Permanent hires rise in March

The number of permanent hires rose again in March, growing at their fastest pace since October 1997, according to the latest Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG’s Report on Jobs.

The data shows thatshort-term staff appointments rose at their strongest rate for 34 months in March

Kevin Green, chief executive of the REC, says:“Permanent appointments increasing at the fastest pace for over 12 years is the clearest sign yet of a revival in the UK jobs market. A rise in both temporary and contract work at the sharpest rate for nearly three years shows how they continue to provide vital flexibility for UK businesses, as well as a valuable route back into work for jobseekers.”

Funds of £12m pledged to West Midlands manufacturing

Funds of £12m pledged to West Midlands manufacturing

Manufacturing in the West Midlands is to receive a £12m boost.

Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund have pledged the funds, according to the Manufacturing Advisory Service.

There are plans to use the cash over two years to support 3,000 small and medium-sized firms employing up to 250 workers.

The service said the money "has to be focussed very carefully" but "can have some quite considerable effects".

The advisory service covers the West Midlands, Coventry and Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

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Budget or Fudget.....

At-a-glance: Budget 2010 key points

 

Chancellor Alistair Darling is delivering his third Budget and the last one before the general election. The key points will appear on this page as they are announced:

 

FUEL, CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOL AND FUEL DUTIES 

1. 3p fuel duty rise to be phased in between April and January 2011 
2. Duty on cider to rise by 10% above inflation from Sunday
3. Wine, beer and spirit duty up 2% a year until 2013
4. Tobacco duty up 1% this year and 2% a year in future years  

 

HOUSING

1. Stamp duty scrapped for homes below £250,000 for first-time buyers
2. Stamp duty on residential property sales over £1m to increase to 5%

 

UK ECONOMY

1. Economy contracted 6% during the recession  
2. Predicted growth of 1-1.25% in 2010, in line with forecasts
3. Downgrades growth forecast for 2011 to 3-3.5%

  

HELP FOR BUSINESS

1. £2.5bn support for small business to boost skills and innovation
2. One year business rate cut from October to help 500,000 companies
3. Investment allowance for small firms doubled to £100,000
4. Doubling relief on capital gains tax for entrepreneurs
5. No change to capital gains tax rates
6. £385m to maintain road network

 

BANK LENDING

1. One-off bank bonus tax has raised £2bn, double the amount forecast
2. Backs tax on bank transactions but on global basis
3. A million extra people guaranteed basic bank account
4. RBS and Lloyds Bank Group to provide £94bn in small business loans
5. New service to adjudicate credit disputes

 

JOBS AND TRAINING

1. Amount of time over-65s have to work to receive work credits reduced
2. Six month work or training guarantee for under 24s extended to 2012

 

BORROWING

1. Borrowed £167bn in 2009-10, £11bn lower than previously forecast
2. Borrowing to fall from £131bn in 2011-12 to £74bn in 2014-15

 

OTHER TAXES AND ALLOWANCES

1. No changes to VAT or income tax planned
2. Inheritance tax threshold frozen for four years

 

GOVERNMENT SAVINGS

1. On track to achieve £11bn efficiency savings target
2. Reform of housing benefit to save £250m
3. 15,000 civil servants to be relocated outside London

 

ENVIRONMENT

1. £2bn investment bank to back low-carbon industries