Penrith. Businesses to take on staff

A Penrith Business Alliance (PBA) survey of over 350 businesses, in the city’s industrial parks, found that one-third of all businesses were planning to employ more staff over the next six months. Most companies were planning to employ between 1 to 3 new staff in 2010. The major factor causing any hesitation to new employment was confidence that business conditions would continue to be strong enough to require new staff. Twelve per cent of businesses were suffering from skills shortages, particularly trades persons. Two final-year UWS students conducted the door-to-door survey for the PBA. Elsewhere, Penrith City Council’s Policy Review Committee (PRC) has unanimously approved the PBA’s Business Plan outlining key priorities and action plans for local economic growth and job creation.