The IMF’s UK growth forecast for this year upgraded to 1.4%
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has significantly upgraded its forecast for UK growth this year, the estimate now being set at 1.4%, up from July’s value of just 0.9%.
UK economy is on the right track, says British Chambers of Commerce report
The latest figures released as part of the British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) show improvements in most key areas for both manufacturing and services compared with Q2, thus proving that the UK economy is on i
Open prison inmates could play a major role in community cleaning programmes
Boston Borough’s Operation Fly Swat team cleaned up 199 dumping sites in the period from July through to the end of September, a news report in the local media has revealed.
UK services sector grows at fastest pace in 16 years
The latest figures from the Markit/CIPS PMI services index have revealed that the UK services sector, the engine of British economy, grew at its fastest pace since 1997.
As expected, the most impressive growth levels were recorded in the financial services sector, bolstered by the housing market, and the business sector.
Employee’s sickness-related absences could be mitigated by health cash plans
A recent research study carried out by healthcare provider Simplyhealth has revealed that providing one’s employees’ with a health cash plan could significantly reduce the number of sick leaves they take, thus reducing overall costs.
Construction industry is “firing on all cylinders”, sources claim
Residential construction work has recorded the fastest rise in ten years, as the industry starts “firing on all cylinders”, sources in the construction buyers’ segment have revealed.
Hundreds of BlackBerry UK employees set to lose their jobs
Following the announcement that phone manufacturer BlackBerry is about to slash 4,500 staff worldwide in a bid to significantly reduce operational costs, the company also revealed that hundreds of British staff at BlackBerry’s European headquarters in Slough will be made redundant.
Healthcare biometrics market set for significant growth, says report
A new report published by Transparency Market Research and focusing on the healthcare biometrics market predicts that the sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 25.9% from 2013 to 2019, reaching an estimated value of USD 5.8 billion towards the end of this interval.
Half of SMEs plan to increase wages for staff, says FSB report
Around half (49%) of small businesses with employees on the National Minimum Wage have either increased their employees’ wages over the past 12 months or plan to do so as soon as possible, a report by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed.
Speed up staff’s access to the workplace with an integrated access control solution
Gaining access to their own workplace can sometimes be a lengthy and difficult process for employees, especially if their employer’s site is secured using multiple access control systems installed by different suppliers.
Industrial unit in north-west London engulfed in huge blaze
An industrial unit on Midland Terrace in Park Royal has been engulfed in a huge fire on Monday morning, which prompted twelve fire engines and 81 firefighters to rush to the site.
Fire roll call is an essential, life-saving feature for industrial plants
Implementing a secure and reliable solution for managing the evacuation of personnel working within a plant in case of an emergency is really a vital measure for the industrial segment, considering just how dangerous and potentially deadly a fire can prove to be in this environment.