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Government and business press for prompt payment

06/02/2012

By Daniel Hunter The Government and industry is calling on businesses and public organisations to pay suppliers on time and for small firms to pursue those who put them at risk by delaying. Business Minister Mark Prisk announced a new working group of business representatives would examine issues behind late payment, while... read more

Smaller manufacturers still gloomy, as political and economic uncertainty grows

06/02/2012

By Daniel Hunter Sentiment among the UK’s small and medium-sized manufacturers fell for the third quarter running in the three months to January, as output stagnated and orders fell against a backdrop of heightened economic and political uncertainty, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said. Of the 350 respondents to the CBI’s... read more

Manufacturing summit to champion growth

03/02/2012

By Daniel Hunter The Government will join top manufacturers this month to celebrate the best of British manufacturing and explore ways the sector can support growth for the UK economy. The Manufacturing Summit will be hosted by Business Secretary Vince Cable and Business Minister Mark Prisk with a range of other Ministers... read more

Construction industry optimistic for 2012 as growth eases

02/02/2012

By Maximilian Clarke A slight easing of the pace of growth has done little to dampen UK construction firms’ spirits, whose confidence has climbed to an 8-month high. And despite a slight slowdown from the end of 2011 coupled with employment stagnation, construction companies are overwhelming optimistic about 2012, the monthly Markit/... read more

UK manufacturing sector starts 2012 on the front foot

01/02/2012

By Marcus Leach If today's (Wednesday) manufacturing data is a sign of things to come in 2012 then we needn't fear a double-dip recession, despite what the doom and gloom mongers will have you believe. Whilst we as a country may not be in as rude health as we might wish to... read more

UK export growth slows on strong pound, weak eurozone

01/02/2012

By Maximilian Clarke A strong pound and continued eurozone uncertainty have led to a slowdown in the UK’s export growth, figures from DHL and the British Chambers of Commerce shows. The third DHL/BCC Trade Confidence Index, a measure of the UK’s exporting health, reveals that growth among UK exporters slowed during the... read more

Salary guide points to an oil and gas industry defying the economic gloom

01/02/2012

By Marcus Leach UK oil and gas industry professionals are enjoying competitive wages according to The Oil and Gas Global Salary Guide 2012, which is based on data from over 14,000 respondents. The Guide, produced by Hays Oil & Gas and leading jobsite Oil and Gas Job Search, shows that full time... read more

Water and sewerage bills to rise 5.7% in 2012

31/01/2012

By Marcus Leach The average household water and sewerage bill in England and Wales is forecast to increase by 5.7%, or about £20. This takes into account a rate of inflation of 5.2%, and will mean an average bill of £376 in 2012/13. In 2009 Ofwat made its decision on how much... read more

UK steel output eroded by eurozone uncertainty

30/01/2012

By Maximilian Clarke UK steel output in 2011 ended the year just 0.8% higher than in 2010 as the eurozone crisis and economic uncertainty in the second half of the year badly affected demand as customers ran down stocks. However, steel demand is forecast to pick up this quarter on the... read more

Opportunity knocks overseas, but can small businesses capitalise?

27/01/2012

By Marcus Leach Too many UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are giving international trade the cold shoulder despite compelling evidence that firms of all sizes operating overseas are weathering the economic crisis better than those solely focused on the home market. And with non-EU exports coming under the spotlight,... read more