Look at south-west England

Some parts of the region have full employment, with demand for staff outweighing supply; others have been a little slower to pick up, although unemployment is generally lower than the national average. Opportunities are reported in most sectors, which is good news for Service leavers looking to work in the area. Some companies are monitoring business conditions before committing to recruiting additional staff.

A current trend is that employers offer short-term initial contracts; they then either extend these or take on the best employees at the end of the period. Some Service leavers are reluctant to accept this type of job offer, although it can pave the way to full-time positions. The region’s economy is constrained by labour shortages and skills gaps, exacerbated in some cases by high house prices, low wages and the migration of younger people. There can also be property shortages, particularly for start-up and expanding businesses, and road congestion.

Nevertheless there is a diverse range of businesses, ranging from large service companies to smaller companies covering most market sectors. Service leavers without a full-time occupation can often obtain short-notice employment through employment agencies in clerical work, driving or warehousing. Indeed, many defence contractors on major projects use recruitment agencies to find staff for contracts with military organisations. Professional and skilled trades are high on many employers’ list of skills requirements.

Some smaller local companies are doing well, with advertised vacancies. Information technology companies are using agencies and online recruitment, with many positions filled through ‘word of mouth’. The south-west is a popular place to relocate, with a working population growing at double the national average. The region has a good quality of life and work/life balance. Average commuting time is 20 minutes, compared to a central London average of 55 minutes. Business start-up and survival rates are higher than the UK average, with employers beginning to enjoy economic stability, low interest rates and inflation, steady consumer confidence and strong order books.

Opportunities and skills shortages

Construction companies are busy in the general housing market, with many brownfield sites being developed, and commercial builds of small to medium-sized offices and warehouses. A shortage of skilled trades, including carpentry and fixing skills, is affecting other industries. The continuing shortage of plumbers, gas fitters and other engineers is partially being addressed through an increase in college courses.

Agriculture is slowly recovering, and this is having a knock-on effect on related marketing, slaughter, transport and food production industries. The majority of transport distribution fleets appear to belong to the high-street giants, although national companies run both fleet and distribution services as a subcontractors. Driving jobs (LGV C+E in particular) are plentiful. High-street shops continue to advertise for staff. Manufacturing and financial services, including banking, are also good employment areas.

A growth in high-tech business is supported by the Regional Development Agency. Colleges and universities are also enabling these industries to grow and develop with a range of qualifications and courses. The data communications market is relatively quiet. The security alarm installation and security monitoring industries report a shortage in technicians able to operate sophisticated equipment.

The public sector has constant skills shortages in the NHS (particularly nursing, medical and care staff), while an increase in civilian support staff for the police continues to produce job vacancies. The Prison Service is recruiting, especially for custody officers. Leisure, health and fitness continue to perform strongly, and there are also opportunities in hospitality, catering and tourism.

The voluntary sector continues to develop, with some Service leavers having immediately transferable skills. Many organisations require a minimum time commitment, and some will not pay a salary without previous experience.

Employer news

The MoD is a major employer in this area, while the aerospace sector expects new contracts including Airbus and Joint Striker Aircraft. The future of docks and ferries is looking more certain, while regeneration projects in Cornwall are under way. Supermarket chains, and food and drink manufacturers are recruiting as new locations open and transport, storage and distribution opportunities occur. Some call and contact centres are recruiting, while the construction industry, communications and engineering sectors are also hiring.

Salaries

A rough guide to annual salaries is given below. This is inevitably very general and there will be variations between industries and also in various parts of the region.

Manual: £8,000 to £15,000

Semi-skilled and supervisory: £12,000 to £19,000

Skilled: £14,000 to £23,000

Managerial: £20,000 to £35,000

Executive: £35,000 and upwards

House price guide

The following prices are a rough guide only to property prices and are liable to overnight change as financial factors in the country as well as in the region affect housing

Information courtesy of the Career Transition Partnership