Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Cambridge is still seen as one of the best place to work in the region – and the best paid, thanks to high salaries in the science and technology sectors, according to Peterborough-based recruitment specialist Cooper Lomaz in its annual salary survey compiled from interviews with hundreds of employers and 170,000 job-seekers and career-builders with CVs on the agency's databases across the East of England.

Not only is the London Olympics now less than five years away, but also 650,000 new homes are needed in the region. Richard Barker, Cooper Lomaz operations director, said: “There is a shortage of good candidates in construction and we are directing people from our offices in Peterborough, Bury St Edmunds and Norwich to our Chelmsford office to find work in Essex and east London.”

Project managers are being offered annual salaries of £50,000, while site managers can expect up to £38,000. It is also a good time to be a surveyor with qualifications and ambition. “Clients that were once looking for candidates with 10 years' experience are taking on people with two to four years experience. If we had more surveyors on our database we would find them jobs,” said Barker.

Fast-track promotions – especially in IT and Accountancy – and a better quality of life are also given as a reason for a growing number of people looking to relocate from London to Cambridgeshire. Barker said: “Commuting has become so unreliable and time-consuming and people are not just looking for a good salary. We think East Anglia can meet their lifestyle demands.”

Human resources executives are especially in demand and commanding salaries of £30,000 for an adviser up to £100,000 for a director-level appointment. Barker also predicted a call centre revival for the region. He said: “We are seeing quite a lot of jobs in communications and call centres coming back to the region. Historically they have had a reputation as being not nice places to work, but things have progressed. Clients are looking at every means of retaining staff and getting people back.”

The food processing industry is reported to be under pressure because of intense competition from eastern Europe and the Far East, while consumers now care more about the environment and don't want their food flown half way round the world. The globalised market also means buyers who have experience dealing with suppliers in China and India can command a better pay and perks package at job interviews. Senior buyers are earning up to £34,000 and purchasing managers £45,000.

A skills shortage in all engineering sectors is making employers more willing to offer apprenticeships. The Cooper Lomaz Salary Survey 2008 comprises analysis from 14 employment sectors covering Cambridgeshire, Suffolk Norfolk and Essex, with figures for each county. Salaries for Cambridgeshire jobs surveyed range from £11k for bank cashier to £70k-£120k for a group finance director.