Rising from the Ashes?
A sudden climb in house prices, sales increases for car makers and even England winning the Ashes are all being credited in some small part for a record rise in confidence among business professionals.
Latest research by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) revealed that optimism among professionals in the third quarter hit its highest level since the start of the financial crisis two years ago.
Latest research by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) revealed that optimism among professionals in the third quarter hit its highest level since the start of the financial crisis two years ago.
At Collingwood Search and Selection Ltd, the typically quiet month of August has brought a bumper crop of companies seeking to retain them to fill a number of high calibre positions.
This surge in activity has led Managing Director, Doug Mackay, to agree with the ICAEW's findings.
"I've been working in recruitment for 12 years and there has always been a lull in August but this year has been very different," he explained.
"This recession has been deep and depressing for most of our clients but there is a sudden confidence among companies who recognise that they are operating with a skeleton staff and need to recruit talented individuals if they are to exit the downturn strongly."
The news that UK house prices rose by 1.6% for the fourth month in a row during August was greeted with relief by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) which said the housing market is showing the first signs of an upturn since 2006.
Car makers too have generally reported sharp August sales growth with Ford enjoying a 17% sales jump from the same month a year earlier.
Keen to point out that Collingwood's summer of success is more than just a 'blip', Doug Mackay is expecting more new opportunities through September and beyond.
"In the main the roles are all in sales, created to bring in extra revenue and profit. In addition, our previous clients are becoming more confident about the future as they win new orders and go back to full time working.
Others are telling us they failed to find the right quality candidates using database agencies and now realise that headhunting offers them the perfect solution."
The chief executive of the ICAEW, Michael Izza, said his organisation's findings suggest that the UK recession is at an end.
But he added: "While there is no doubt that the UK economy is on its way to recovery, we shouldn't underestimate the challenges ahead for businesses."
According to Doug, any future challenges will be made easier by recruiting the best people now.
"Look at how Andrew Flintoff changed the fortunes of the England cricket team," he said.
"In workplaces everywhere there are people with those same inspirational qualities, who take responsibility when times are tough and change events for the better. Those are the people we find."
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