Is it time to learn a new language?
Umbrella company contractors that have spent the majority of their time working in the public sector may need to learn a new language if they want to survive in the business world.
private sector
StartUp Britain hopes to encourage more UK entrepreneurs
The CBI has welcomed the government’s new StartUp Britain campaign saying it could encourage more people to set up their own business.
Umbrella company IT contractors provide good value for money
Nearly 80% of IT directors believe private sector workers provide better value.
Private sector hiring intentions are on the rise
Contractors may be interested to learn that the latest Employment Outlook Survey from Manpower predicts that hiring will increase slightly in Q2. The survey reveals that the seasonally adjusted net outlook for employment is +2%.
Do umbrella company contractors need language lessons?
Contractors who have been used to public sector working will need to learn private sector language if they become victims of the government spending cuts.
Employee sickness levels are on the rise
The latest ONS statistics show that levels of staff sickness absence have reverted to pre-recession levels. Before the economic crisis, 2.5% of respondents said they had taken a day off in the 7 days prior to the survey.
Economy is improving, will business confidence follow suit?
The latest ICAEW/Grant Thornton UK Business Confidence monitor shows that business confidence is weakening but the economy is slowly improving.
Does a north/south divide affect umbrella company contractors?
There is a North-South divide when it comes to hiring intentions, according to the latest quarterly survey of entrepreneurs conducted by RSM Tenon, the professional services firm.
Private sector unable to absorb public sector job losses
Consumer confidence dipped last month, according to the most recent Expectations and Spending indices from the Nationwide. This could have a knock on effect on umbrella company contractors as businesses rein in spending temporarily.
45,000 job losses in financial institutions predicts CBI
The CBI has warned that financial services companies in the UK could cut around 15,000 jobs over the next three months as the focus sharpens on lowering costs.
Did bad weather affect umbrella company contractors?
The freezing December weather caused 38% of small businesses to close and a further 41% to operate without their full complement of staff. The cost to the small business sector was in the region of £2.1bn.
There are more female interims now than ever before
The number of women taking on interim assignments, some through umbrella companies, has risen to an all time high, according to the latest market audit from the IMA.
Do employees have too many rights?
The Institute of Employment Rights is concerned about the government’s proposed “employer’s charter”, currently under consideration.
Opportunities for contractors continue to rise
Umbrella company contractors will be pleased to learn that the number of vacancies for temporary staff continued to increase last month.
IT contractors could benefit if SMEs outsource
Advice website Smarta.com has predicted that small businesses could increasingly outsource some of their workloads this year and this could benefit umbrella company contractors.
Government plans new initiatives to help new enterprises
The government is keen to see small businesses grow and to help this happen it has launched some new initiatives. It has also been announced that the New Enterprise Allowance scheme is to be extended in the hope of creating up to 40,000 new companies by 2013.