Hopes low on job prospects

Confidence among employers about future job prospects remains at its lowest level for 17 years.

Confidence is “weak”, although four out of five said they will hold on to their staff during the third quarter of the year, a survey of more than 2,100 employers by recruitment giant Manpower showed.

Employers in the public and social and utilities sectors were most optimistic about future employment prospects.

But Mark Cahill, managing director of Manpower, said: “Over the next three months, we expect businesses to apply continued caution and display some reluctance to reduce headcount costs any further.”


All work and no lunch

One in five workers are too stressed to eat any lunch, leaving many feeling lethargic by the end of the day, according to new research.

A survey of more than 2,000 adults by food giant Heinz suggested a new office culture of “all work and no eat” because of work pressures.

Four out of five workers questioned said they felt lethargic and stressed out at the end of the day.

Heinz has helped launch a proto-type of what is believed to be the world’s smallest portable microwave which can fit on an office desk and plug into a computer.


Record turnover focus

TWO years on from its launch, Contained Air Solutions is riding the recession and looking to post record turnover figures in its third financial year.

The company provides a wide range of standard and specialised safety cabinets, isolators and associated clean-air products from premises at Greengate, Middleton Junction.

CAS have retained the core design, technical, sales, project management and production staff previously employed by MAT Containment and utilise the same supply chain for key components and sub-contract services.

Managing director Chris Popple said: “We have 25 staff, the majority from the previous business, and we are looking to grow year on year.

“In our first year we did £1.9 million, our second £2.5 million and, recession permitting, we will hit £3 million in our third.”


Payments deferral

OLDHAM firms have been receiving letters from the council advising that they can defer payment of their business rates.

The Government has brought forward proposals allowing businesses to defer payment on 60 per cent of their 2009-10 bills until 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Once the regulations are in place, which is expected by the end of July, local authorities will write to rate-payers offering the option of deferring part of the increase.

The scheme is intended to offer businesses the chance to pay a lower increase in the current financial year and make up the deficit in the following two years.