Research Funding from the Government-funded Research Councils is absolutely flying in at a rate of knots at the moment. However, we have seen a marked slump in all industrial funding come into the University, from home and abroad but it only makes up a very small proportion on our Research Funding Portfolio.
Over the last five year, I've seen a large number of SMEs involved in academic/industrial collaborative projects fall by the wayside though.
So all in all, I would say Business is ok. There are already talks that the Unions want to negotiate a further 8% pay-rise for next year on top of the two huge pay-rises we've received in the last 2-3 years. I seriously cant see that happening without cuts having to be made elsewhere.
My marketing consultancy is going fine, but I specialise in the more results-driven stuff around databases and CRM, so that helps.
Our travel business (holidays in Scotland) is ticking along -was well up by mid year, but slowed in Sept. Difficult to tell now, as it is a quiet time anyway.
Agree with Falconwood - everyone is using it as an excuse to take a long time to pay bills!
I work in the voluntary sector. Part of business handles the fallout from homelessness. Absolutely recession proof, or rather bizarrely benefits from recession. Part of our business relies on capital investment, and the social sector will likely thrive during the next couple of years. It has not escaped my notice how safe my job is ...and trust me I am grateful
This year I started working with my friend who started a furniture design business four years ago. Over the past year we have quadrupled turnover and we are looking at doubling that still further over the next year. We've had to move to a larger workshop to cope with the new business. I'm knackered... all we do is work really hard and there doesn't seem to be an end to the contracts we keep winning. It's a very exciting though tiring time for all of us.
I'm working for Ofcom at the moment, they are obviously busy because 100's of saddos keep complaining about rubbish TV programmes!!
A couple of s/e friends not working at all at the moment. Tiler and Carpenter, nobody having work done on houses, so it will be a hard Christmas for them.
Thankfully recession proof, people will always need to see their GP and have regular medicines to keep them in 'good' health. Govt pays me, I pay wholesaler so cash flow is manageable. So long as govt spending isn't squeezed I should be OK owning a community pharmacy.
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Think large telecoms company
Over the last five year, I've seen a large number of SMEs involved in academic/industrial collaborative projects fall by the wayside though.
So all in all, I would say Business is ok. There are already talks that the Unions want to negotiate a further 8% pay-rise for next year on top of the two huge pay-rises we've received in the last 2-3 years. I seriously cant see that happening without cuts having to be made elsewhere.
Our travel business (holidays in Scotland) is ticking along -was well up by mid year, but slowed in Sept. Difficult to tell now, as it is a quiet time anyway.
Agree with Falconwood - everyone is using it as an excuse to take a long time to pay bills!
A couple of s/e friends not working at all at the moment. Tiler and Carpenter, nobody having work done on houses, so it will be a hard Christmas for them.
2009 in some areas will be very bad.