Manufacturers enjoy resurgence

Manufacturing firms in Lancashire have seen an upturn in business in the final quarter of 2012, according to the latest figures from the Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey, produced in association with Moore & Smalley Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors.

There was also positive news on the employment front. 35% of manufacturers reported that their workforce had increased in the final quarter of 2012, up 7% on Q3. Intentions to recruit moving into the New Year are also good, with 34% of firms expecting their workforce to increase in the next three months, up 13% on the previous quarter. The service sector has also shown some resilience after a weak Quarter Three with increases in domestic demand, although this does not look sufficiently strong enough to boost service sector employment prospects in the next three months.