New Web Site

I just published my new web site - Kingston Web Designs - introducing web design and hosting services.

The permanent URL won't be ready for a couple of days. When it is it will be www.kingstonwebdesigns.co.uk

For now though, it can be viewed at www.syder.net

Keeping Busy

I've had a couple of conversations this morning about interesting assignments. Hopefully at least one will amount to something.

Meanwhile, I've helped a client select a CRM solution for his business, and I'm in contact with a Chinese manufacturer with a view to starting an import business.

Just to make sure I stay busy, I'm polishing up a short article I wrote about the NHS before sending it off to some magazines.

Must remember to eat at some point as well!

Demand for Contract Staff at 22 Month High

A new survey reports that recruitment consultancies experienced significant increases in the demand for temporary and contract staff at the end of 2009, with the rise in vacancy levels the highest for 22 months.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) and KPMG Report on Jobs also indicated a fifth consecutive month of rises in staff appointments, with the growth of permanent placements accelerating to the sharpest since July 2007.

The survey, which draws on data provided by recruitment consultancies, showed a further rise in permanent salaries. The rate of growth was solid and the fastest since June 2008. Hourly rates of pay for temporary/contract employees fell for a fifteenth successive month, but the latest drop was only marginal and the smallest in that period.

However, amongst all the encouraging news, a cautionary note was sounded by Bernard Brown, Partner and Head of Business Services at KPMG: “We now need to see this improvement carried over into 2010 for the jobs recovery to be consolidated. However, the prospect of possibly extensive public sector job cuts in the second half of 2010 casts a long shadow over everything. The jobs market has been cushioned in recent years by continued public sector expansion. If this is put into reverse post-election, it could have a significant effect on employment figures.”

The Value of Contact Records!

I keep almost every contact I have ever made in Small Business Manager for Outlook, and yet again it paid off this week.

I had a meeting with a client and knew someone who could help with his business problem. Thing was, I last dealt with that "someone" eight years ago!

Not a problem. Looked up the records in SBM and one phone call confirmed that he is still in the same company, which is going from strength to strength.

Good to be able to potentially help one person's business problem and pass work to another business at the same time, not to mention renewing an old business acquaintance.

A week with potential

I'm meeting a potential client on Tuesday, which could lead to work for a team from The Freelance Network - www.freelancenetwork.org.uk

On Friday I'm meeting a previous client who always gives me great testimonials.

In between, I'm creating a web site for a new client.

I lost my new Blackberry last weekend - on my birthday, of all days! - and the person who found it called my landline to say she had it. Blackberry and I will be reunited on Wednesday; it makes you feel just a little bit more optimistic about people!