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news opinion
The highly positive start to 2015 will hearten all in business in the Solent and Thames Valley regions ...
Marketing budgets will, according to forecasts, hit their highest levels in eight years. Last year, budgets were at the highest they had been since 2000, and in 2015 they will grow yet further.
According to the renowned Bellwether report, the planned increase in marketing budgets for 2015 “is more aggressive than anything we’ve seen since data were first collected in 2000“.
Even the prospect of a General Election in May has not dampened the spirits of marketing directors and managers who have been arguing that it’s time to “go for it“ and take advantage of the upswing in the general economy.
Companies hit the ground running on January 5 as soon as they got back from the festive break. This was in marked contrast to 2014 where it took a few weeks for businesses to crank up their activity.
The current slide in energy and commodity prices is no doubt helping fuel the recovery, but there will be economists with a wary eye on China, where growth has slowed, and on Russia, where recession is looming.
These are clouds on the horizon that might well add to volatility back in the UK. The eurozone’s continuing problems won’t help either.
All in all, though, we should look forward to some positive conditions in which this region’s entrepreneurial businesses and high-growth companies can excel.
David Murray Publisher
www.businessmag.co.uk
Portsmouth named top- 10 city for jobs growth
Portsmouth has enjoyed one of the biggest increases in jobs in the country, says a new report.
The Cities Outlook 2015, from the Centre for Cities think-tank, says jobs in the Portsmouth area have increased by 18,800 between 2004 and 2013, or 9.2% – the sixth highest increase in the country.
The report was welcomed by the leader of Portsmouth City Council, Donna Jones, who said: “This report shows that Portsmouth and its surrounding area are doing extraordinarily well, particularly given the tough conditions in recent times. This a real tribute to the hard work and drive of local employers and their workers.
“The growth is in part down to the area’s push to support high-tech manufacturing and advanced engineering, particularly in the defence industries. Growth in these sectors is something the council is working hard to accelerate, along with other public and private sector organisations in the area.
“The new centre for Maritime Intelligent Systems on Portsdown Hill, and the city’s bid for a University Technical College, are both major steps to ensure continued growth.“
The report defines Portsmouth as an area including Fareham, Gosport and Havant boroughs as well as the city itself.
It says private sector jobs in the area increased by 4,300, or 2.9%, between 2012 and 2013,
putting Portsmouth 13th out of 63 other UK locations.
It also says real wages increased by 4.4% between 2013 and 2014, putting Portsmouth in sixth place.
ABP makes £6m cruise investment
Following the signing of a new agreement with Carnival Cruise Lines, ABP is investing over £6 million into transforming one of its four dedicated cruise facilities, the Mayflower Cruise Terminal.
The ongoing enhancement and development of the port’s infrastructure by ABP is crucial to ensure Southampton remains the most popular port in Europe for beginning and ending a cruise.
The renovation works include a complete redesign of the departure, check-in, security and passenger lounges as well as drop-off and pick-up areas.
The expansion of the internal space will create a reception area of 35,000 sq ft, and means that passengers will be able to wait in comfort to check- in before boarding their cruise. A 46-person lift is to be added, along with 10 new toilet facilities and heating ventilation, to cater for the thousands of passengers who pass through the terminal every hour.
Over 200 staff will work on this fast-paced renovation project, with just 22 weeks to make the modifications between the last ship leaving the terminal and the first ship arriving back in.
@TheBusinessMag Business THE M A GA ZINE TM
In the March 2015 issue of The Business Magazine
• Law South East • Focus on Southampton • Technology: hosting & cloud • Motoring: new car, new plate • Marketing
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THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – FEBRUARY 2015
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