Jan 12, 2009

Reading the newspapers, it is difficult to know what to expect from the economic situation. Every day, we seem to hear of some organisation or other falling foul of the ramifications of the “credit crunch”. In the UK, the economy is forecast to shrink by 3% in 2009, with crashes in the housing market and sharp increases in unemployment.

However, not all predictions are of doom and gloom. Analysts from Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, UBS and Citigroup are forecasting a 30% stock market rise in the next 12 months. The fact is, nobody knows for sure. Even given the considerable brains in the banking industry and the media, predictions are only predictions. As long as the size and location of the “hot potato” of bad debt remains unknown, the war against the credit crunch will be one of attrition and uncertainty.

Whilst industry waits for the first signs of recovery, many companies have had to contemplate unpalatable steps, including layoffs and budget reductions to guarantee stability. However, there are some well-founded principles which may provide the occasional ray of sun in this frosty economic climate. Research has shown that companies committed to quality assurance and customer service fare better than others in the face of economic uncertainty.

At Belbin, our objective has long been to provide the best service we can to new and existing customers alike. Our business world now needs resourcefulness, mutual understanding and effective teams more than ever. Belbin UK is recognising this need by pledging to freeze all our product and training prices for the whole of 2009 – a little certainty in an uncertain world. Our team will, of course, also strive to be even more helpful to our customers than last year.

We wish you a successful and happy 2009.


Best wishes,


Meredith, Nigel and David

Further information

Jo Keeler
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