The demise of Highland Airways yesterday prompted me to examine whether the tide has really turned and that confidence is seeping back into the economy.Whilst the official unemployment figures seem to be reducing across the UK, it is clear that this hides continuing job losses in many companies across a range of sectors and in all parts of the UK
For example, a quick examination of the BBC News pages shows that continued to be major job loss announcements in March alone,
North-south air flights grounded -The airline which runs the troubled north-south Wales air route has ceased flying and entered administration (100 jobs)
Jarvis to call in administrators - Rail maintenance company Jarvis announces that it will go into administration after failing to secure credit (2,000 jobs)
Further jobs go at Ethel Austin - The administrator of Ethel Austin and its sister chain Au Naturale has confirmed that a further 81 stores will close. (700 jobs)
Engineering firm hit by recession - More than 100 Teesside engineering jobs are under threat after a fabrication firm calls in administrators (100 jobs)
Jobs at risk at engineering firm - More than 200 jobs are at risk in Lincolnshire at an engineering company which has gone into administration (200 jobs)
Bakery firm under administration - Administrators are called in to Falkirk baker Mathiesons, which employs about 350 people. (350 jobs)
Seafood company in administration - A Grimsby fish processing company goes into administration, putting more than 300 jobs at risk (300 jobs)
Jobs lost as motor company shuts - A car parts manufacturing firm employing about 490 people in Cambridgeshire is to close, it is announced.
52 jobs go at drink firm Britvic - More than 50 jobs are being lost at at the Britvic soft drinks company in Northern Ireland, the employment minister confirms.
Crystal closure 'a dreadful blow' - The closure of Tyrone Crystal's factory is "a dreadful blow for the local area", Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster says. (31 jobs)
150 Toyota jobs to go on Deeside - Around 150 jobs will go at the Toyota plant on Deeside, Flintshire, as part of 750 posts going across the UK.
Jobs lost as call centre closes - The telephone directory inquiry company 118-118 is closing its Plympton call centre, with the loss of 180 jobs.
These 5,253 jobs lost across these twelve firms are the only ones I can find without more detailed time-consuming research but I am sure there are many others, under the PR radar, in lots of smaller companies across the country.
Most importantly, it demonstrates that there are vulnerable companies which have, to date, staved off their financiers. The question is, in the wake of yesterday’s budget, whether banks will be more lenient with companies over the next six months or whether, as we have seen during the last year, they will put their balance sheets ahead of the needs of their business customers.
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