Contractor loses Tilson v Alstom appeal
Hope among some that contractors could qualify for employment rights have been dashed following the ruling by the Court of Appeal that contractor Andrew Tilson had no contract with former client Alstom Transport. Tilson was originally granted employment rights by an Employment Tribunal in June 2009, potentially overturning the precedent set by the James v Greenwich ruling denying all contractors employment rights. More…
Autumn forecast statement: No news is good news for contractors
No measures directly impacting on contractors were announced in Chancellor George Osborne’s autumn forecast statement, which has replaced the Pre-Budget Report introduced by Gordon Brown during the previous Labour government. However, contractors will of course benefit indirectly from economic recovery, a surge in job creation and corporate investment if the forecasts from the Office of Budget Responsibility and Chancellor prove accurate. Changes to the corporation tax regime making the UK a more attractive location for multinational companies could also indirectly improve contractor prospects.
IT contractor contracts under threat from automation
IT contractors could face contract cutbacks of up to 25% by 2015 as a result of innovations in IT tools and automation. According to technology research firm Gartner, the IT sector is following the same trend as the manufacturing industry, and automated delivery will drastically cut labour hours. Over the same period to 2015, Garner forecasts investment in IT business spending per worker is to increase by 60%, and 80% of businesses’ workforces will use media tablet devices. More…
Contractor demand strong in the manufacturing sector as output reaches 16-year high
Demand for contractors in the manufacturing sector has strengthened alongside increased manufacturing output, according to the latest Markit/Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for Manufacturing. The PMI is at a 16-year high and employment in the sector has risen at the fastest pace in the survey’s history. CIPS CEO David Noble says: “The reported increase in purchasing activity based on strong new orders points to ongoing recovery and renewed confidence.” More…
Uncertain outlook for contractors as business group predicts low growth but no double-dip
In contrast to the predictions of the Office of Budget Responsibility, Contractors can look forward to uninspiring economic growth but no return to recession, says the Institute of Directors (IoD). Competing pressures will give rise to lacklustre economic performance, leaving contractors in an economic no-man’s-land, although the IoD does say big business outside the financial sector is in better shape than in previous recessions. The IoD predicts that low growth will lead to an increased public sector deficit that Chancellor George Osborne should plug by reducing spending and not increasing taxes. More…
Contractors benefit from rises in services sector headcount and IT investment
Contractors will benefit from forecast increases in IT spend and headcount in the business and professional services sector over the next quarter, according to research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Its latest Services Sector Survey reveals that services sector growth is sluggish, particularly in consumer services, but business and professional services firms are more optimistic about the future, with expectations of expansion in the coming year leading to expectations of increased contractor opportunities.
Oil & gas and aerospace contractors are in demand now but energy contractors are the future
Business activity, and demand for contractors, in the oil & gas and aerospace sectors is currently high, and the energy sector is expected to take off with a commensurate surge in contractor demand likely. This is according to Keith Clarke, Chief Executive of engineering and design consultancy WS Atkins, speaking to The Engineer. Clarke told the engineering journal: “In the UK, nuclear new-build, nuclear clean-up, renewables offshore [and] national grid renewal…are significant areas in which we have put significant effort.” More…