News reports located on this page = 3.

Liverpool salaries skyrocket, as the City's employers struggle to fill vacancies

AVERAGE salaries for new roles in Liverpool jumped by a staggering 12%, in February 2019, as the City's employers struggled to find the talent they need to fill their roles. That's according to the latest job market data from leading independent job board, CV Library. In real terms, this salary rise equated to an additional ₤3,688 for workers in the City, with average salaries going from ₤30,725, in February 2018, to ₤34,413 in February 2019. Alongside this Liverpool was 1 of the few  Northern Cities to see positive vacancy growth, with 2.3% more jobs being advertised last month. That said, this growth was 1.4% less than the national average.

Lee Biggins, founder and CEO of CV Library comments:- "The labour market is extremely tight right now and has been for some time. It's no wonder then that employers across the City are slowing down their hiring efforts, particularly when the Government still hasn't negotiated on an effective plan for Brexit. What's more, while rising wages are in no doubt a massive pull factor for candidates, businesses across Liverpool cannot ignore the fact that employees' expectations have begun to shift. As such, money is no longer the most effective way of appealing to new talent, particularly when there is so much uncertainty across the UK."

The data, which explored job market activity in February 2019 and compared it with data from the same period in 2018, found that applications for new roles fell by 9.5% last month, putting local employers in a very compromising position.

Biggins continues:- "It's no secret that there's a mass talent shortage across the UK, exacerbated by the fact that EU net migration is at the lowest it's been in 10 years. That said, net migration from outside the UK is the highest it's been since 2004 and it's hoped that this will bring a fresh source of talent to UK employers."

Warning as new Council Tax scam email spotted

A new fake email targeting businesses has been spotted in many local businesses in boxes. This email is reportedly from the Council and says you have an overpayment on your Council Tax.  Often it is marked as "high priority' next to the subject header.  Plus it is often it's sent from an email that says counciltax.overpayment.alert @ tax.co.uk.  The website the email is reported to have been sent via is an unsecure website, that appears to have last been updated in 2014 and is registered through a French host company called gandi.net. We strongly recommended that you forward this email to  Phishing@CityOfLondon.Police.UK and the delete it.  Do not open the attachment or reply to it!

The full email reads as follows:-  "Hi,  1. You have an overpayment_council tax_return due, for late 2018. 2. Check and open in a new browser window the attached pdf. GB Council Tax & Payroll Service Digital Communication Services. This email was sent for the ongoing support and maintenance of your account. To manage your communication preferences, please visit our website."

It also has in capital letters:- "This is an automated email - please do not reply as emails received at this address cannot be responded to."

Merseyside Arts Festival Promises Movies and Musicals

CROSBY based Opera Viva will be 'On Broadway,' at Whiston Town Hall, on Saturday, 29 June 2019, promising an array of classic songs picked from among the great American musicals. Festival favourites Maghull Wind Orchestra are back in Town on the following night for a rousing, 'Proms' style finale, at Prescot Parish Church. Along with patriotic hymns such as:- 'Land of Hope and Glory,' there'll be more numbers from such beloved British shows as Oliver! Audiences will even have the chance to sing along themselves to a few fondly remembered hits. Cinema lovers will not miss out at this year's festival, with a rare screening of the 1950 Ealing comedy The Magnet. Starring a young James Fox, then only 11, and billed as William Fox, the film was shot on location in Liverpool and the Wirral seaside Town of New Brighton, offering a nostalgic glimpse at the popular resort. 

The 15th Annual Prescot Festival of Music and the Arts runs from Friday, 21 June to Sunday 30 June 2019, in the historic Town of Prescot, Merseyside. Other highlights of the 10 day programme include:- Cheshire Constabulary Brass Band, Dr Jazz and the Cheshire Cats, historian Ken Pye, Young Instrumentalists of Prescot and a Come & Sing performance of Vivaldi's Gloria.  Full programme information is online at:- PrescotFestival.Co.UK.

"We chose The Magnet because our audiences love a trip down memory lane. and in recent years we've made a tradition of showing films with a strong local connection. As well as New Brighton, audiences will spot a few familiar landmarks past and present, including the long gone Liverpool Overhead Railway and ever present Liverpool Cathedral." said festival director Dr Robert Howard.