BUSINESS NEWS


Report reveals sales boost for manufacturers


GBCC chief executive Paul Faulkner with Col Richard Maybery, deputy commander, 11th Signals (left) and Col Tim Weeks (right), chief executive of West Midand Reserve Forces & Cadet Association.


The Chamber’s show of support for Armed Forces


BY FRED BROMWICH


The Armed Forces Covenant – becoming the first Chamber in the UK to do so. Chief executive Paul Faulkner


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said: “Through our support we are hoping to bring awareness of the partnership to Chamber members and the wider business community.” Organisations and companies


which sign the covenant are asked to make a range of promises demonstrating their support to members of the Armed Forces community who work in their business – encompassing the encouragement of reserve service, employment of veterans and service spouses and giving the Armed Forces community a fair deal on commercial products and services.


Importantly, the covenant


represents a promise from the nation to those who serve, or who have served, that they will be treated fairly and not disadvantaged in their day-to-day lives. To date, more than 800


businesses and charities have signed the covenant – 50 of them in the West Midlands.


BCC has joined the ranks of organisations within the West Midlands to sign up to


on the rise. Figures in the first quarterly business report for 2016 published by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce show that 46 per cent of manufacturers saw sales jump in the first quarter compared with 31 per cent in the last three months of 2015.


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‘35 per cent of manufacturing firms said they had increased their workforce compared with 27 per cent in the autumn quarter for 2015’


Business leaders in Birmingham welcomed the trends for manufacturers – but said they remained cautious over prospects for the year ahead due to lower forecasts for both UK and global growth. The report, which is supported by recruitment and


people development agency Katie Bard, showed that 35 per cent of manufacturing firms said they had increased their workforce compared with 27 per cent in the autumn quarter for 2015. And recruitment difficulties for


manufacturers are also easing in line with the jobs boost. Three months ago job hiring problems were at a record high, with 89 per cent of firms facing difficulties attracting skilled workers. The figure for manufacturers has


now fallen to 56 per cent, with candidates often failing to have the necessary skills or qualifications or adequate levels of experience. The figure was more mixed in the service sector, with


63 per cent still facing difficulties recruiting, the same percentage as the previous quarter. Confidence over sales and profits was also up in the


manufacturing sector, with 65 per cent of firms optimistic for an increase in turnover over the next year, a substantial rise from the 45 per cent figure in the last quarter of 2015. The equivalent figures for profits were 56 per cent this quarter compared to 37 per cent in the autumn. In the service sector 48 per cent of respondents said sales had increased in the UK market, with the


Stephanie Wall, policy & patron adviser


equivalent figure for exports 24 per cent. 35 per cent of firms said their workforce had increased, and 41 per cent said job levels would rise over the


next three months. Stephanie Wall (pictured), policy & patron


adviser said: “We are pleased to see sales, recruitment and business confidence have improved for Greater Birmingham manufacturers in Q1. We nevertheless remain cautious of business conditions in the year ahead, which look to remain challenging. “Forecasts for both UK and global growth have been


reduced to two per cent and 3.4 per cent respectively. Slower growth naturally impacts trade, which we would expect to be weaker given these forecasts in the year ahead. We will of course continue to track business sentiment, and our next report is due to be published in June.”


anufacturers across the West Midlands have enjoyed a sales surge in the first three months of 2016 – with nearly half reporting turnover


8 CHAMBERLINK APRIL 2016


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