28 finance New corporate director for Dorset
Barclays Corporate has strengthened its offering in Dorset by welcoming on board a new corporate director, Anthony Donohue
Donohue (pictured on right) will report directly into head of region, Ian Workman (pictured left), and will assume the responsibility for the Barclays Corporate medium business team based at County Gates, Bournemouth, as well as heading up the medium business team based at Ocean Village, Southampton.
Donohue brings a wealth of corporate banking experience having worked in the industry for more than 22 years for NatWest/RBS in a variety of specialist roles in London before moving to the south coast seven years ago. Donohue’s recent career has seen him as a leading member of RBS’s Southampton-based structured and specialised finance team as well as being appointed head of the south technology and telecoms team.
Welcoming Donohue’s new appointment Workman, head of Barclays Corporate, Solent & Dorset region, said: “Dorset is home to a number of large and very successful clients and is a key area for us and, as such, we are very keen to work alongside quality companies to ensure we
These issues will be explored at a high-powered business event set to take place in Bournemouth in October. The Future of Dorset event hosted by Barclays Corporate will give an invited business audience the opportunity to hear from renowned futurologist and business analyst James Bellini on the challenges facing Dorset in the changing global economy, and a panel of speakers will debate how Dorset can best meet these opportunities. The panel will include senior figures from across the county including the local authority, media and academia.
continue to support growth, both with existing and new customers.“
He continues: “Anthony’s appointment couldn’t come at a better time as the recovery slowly takes hold and the Barclays Corporate team is working hard to support our client’s business goals and job creation in the current economic climate.“
So what does the future hold for Dorset? Has it got the right infrastructure and skills to attract new jobs and businesses and with the Olympics 2012 looming, how can the business community maximise this once in a lifetime opportunity?
Ian Workman, who has been instrumental in shaping The Future of Dorset event and will make the opening speech, believes the time is right for such a forum and continues: “This is a great opportunity for us to bring together what is a dynamic business community to debate the key issues affecting the region’s growth and business ambitions for the future.“
To register your interest in attending The Future of Dorset event, contact Shelley Huxford.
Details: 07500-890489
shelley.huxford1@
barclays.com
Confidence boosting Hampshire business
On a more encouraging note, less than four in 100 bosses anticipate making any redundancies.
Despite falling global markets and a crisis in the eurozone, confidence is starting to return to Hampshire businesses
That’s the encouraging outcome of the first-ever HWB Economic Confidence Audit, a survey of Hampshire business leaders carried out by one of the region’s largest independent accountants.
After years of credit crunch, recession and economic contraction, now more than two thirds of those questioned declared themselves confident or very confident about their business’ prospects in the coming year.
www.businessmag.co.uk
More than half forecast that turnover would grow in the coming months, with 18% expecting to see significant increases.
But the jobs market looks set to stay tough for the foreseeable future with almost two thirds of employers saying they do not expect to hire any staff over the next year. Of the 30% that are planning to grow the workforce, numbers will be low with just one or two expected to join.
HWB director Richard Hurst (pictured) said: “Businesses are beginning to feel more positive but are not able to predict too far ahead. This means now is a really crucial period. Businesses need to be ready for the upturn that will be felt in the region’s economy once this renewed confidence starts to feed through to increased activity.
“After several years of concern, it’s good news that business leaders here are starting to see positive signs again. The trick is now to be ready to make the most of it.“
Many took the time to add personal comment showing they still do have concerns. High taxes and low customer demand, stagnation in the wider economy and soaring fuel costs are still major hurdles to business growth.
Given the opportunity to be chancellor for the day, many of those surveyed opted to cut VAT from its new level of 20%, with
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – SEPTEMBER 2011
some calling for it to go as low as 5% to stimulate growth. Others called for reductions in fuel duty, red tape, corporation tax and national insurance.
One executive voiced the concerns of many, when they said they wanted to: “Cut red tape and reverse employee protection laws so once again a manager can manage his business.“
Hurst said: “There’s clearly a lot of frustration out there, with business groaning under a twin burden of regulation and taxes. The message to the chancellor is clear – tackle these issues and take the shackles off the wealth creators in our economy.“
Details: Richard Hurst 023-8046-1200
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