Anyone seen green shoots of recovery in the Thames Valley?
Discussion
I was just wondering if anyone is seeing the 'green shoots of recovery' being reported in the press in the Thames Valley yet?
I am a contract project manager and my impression is that the contract market is slower at the moment than before Christmas? In the past I have not had to look too hard to find my next contract, in fact they usually find me. There are very few roles being advertised on Monster/Jobserve etc and the ones that are being posted seem (to me) to be agencies 'harvesting' CV's.
Also, a number of friends and neighbours have been made redundant in the past 6 weeks or so, if anything my impression is that things are slowing a bit further in the Thames Valley.
Not wishing to post a 'doom and gloom' thread, I am genuinely interested in other 'local' experiences - its easy to loose contact with the local economy and job market when you are sat at home looking for work. Just interested really!
I am a contract project manager and my impression is that the contract market is slower at the moment than before Christmas? In the past I have not had to look too hard to find my next contract, in fact they usually find me. There are very few roles being advertised on Monster/Jobserve etc and the ones that are being posted seem (to me) to be agencies 'harvesting' CV's.
Also, a number of friends and neighbours have been made redundant in the past 6 weeks or so, if anything my impression is that things are slowing a bit further in the Thames Valley.
Not wishing to post a 'doom and gloom' thread, I am genuinely interested in other 'local' experiences - its easy to loose contact with the local economy and job market when you are sat at home looking for work. Just interested really!
I to work as a contractor based in the Thames Valley and am in the same boat.
Nothing on the horizon and the requests from agencies have gone completely in the last 3 months.
Let's hope things improve soon, but not before the weather turns! The thought of having to take a permanent roll does n't bear thinking about.
Nothing on the horizon and the requests from agencies have gone completely in the last 3 months.
Let's hope things improve soon, but not before the weather turns! The thought of having to take a permanent roll does n't bear thinking about.
Had lunch with a friend who heads up a professional services dept for a very large international software company yesterday. He tells me they are just about to make all of their business analysts and PM-s redundant to free up headcount in order to recruit a few more tecchy's.
This is worrying stuff, I have only been contracting for 2 years and the thought of going back to permy work fills me with dread (not that there seems to be much permy work available at the mo either). I have to admit I am enjoying the sun but the thought of where my next income will come from is never far from my mind. What is more worrying (to me) is that all of the traditionally 'safe' places to find work - NHS, local govt, central govt etc have been hit so heavily they are not recruiting contract staff.
I have been working with an NHS trust until recently who have been hit heavily. They have been mandated to undertake a number of IT projects by the govn't yet have a £4 mill gap in their IT funding so are not able to undertake their projects - nett effect is that they are getting admin staff to undertake project management, business analyst roles etc - knock on effect is a very expensive failed project!
Hope things turn around soon - have cut back where we can but shopping, petrol etc is rising faster than I can cut back!
This is worrying stuff, I have only been contracting for 2 years and the thought of going back to permy work fills me with dread (not that there seems to be much permy work available at the mo either). I have to admit I am enjoying the sun but the thought of where my next income will come from is never far from my mind. What is more worrying (to me) is that all of the traditionally 'safe' places to find work - NHS, local govt, central govt etc have been hit so heavily they are not recruiting contract staff.
I have been working with an NHS trust until recently who have been hit heavily. They have been mandated to undertake a number of IT projects by the govn't yet have a £4 mill gap in their IT funding so are not able to undertake their projects - nett effect is that they are getting admin staff to undertake project management, business analyst roles etc - knock on effect is a very expensive failed project!
Hope things turn around soon - have cut back where we can but shopping, petrol etc is rising faster than I can cut back!
I've just taken the leap from 'contracting', i.e. semi-retired, to permanent, and it was a fairly quick and painless process. Seems to be lots of more senior permanent stuff starting to crop up but the contract market has practically stopped at the moment. It also seems that the money in permanent is as good, if not better than contracting too! Which is nice... 
My brother in law has also just gone from contractor to permanent and was pleasantly shocked to be offered more than he was earning self employed, plus all the toys and benefits!
As mentioned, lots of agencies harvesting cv's at the moment - my view is stick with who you know as the rest are shysters!
My brother in law has also just gone from contractor to permanent and was pleasantly shocked to be offered more than he was earning self employed, plus all the toys and benefits!
As mentioned, lots of agencies harvesting cv's at the moment - my view is stick with who you know as the rest are shysters!
I am a self-employed Gas Engineer, and have been for 6 years based on Surrey / Kent / S.London borders. I have noticed since last November my phone has been ringing only about half as much as it used to over the last 5 years, but i have managed to survive by bagging a few good jobs which come my way by making a real effort with quotations / customer interaction (ie being very polite to them!) I get hit by fewer people renovating new homes / second homes with new boilers / heating systems ect. If the housing market is down, so are my potential refurbs. Also I have noticed that "luxury" work like high-end bathrooms ect. have all but stopped but for the quite affluent few I have on my books (mainly Bankers and Insurance Industry figures funnily enough.....) I had looked into doing contract work mostly they want to pay peanuts and I refuse to go back to British Gas where I used to work! I never really questioned where most of my customers sourced their money to pay me but i suppose with hindsight lots paid me with borrowed money. My only saving grace is if someone need a new Boiler they HAVE to get one, i just need to make sure i get the chance to quote and that i am compettitive. But i hope the "Green Shoots" theory is true, at the moment people are definately not splashing out on home improvements and upgrades as much. Freinds in my field are also reporting similar experiences.
MadMacMcMad said:
I to work as a contractor based in the Thames Valley and am in the same boat.
Nothing on the horizon and the requests from agencies have gone completely in the last 3 months.
Let's hope things improve soon, but not before the weather turns! The thought of having to take a permanent roll does n't bear thinking about.
Hopefully with all the work that I will be putting your way the Ferrari will be on order soon Nothing on the horizon and the requests from agencies have gone completely in the last 3 months.
Let's hope things improve soon, but not before the weather turns! The thought of having to take a permanent roll does n't bear thinking about.
As an IT Recruitment Professional working within the Project/Programme Management and Snr Appointment marketfor the last 10 years. I can say there has been some green shoots in certain business sectors, but as with any slowdown in the economy the first thing to suffer are new projects and the last thing to suffer is supporting customers who have bought your software/hardware/service etc. If any of you whom are Project Managers would like for me to keep my eyes peeled for suitable jobs for you, please feel free to contact me at t.kimber@roc-search.com
I am currently looking for a number of PM's although roles change on a weekly basis.
Cheers
I am currently looking for a number of PM's although roles change on a weekly basis.
Cheers
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