In the last few years of the 20th Century there was a drive by Automotive OEMs to outsource many vehicle systems and components to full service 1st tier suppliers. Many Automotive leaders looked to the Dell business model of running an almost virtual company. In doing so a large portion of the core knowledge base within the industry moved from the OEMs to the 1st tier suppliers. The bargaining power of the 1st tier suppliers grew. At the turn of the century both OEMs and 1st tier suppliers were actively pursuing low cost suppliers in the emerging markets of China, India and Eastern Europe, in many instances for the same parts and systems. The difference between success and failure depended on their core knowledge base, in other words their people.

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Introducing Russ Klinger and his team to the Antal International Network – Specialization and focus is on energy – specifically energy trading.

From their offices based in London and as primarily headhunters they are constantly talking to key energy traders who are considering their next career moves.

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The UK oil and gas industry has been self-sufficient since 1980 and experts expect it to remain so, in oil until approximately 2016 and in gas until at around the half century point. The UK oil & gas fields produce approximately two million barrels of hydrocarbons per day.

The well documented high global oil prices are an indication that producing countries need to increase production. This is a simple case of supply and demand and with no sign of global energy consumption reducing in the short term, it is supply which must increase.

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A survey of IT Managers by Contractor UK reveals that although the credit crunch has had an impact hiring for the IT industry, it has not all bad news.

Many companies will have the need to increase their staffing levels due to deliver business efficiency gains as the economy slows.

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As one of its specialties Antal Hadleigh focuses on Marketing and more specifically Consumer Insights within the FMCG world.

Whilst the national press continues to report the gaining momentum of the ‘Credit Crunch’ and the automatic ‘tightening of belts’ by consumers, it is important to note the essential relationship that the FMCG world has with the UK’s general population. Whilst it is fair to report that most consumer spending behaviour may change in this economic climate it is also fair to say that most consumers here in the UK are very unlikely to go without what is considered to be the bear essentials, however hard times become. Consumer goods such as tea, coffee, bread, soap, toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper will continue to be at the very top of the shopping list when needed.

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Skills shortage in manufacturing:

British industry is paying the price for lack of investment in skills and training over the past 20 – 30 years. The industry is in dire need of skills at every level to keep with its rapid pace and progress, both at home and abroad. A recent survey found there to be over 20,000 engineering roles available at the moment in the UK alone.

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Every situation creates its own opportunities and the recent down turn in the economy caused by the credit crunch and high energy prices etc is no exception. At times like these we all look at ways of saving money, especially our operational spend.

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Freight forwarding has been one of the most successful sectors of the global logistics industry over the past decade. Due to the trend of globalization substantial growth has been achieved which has led manufacturing to locate to remote markets around the world. The development of economies such as the Chinese, Indian, Russian, Middle East and Latin America has created the demand for international forwarding services that the global players have been quick to exploit.

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One of the most renowned columnists of the NY Times and professor of economics and international affairs at a top American university gave the opening keynote speech in a national gathering of businessmen in Madrid that I attended. His perception about the global economic turmoil was that its end was near. This event took place last June. So far, we have heard many opinions and the fact is that there is not a clean-cut explanation nor there is a solution or a trusted forecast for the crisis’ aftermath. Perhaps, the typical “your guess is as good as mine” applies neatly to these circumstances.

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