Business News


Sharp increase in hiring activity across the Midlands


Team safety a priority: Ed James


Record year for marketing firm


A Birmingham content marketing agency is set to celebrate its best financial year after securing £1m worth of new business and welcoming seven new team members. HDY Agency, based in the


creative quarter of Digbeth, has attributed its financial success to boosting the promotion of its services and its commitment to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of its team. Angel Gaskell, who co-


founded HDY with Heart FM broadcaster Ed James, said: “I doubt any business can say confidently that they were fully prepared for everything that 2020 threw at us. Lockdown illuminated the importance of businesses remaining flexible, resilient and innovative to succeed. “Ultimately, there were two


routes to go down, either recoil or manoeuvre quickly. At HDY, we pride ourselves on our ability to come together during challenging times. “It became a two-pronged


approach to ramp up the agency’s content marketing to get our name and proposition out there to prospective new clients, while also recognising the importance of protecting and boosting the team’s wellbeing. We believe that one couldn’t have existed without the other.” As part of this commitment,


HDY Agency implemented a full, virtual wellbeing programme for its team, which focused on physical and mental wellbeing, as well as providing moments for the team to stay socially connected. Ed James, the Heart FM


broadcaster, said: “Keeping the team safe during this pandemic is as much about looking after mental wellbeing in isolation as it is staying physically safe in the face of the virus.”


44 CHAMBERLINK February 2021


The Midlands experienced a sharp increase in hiring activity at the close of the fourth quarter of 2020, according to KPMG and REC’s latest Report on Jobs compiled before stricter Covid-19 restrictions were imposed in the New Year. Both permanent placements and temp billings rose


markedly, amid reports that companies were filling vacancies following pandemic-related hiring freezes. Meanwhile, candidate availability continued to


improve, although the rate of increase for both permanent and short-term staff eased on the month. Permanent starting salaries were broadly stable in


December, while the rate of temp wage inflation was the quickest since February amid a rapid upturn in demand for short-term staff.


‘As anticipated, news of a vaccine helped to boost business confidence across the Midlands’


The report is compiled by IHS Markit from responses


to questionnaires sent to around 100 recruitment and employment consultancies in the Midlands. Following a mild reduction in the previous survey


period, the number of permanent staff appointments across the Midlands rose during December. Companies started filling vacancies following Covid-


19-related hiring freezes, according to respondents. Across the four monitored English regions, the


Midlands registered the sharpest increase in permanent placements in December. Temp billings rose at the UK level in December, but


the upturn was slower than that in the Midlands. The number of permanent vacancies across the Midlands declined for the third month running during December. That said, the rate of decline eased noticeably from November. Following eight consecutive monthly reductions,


average salaries awarded to permanent new joiners in the Midlands were broadly stable in December. Recruiters in the Midlands signalled an increase in average hourly pay rates for short term staff for the first time in three months during December. Notably, the rate of wage inflation was the quickest since February and sharp. Temp wages also rose at the UK level during December, although the rate of increase was much faster in the Midlands. Kate Holt, people consulting partner at KPMG, said:


“As anticipated, news of a vaccine helped to boost business confidence across the Midlands, and this has had a knock-on effect on hiring. “What’s encouraging to see, alongside the increase


in demand for temp staff, is the rise in permanent job placements, which suggests that businesses are hiring with the long-term in mind. “However, the recent lockdown is sure to fuel economic


uncertainty. That being said, there is hope for businesses and jobseekers as financial support from government continues and the vaccine rollout progresses.”


Sweeping success: The staircase at the Grand


LGM step up to restoration job


LGM Limited, a long-established commercial flooring and soft furnishing company, were chosen as flooring contractor for the £45m restoration and refurbishment of Birmingham’s landmark Grand Hotel in Colmore Row. LGM procured and installed 3700m2 of carpet to


185 guestrooms and suites over nine floors, 2120m2 to corridors and a further 1200m2 of bespoke carpets to create both inset and loose lay rugs throughout the luxurious public spaces. LGM have also procured and installed a mix of Engineered Oak and Luxury Vinyl Tiles to both


guestrooms and public areas and 2100m2 of safety flooring throughout all of the back of house areas. One of the main features of this prestigious hotel


is the stunning Grosvenor Suite and the hotel’s main staircase. The latter features another bespoke carpet installed with a feature border hand-seamed onto field carpet to create runners and complimented with ornate brass stair rods. Richard Markall, managing director of LGM, said:


“It was a privilege to be part of the effort to restore this grand old building bringing it back to life.”


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