Following the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympics Games, the UK experienced a period of buoyancy in 2012. This was reflected in a period of sustained economic growth and a marked increase in the number of people finding permanent jobs through recruiters.

It was the first time in 18 months that the UK had seen an increase in both temporary and permanent job placements for a period of at least three months.

According to a study of 500 SME owners by insurance firm Aviva, SMEs were at the crux of the upturn. Around half of enterprise owners who launched their businesses in the previous two years have been looking to increase their workforce while those with fewer than 25 employees were most optimistic about expansion.

This is encouraging news for recruiters who are in a position to provide start-ups with suitable candidates and may also provide an opportunity for those recruiters now looking to set up their own agency.