It’s no secret that the North’s job market has been characterised by caution in recent times. The KPMG and REC UK Report on Jobs survey has shown businesses pulling back on recruitment activity for the past 21 months, in response to economic uncertainty and increased operating costs. It’s hardly surprising that they are focusing on managing immediate risks on their balance sheets.

However, as one of the UK’s economic flagbearers, we need the North West’s specialist industries – including financial services, technology and life sciences – to be operating at full capacity if the private sector is to make the most of government investment and support its much-publicised growth agenda.

So, while the rise in candidate availability makes for an increasingly competitive market, it also represents a rare opportunity for businesses to rethink........

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