This is despite fears that the interim management sector would be adversely affected by clampdowns on the use of 'off-payroll workers' who were integral to a company or organisation. (See: Interim managers set to be collateral damage Shout99, June 12).
The latest data from the Interim Management Association (IMA) shows that the overall number of new assignments started increased by eight per cent in the last quarter (409 compared to 377); a figure which has continued to increase since Q3, 2012. When looking at the net difference between new assignments started and those completed, this has doubled and remains positive at +84.
When it came to the number of assignments in progress per member, this declined from 67 in Q1 to 62 in Q2. However, this figure has shown an increase since the same quarter in 2012, and has steadily inclined over the last year – reaching a peak in Q4, 2012 at 68 per member.
Length
The length of assignments has also seen a massive increase in the last quarter up to 181 days, compared to 130 in Q1.
Advertisement Jason Atkinson, chairman of the IMA said: “The findings from the latest quarter represent the highest overall growth rates we have seen since the Ipsos MORI survey was started, and are really positive for the industry. All key indicators now point in the right direction, and we are seeing our member firms really prospering, with volumes up by just over 22 per cent overall. There is an optimism around the use of interims, and – I believe – it now sits firmly on the procurement agenda.
“As the economy progresses, the interim management sector is fast to pick up, given the flexible resourcing option it provides. Interestingly, we are also seeing a number of organisations bringing interims in with a view to making a particular job permanent – companies are ‘testing the water’, and then creating the long-term definition around a role.”
Female
Another positive trend reflected in the survey is the fact that the share or female interim executives has increased by seven percentage points, up to 35 per cent in total – the highest figure since 2010.
The IMA’s last Ipsos MORI survey for Q1 highlighted that the gap between public and private sector assignments had closed. However, the public sector figure fell back from 43 to 35 per cent in the last quarter.
Financial services continues to lead IMA business, with 59 per cent of private sector assignments being in this area. And, over half (56 per cent) of interims were hired for ‘programme or project management’ roles.
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Susie Hughes © Shout99 2013
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