Pay rise survey

Fewer than 16 per cent of UK businesses are likely to give their workers pay rises above 4 per cent this year, according to a survey by Dun & Bradstreet. However, in London and Northern Ireland more than a fifth of businesses are planning above-in flation awards. The survey also found that small businesses with up to 50 employees were much more likely than larger businesses to award increases above 4 per cent.

Smaller manufacturing companies recorded the strongest increase in export orders for almost 10 years and the rising trend in overseas demand is set to continue, according to a survey by the Confederation of British Industry and Pannell Kerr Forster, the firm of chartered accountants.