90% of firms confident over survival

Almost 90% of businesses in the UK are confident that their firm will survive the recession, according to research by Clydesdale Bank.

The survey revealed that 89% of business managers are confident their company will survive the recession - with almost a third 100% certain they will make it through.

Despite the downturn the research also showed that less than a third of companies have seen a reduction in business during the recession.

"These figures are promising and show that businesses are beginning to regain confidence. This is a positive sign - where confidence exists growth often follows," said Mike Williams of Clydesdale Bank.


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Barclays most complained about bank

The top five High Street banks have accounted for more than 50% of the complaints received this year by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, Abbey and HSBC received 38,000 complaints combined, with Barclays the worst offender with over 8,000 complaints.

The FOS deals with complaints from customers in the financial services industry if firms are unable to settle them themselves and in the first half of the year upheld an average of 59% of complaints.

"Putting this information into the open will now give those worse-performing businesses vital encouragement to improve - which should mean fewer of their customers having to bring complaints to the ombudsman that should already have been resolved," said Walter Merricks, the outgoing chief ombudsman.


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New rule to protect British workers

Jobs will have to be advertised to British workers in job centres for four weeks before companies can employ individuals from outside of Europe, under new government measures to be introduced at the start of next year.

At the moment jobs have to be advertised for two weeks before they can be given to an individual who is outside Europe.

The minimum salary that will allow an individual to qualify as a skilled worker and be eligible to work in the UK will also rise from £17,000 to £20,000.

"These changes will ensure that businesses can recruit the skilled foreign workers that the economy needs, but not at the expense of British workers, nor as a cheaper alternative to investing in the skills of the existing workforce," said Home Secretary Alan Johnson.


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SMEs not managing transport costs

A third of small businesses have taken no measures to better manage their transport costs, according to data released by Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

The survey found that despite 69% of small companies seeing their traffic costs rise 32% have done nothing to make more efficient use of their transport options.

The data also revealed that almost a third of small firms do not communicate their transport policy to their staff, resulting in a fundamental lack of control over transport costs.

"A sober and professional examination of any company's transport practices is likely to highlight at least a couple of practical steps that can be taken to cut costs. It's staggering that so few small businesses are taking the opportunity to find those efficiencies and put them into action," said Rob Ingram, director of business Rental at Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

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Car sales to drive UK out of recession - Manufacturing output growth is the best since January last year

A sharp rebound in the British motor industry may have ended five successive quarters of contraction and pulled Britain out of recession sooner than expected – though only to reach a state of "stagnation".

The Office for National Statistics reported yesterday that manufacturing output rose by 0.8 per cent in July, following a 0.6 per cent recovery the previous month. Output of motor vehicles led the charge, rising by 10.4 per cent in July.

The end of the "destocking" by car dealers and the impact of the scrappage subsidy were said to be the main drivers of the industrial resurgence. The figures are the best since January last year.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/car-sales-to-drive-uk-out-of-recession-1783892.html

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Small firm staff 'more flexible'

Employees working at smaller firms are more likely to adapt their working week to try and help their firms survive the recession, according to research conducted by Orange.

The research revealed that over 65% of staff in companies with under ten employees are prepared to reduce their hours, put in extra unpaid time or accept a pay cut to help their employer in the economic downturn.

In businesses that have a workforce of over 1,000 the amount of staff prepared to make these sacrifices dropped below 40%.

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New recruitment ‘set to rise‘

The number of businesses planning to take on new employees has risen for the first time in three years, according to a study by recruitment company Manpower.

The research revealed that firms in the sectors of transport, communications, hotels and restaurants were most likely to take on new staff in the coming months.

"There are a number of early positive hiring indicators emerging which suggest we may have reached a turning point," said Mark Cahill of Manpower.

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