We are just getting over the excitement of Easter 2014, the Easter egg hunts, Simnel cake and trying to avoid eating too much chocolate! It seems we are now accelerating fast towards the Summer and the long wet winter seems a distant memory, as do the low times in the years after the crash. Challenges for all of us in terms of business management and market conditions are still evident but the recovery is real and for many of our clients the words used are growth, investment, increased performance and long-term planning.
As I write the number of people out of work in the UK has fallen by 77,000 to a five-year low of 2.24m in the three months to February, the unemployment rate now stands at 6.9% of the adult working population, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) states. This is indeed good news and is reflected in the mood among our clients, existing and potential.
The value of staff has never been greater, to take full advantage of the recovery organisations need to have retained the best staff, continued to provide high levels of service through difficult times and have resisted the temptation to devalue their product, service or offering. These organisations are now in a position to leverage their high-value service, high staff net worth and strong market position to create a competitive advantage – a recession always creates stronger, more highly focused and more agile businesses.
I am pleased to confirm that Park City is no different. We have continued to strengthen our team, employed by Park City for the benefit of our clients, the best people for the best business – see ‘In Conversation’ on our blog page, to be introduced to one new staff member Sandra Grimback, who’s responsible for providing our Employment advice direct to our clients when they need it. Legislation continues to change and be amended and despite the rhetoric, new legislation flows out of the many instruments of Government, least of all Health and Safety. We have also seen a significant increase in the number of clients wishing to benefit from our high-added-value service – one of our suppliers commented, “We are people, not portals”. It is encouraging to hear that personal service, quality qualified staff and flexibility to meet face to face, still trump the others in the sector for the best businesses who want to continue to be the best.
We look forward to supporting the continued growth, prosperity and success of all our clients and for new potential clients, don’t miss the opportunity to experience the best people in the business.
