service begins today (1 June).
Multi-sector recruiter Staffline has acquired Yorkshire-based recruiter The Workplace and is eyeing further acquisitions, according to its CEO.
Andy Hogarth, Staffline’s chief executive, said: “This is the coming together of two great brands and is a fantastic opportunity for the business going forward. We will continue to look for similar opportunities to enhance the Group.”
The service sector has grown for the first time in over a year, according to May’s CIPS/Markit report.
The purchasing manager’s index (PMI) recorded a reading of 51.7, up from 48.7 in April, above the crucial 50 no-change mark for the first time since April 2008, signalling a return to growth of service sector activity.
The consultation over the Agency Workers Directive (AWD) will “decide whether we keep our flexible labour force”, according to the trade body the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
International executive search firms have announced a number of new senior appointments.
Global search firm Boydenhas announced that its Michigan operation will be supported with the resources from Boyden’s New York office, one of the firm’s largest in North America.
A quarter of Jobcentre Plus offices are now using a career advice and guidance service launched by financial services recruiter and training company Verridian.
The website, www.startallover.com, has been contracted for use by the Department for Work and Pensions as part of the government’s efforts to tackle white-collar unemployment.
There are tentative signs that the shipping sector may be on course for brighter times ahead, according to recruiters.
Latest Department for Transport figures show that freight traffic at UK ports fell by 5% over the year ending Q1 2009 compared with the previous year.