How was 2010 for you?

December’s rolling quickly towards Christmas and that means the end of the year is fast approaching too. I’m not sure it’ll be marked down in the history books as a good year but 2010 probably just avoided reaching ‘annus horribils’ status.

Let’s be honest, after the disaster that was 2009, 2010 didn’t have to deliver much to be an improvement.

After the pre-election waiting game, the second part of the year began with news of huge public sector cuts and no definitive answer as to how drastic the impact would be on the private sector and the economy as a whole.

We’ve spent the year concentrating on what we do best – matching clients with candidates, candidates with roles, and providing the added value we’re so proud of.

We’ve once again taken a leading role in ensuring local businesses are preparing adequately for the deadline for the introduction of the Agency Workers Regulations next October. Our on-going relationship with the REC has helped enormously and we were delighted to welcome the REC’s director of external relations Tom Hadley to speak at a one-off seminar about the regulations in the summer.

Around 200 of Peterborough’s most high profile business people attended our annual Breakfast Law Briefing to hear about the new Equality Act in September.

This year’s annual Salary Survey produced some interesting results – showing an average two per cent increase in wages over the past 12 months. After a 3.6 per cent downturn the previous year that was good news.

Our student sponsorship continued, as did our support for both the Peterborough and Stamford business awards – perfect opportunities to recognise business of all sizes and types and their input into the city’s economy.

The environment has been at the top of our agenda throughout the year. We have given presentations and provided blueprints to other commercial organisations explaining how to move towards becoming a paperless office. Our investment in that side of the business has continued with more and more of our systems integrated.

Overall, for us as a business, it’s been a good year with plenty of positives to look back on. That’s reflected in the fact there’ll be two new members of staff at our 2010 Christmas party. Charlotte and Suzi have both joined the team in the last few months and we’re looking forward to showing them the importance of playing hard as well as working hard!

So, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful Christmas and, of course, a prosperous new year.