Confidence ticks up
Business confidence in the East of England has improved slightly and the region is the least pessimistic in the country, according to a survey from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales . 
Its business confidence index rose 7.9 points to -38.4 in the East of England in the first quarter, a level 6.9 points above the national average. In contrast to many other regions, the ICAEW says the East of England  expects positive growth in most of the fourteen key business indicators it tracks. Businesses in the region expect turnover to grow at 1.6 per cent in the next year compared to -0.3 per cent for the UK as a whole. Profits are predicted to grow at 0.8 per cent and salaries in the region by 1.8 per cent and investment in staff development is expected to contract by 0.5 per cent .
Pippa Bourne, regional director of the ICAEW in the East of England said: “The reduction in the level of pessimism in the region is good news, but we know that around a third of the business professionals surveyed are reporting that access to business capital is the greatest challenge to business performance this year.”

Jobs market weakens
February saw another substantial decline in demand for staff according to the latest report on jobs from KPMG and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. Vacancies fell slightly faster than January’s previous record and only the nursing/medical/care sector.
bucked the trend. Further falls in wages and salaries were also seen in February, as weak demand for staff and strong candidate availability depressed pay rates
Brendon Howlett, head of people services at KPMG in East Anglia said: “We struggled to find any glimmer of hope in these figures but failed. The UK jobs market is continuing its downward spiral, with placements falling for the 11th month in succession and vacancies down across most sectors.”

Norfolk 'ignored' in transport plans
Shaping Norfolk’s Future is calling on the Government to rethink plans to improve transport in England for 2014 after the county emerged as one of only two areas to be excluded from a list of strategic national corridors set to be upgraded and improved.
Shaping Norfolk’s Future is calling for the Government to extend corridor 13, which connects London with Stansted Airport and Cambridge, to include the A11 to Norwich and for an additional corridor to follow the A47 from Great Yarmouth to the East Midlands. It is also calling on the Government to recognise the importance of the Norwich to London rail service. Peter Barry, chairman of Shaping Norfolk’s Future’s Transport Forum, said: "This review on delivering a sustainable transport system for the UK post 2014 completely ignores the needs of Norfolk. It is another example of a complete lack of joined up thinking in relation to our needs.”


Omar Homes, which makes holiday homes at its base in Brandon, Suffolk is reported to have shed 160 jobs, after going into administration. The firm is continuing to operate with 40 staff and joint administrator Tenon Recovery is in negotiations with potential buyers.

Chartered accountants and business advisers, LB Group, which has offices in Colchester, Chelmsford and Stratford, is opening an office in Ipswich to meet growing demand for its services in the county. Director, Chris Annis, who lives in the Ipswich area, will be heading up the new venture, which is based in Felaw Maltings. He said:“Our approach is often seen as different to other accountancy practices, and without even having a base in Suffolk, we already act for a significant number of Ipswich and Suffolk based clients.”

Collaborate2Innovate, a business group formed five years ago with funding from the EU to encourage and facilitate innovation in the Eastern Region, has relaunched. At a relaunch evening - "Successful Innovation Through Collaboration" - March 17th at the new University Campus Suffolk on Ipswich waterfront, Harry Berry will give a presentation on creating new companies during the present climate, the current UK/USA venture capital market and how start-ups could survive this troubled period. http://www.collaborate2innovate.com/events.php

Cambridge-based Kershaw Group says it has received the biggest single order in its history for a major hospital project in Northampton. Kershaw Mechanical Services has won the £7.7 million mechanical work for the Residential Mental Health Facility at St Andrews Hospital. The 16 month contract is the third repeat order at the site for Kershaw, working with main contractor G B Building Solutions. In all, the £46 million scheme will provide residential men’s health facilities, similar to the previously completed Malcolm Arnold and Smyth House on the same site.

Turbine parts, destined for the Gunfleet Sands Windfarm, were delivered to Harwich International Port this week whilst they await collection by the installation vessel, the Titan 2. Chris Lewis, chief executive officer of the port’s owner Hutchison Ports, said: “As a company committed to monitoring and improving environmental issues we are pleased to be involved in the logistics chain for the construction of the Gunfleet Sands windfarm. Sustainable energy sources are of paramount importance, and this development will help with the country’s energy requirements, securing a ‘greener’ future for all.”


Louise Rogers, manager and charity specialist at Ensors Chartered Accountants, has passed the Diploma in Charity Accounting. It acknowledges expertise and experience in charity accounting and financial management and is administered by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales .



Fenn Wright has appointed local chartered surveyor Richard Bertram to its commercial division and based at the Ipswich office. Richard has lived and worked in the Ipswich/Woodbridge area for over 10 years and has wide experience in the commercial and residential property sectors.


The Ministry of Defence’s Viking all terrain vehicles deployed in Afghanistan are being upgraded with the help of a deployable workshop supplied by Marshall SV (MSV) part of Marshall Land Systems, the Cambridge-based specialist vehicle and shelter manufacturers. Under an urgent operational requirement contract MSV fitted out an expandable shelter as a workshop and delivered it to the customer in seven days.

Over 100 firms gathered for the first networking event organised by Colchester Connected, which was launched last month. Linda Green of Colchester Connected, said: “Although there is a lot of doom and gloom in the current economy, businesses in Colchester are keen to go out there, network, and see what opportunities are available on a local level. Connecting with other local businesses and forging new relationships is key for any company that wants to weather the storm.” The next Colchester Connected breakfast event will take place at 7:30am at the Weston Homes Community Stadium on 27 March 2009. 01206 799065 or Linda@colchesterconnected.co.uk
Photo (l-r): Steve Green, marketing director, Palladian Press; Myles Hammett, partner Goody Burrett; Sandra Johnson, Colchester Stadium Experience; Linda Green, Colchester Connected, Bryan Johnson, partner Goody Burrett and Nick Clarke of Nick Clarke Coaching.