Partner Article

Job availability across the Midlands down 9%

Venn Group Contract Recruitment Index

August 2015

“Monitoring contractor demand across the Midlands”

Overall vacancy levels dip month-on-month Increase in M&A indicates strong legal sector NHS redesign drives public sector growth Rates rise month-on-month

Contract Recruitment Index highlights

Demand for contractors dips as vacancy levels fall by 9%

The July 2015 Midlands Recruitment Index recorded a 9% month-on-month fall in job availability with 2,256 vacancies advertised, compared to 2,479 in June 2015.

Avtar Singh, Director of Venn Group, commented:

“Although there has been a slight overall dip in hiring activity – typical of the summer months – there were also strong indicators that market confidence grew. In the legal sector, there has been a rise in corporate work as a result of mergers and acquisitions, indicating that larger companies were fuelling growth. There have also been a number of ongoing and completed mergers between leading practices throughout July. The Midlands saw Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co announce a merger with Canadian law firm Gowling, and Shakespeares completed its merger with SGH Martineau, creating a new contender in the top 20 UK law firms.”

Contractors enjoy increased remuneration rates

Despite the dip in hiring activity, the average rate for those securing jobs in July 2015 has increased month-on-month, with contractors now receiving an average of £310 per day across the region.

Avtar Singh continued:

“Many of the region’s NHS hospitals underwent refurbishments or extensions over the last few months. This has led to those with mechanical or electrical skillsets being snapped up, and a spike in demand for capital projects works managers to assist staff with the mobilisation of contracts and the moves to new premises.

“The NHS has also seen a key increase in business around service redesign, commissioning, contracting and governance, rendering operational management professionals few and far between. A number of factors have contributed to this overhaul, including a Conservative majority Government, integrated models of care, pressure on efficiency of services and focus on the NHS’s Five Year Forward View. Although the summer months may continue to be slower than usual, we highly suspect that recruitment levels will pick up again in September.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Venn Group is the UK’s only specialist contract recruiter for organisations within the public and private sectors.

www.venngroup.com

Methodology

The Recruitment Index uses Venn Group’s own weekly records of new contract job vacancies. Statistics for the report are derived using Venn Group’s market share across each geographic region to ensure an accurate barometer of recruitment activity is recorded.

For further information please contact Stephanie King at BlueSky PR on 01582790700 or 07760208532

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Venn Group .