Midlands Businesses Predict Positive Outlook for 2010

With the UK economy slowly recovering from the recession, figures out last week showed only a 0.2% growth in GPD (according to the Office for National Statistics). However, a survey of local Midlands Blue Collar companies show that they are expecting 2010 to be lot better than last year, with increases predicted in both business and staffing levels.

Research by recruitment agency Encore Personnel showed that 58% of companies in the region are predicting an increase in business levels in 2010, whilst only 7% are predicting a decline; the other 35% are predicting similar levels to 2009.

Encore surveyed 334 businesses in the Midlands with 194 of these expecting to see an increase, 116 expecting no increase with only 24 predicting a decline. The survey covered a cross section of industry from Logistics to Manufacturing and Engineering factories.

The survey also showed that 47% of businesses (156) are expecting to increase their staffing levels in the coming 12 months; with 45% (150) expecting no increase and only 8% (28) predicting staff cuts.

Managing Director, Greg Latham, commented “It’s encouraging to note the general positivity of these responses especially as we enter into unchartered territory as far as the economy is concerned. The results definitely challenge other surveys that have been carried out and it’s comforting to know that client confidence is better than otherwise suggested.”

Encore Personnel specialise in the supply of blue collar personnel (logistics, manufacturing and engineering, temporary and permanent) to industry throughout the U.K, employing over 1,500 temporary staff each week through its existing six locations and 16 divisions, continuing to build their reputation as one of the country’s leading recruitment consultancies.