Temp workers are the future (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Temp workers are the future

FIRMS are increasingly seeing temporary workers as the way forward.

Research by Barclays suggests that about a quarter of small business owners in the region say employing temporary workers instead of permanent staff helps them cut a week's worth of red tape each year.

The research comes in time for the start of National Temporary Workers Week this week, which aims to thank temporary or flexible employees all over the country.

Tracy Byron, team leader at Pertemps in Swindon said: "Use of temporary staff has been born out of changing legislation.

"In 2003 the industry nationally was worth around £18 billion and in 2004 that increased to £22 billion so it's an ever-increasing trend.

"Temporary workers require a good cross-section of skills including IT skills communication skills and a good all-round flexibility to be able to adapt in a changing environment."

Louise Fowler, the small business marketing director for Barclays said: "Small businesses in the south west are clearly on the ball when it comes to cutting red tape.

"By using temporary staff, they're saving themselves time one of the few things money can't buy.

"Given that small business owners tend to work about 60 hours a week already, it's a significant contribution to the business.

"Running a small business is tough going and there are times when there simply aren't enough hours in the day," said Ms Fowler.

"Employing temporary staff to cover short-term demand or staff holidays can often be a more cost-effective way to resource and can actually save businesses up to five weeks a year by reducing red tape around human resources regulations."

Currently, nearly one in 10 businesses use temporary staff on a weekly basis and just over a quarter use them occasionally.

The Barclays research revealed that the sectors most likely to use short-term staff are agriculture, hotels and catering industries, construction and business services.

The main reasons businesses employ short-term staff were revealed as fulfilling a short-term need, easing supply and demand fluctuations and drafting in expertise.

Seasonal fluctuations and holiday cover were among the other key times when they would use temporary staff.

One in five saying they would employ potential employees on a contract basis as a test to their suitability for a permanent position.