|
CONSERVATIVE HIRING FORECAST FOR LIVERPOOL
EMPLOYERS in
Liverpool are cautiously optimistic about their hiring intentions in
the New Year according to Manpower, the UK’s leading employment
experts.
The figures released on 20 December 2007 from the Manpower
Employment Outlook Survey, a quarterly survey of over 2,000 UK
employers’ hiring intentions for the quarter ahead, reveals a modest
labour market in Liverpool. 12% of employers plan to take on more
staff and 8% intend to make headcount reductions, giving a Net
Employment Outlook of +4%*.
The Outlook represents a moderate six and nine percentage point
weakening quarter-on-quarter and year on year, respectively.
Liz Prest, Manpower’s Branch Manager for Liverpool, says:-
“Despite the modest weakening in employer confidence, Liverpool is
still benefiting from the redevelopment of the area. This is
particularly reflected in the number of permanent and temporary
vacancies available in most sectors of business. Employers in the
Public and Finance & Business Services sectors are offering
interesting and rewarding positions for anyone who is looking for a
change of direction or a new challenge.
The future looks bright for Liverpool. The city will become the
European Capital of Culture in 2008 which will open up numerous
business opportunities for local companies and, in turn, the local
work force. Regeneration of the city centre is making Liverpool a
very attractive place to work and I would advise people keen to move
jobs or find a new career in the city to prepare now in order to
take advantage of the new opportunities that we expect to appear in
2008.”
According to Manpower, around the UK, employers in 11 of the 12
regions surveyed report increased hiring activity for the January to
March 2008 period, with the exception of employers in the North
East, who report the only negative Outlook (-2%), their weakest
Outlook since Quarter 1 2002. Employers in Yorkshire & Humberside
are the most optimistic this quarter with an Outlook of +12%, the
strongest Outlook since Quarter 1 2002. Employers in the South East
(+10%), London (+9%), Wales (+9%), and West Midlands (+9%) report
favourable hiring through Quarter 1 2008.
*A ‘Net Employment Outlook’ is calculated by subtracting those
employers who plan to reduce staffing levels from those who plan to
hire staff. A positive result indicates that more employers plan to
increase rather than decrease staffing levels; a negative result
reflects the opposite. [% increase (18%) - % decrease (4%) = 14%] |
Channel Four Television Fined
OFCOM has on
20 December 2007 fined Channel Four Television Corporation a total
of £1.5 million for misconduct in viewer competitions in the Richard
and Judy (You Say We Pay competition) and Deal or no Deal
programmes.
Channel Four was found in breach of the following rules:-
Rule 2.11 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, which came into effect on
25 July 2005, “Competitions should be conducted fairly…”;
Rule 10.10 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code "Any use of premium
rate numbers must comply with the Code of Practice issued by ICSTIS"
(now re-named as PhonepayPlus); and Rule 8.2(b) of the ITC
(Independent Television Commission) Code 2002 "Use of Premium
Rate Telephone Services in Programmes: The licensee must retain
control of and responsibility for the service arrangements....".
In particular, Ofcom's investigations found Channel Four in breach
of the Code for the following types of misconduct:
Early selection - picking competition finalists before lines had
closed in the Richard & Judy 'You Say We Pay'
competition. This meant that viewers, calling to enter competitions
after the shortlist had been compiled, stood no chance of becoming a
finalist as the early selection had already taken place.
Staggered selection - operating a staggered selection for selecting
finalists in both the Richard & Judy 'You Say We Pay'
and the Deal or no Deal competitions. Ofcom found this selection
process created unfair odds which meant that viewers entering the
competition were not given a fair and equal chance of winning. In
particular, later entrants had a lower statistical probability of
being shortlisted as a potential winner, compared to those who
entered earlier.
Ofcom has also directed Channel Four to broadcast a summary of both
Ofcom’s findings into Richard and Judy (You Say We Pay competition)
and Deal or no Deal programmes on three separate occasions.
The full Adjudications are available at:-
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/ocsc_adjud/yswp.pdf
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/obb/ocsc_adjud/dond.pdf
Email our news room
with your views about these types of competitions and voting phone
lines:-
news24@southportreporter.com |
