Manufacturing prices set to rise

Small and medium-sized (SME) manufacturers are set to raise the price of their products in a bid to curb cost pressures, according to a Confederation of British Industry (CIB) survey.

Yet despite reduced demand companies are actively recruiting staff.

However with costs set to rise, firms are likely to be particularly keen to land the most skilled candidates in sales recruitment.

Russel Griggs, chairman of the CBI's SME Council noted that higher fuel and raw material costs are forcing companies to pass them onto customers.

However, he added: "While the drop in export orders is worrying, particularly for medium-sized firms, there are some more encouraging signs.

"Smaller firms have been quite bullish about taking on extra staff, and some growth in output is forecast for the months to July."

Meanwhile, more than half (51 per cent) of SMEs surveyed claimed that average unit costs had gone up.

The latest Regional Trends Survey from Experian suggests that up to 5,000 jobs, such as sales jobs, could be cut following the quarter one fall in confidence.


Aaron Wallis have a technical sales division with experienced engineering, industrial and manufacturing recruitment consultants. For industrial sales recruitment solutions Aaron Wallis offer employers a unique recruitment service backed by a 52 week rebate period.

Filed: 13-05-2008