MANUFACTURING pay settlements have continued to fall to a historically low level in response to the economic squeeze, new research has revealed.

Pay data from manufacturers’ organisation EEF for the three months to the end of March shows the average level of pay settlements has fallen to 1.6 per cent, down from 1.7 per cent for the previous quarter. This is the lowest level since EEF’s survey began in 1987. The number of companies freezing pay continued to rise to nearly 45 per cent of all reported settlements in the period, again the highest level since the survey began.

EGGING IT: Cadbury said its British and Irish sales had grown as consumers maintained their recessionbeating appetite for chocolate. But the firm saw a sharp slowdown in sales across its global business in the first quarter as revenues plunged in Europe and North America. Cadbury’s Britain and Ireland division saw sales rise ten per cent as a strong Easter helped it to grow its UK market share.

Easter eggs and Cadbury Creme Eggs were up 20 per cent over the period, contrasting with Europe and North America’s falls of eight and six per cent respectively.

HD DEMAND: BSkyB’s big push into HD television appears to be paying off after the group reported a sharp rise in the number of customers taking the service. The January initiative to slash the cost of the Sky Plus HD service, which combines a personal video recorder with high definition TV, produced 243,000 net additions in the three months to March 31, well ahead of City expectations. Sky reduced the price of the box to £49 and said the anticipated demand meant it would create 1,000 jobs in customer service and installation.

CHOSEN CHARITY: Shower designer and manufacturer Roman has named Options as its charity for 2009.

Options is a project delivered by charity Pioneering Care Partnership, based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, which provides projects and services for disabled people. Last year, Roman, also based in Newton Aycliffe, raised £11,000 for its nominated annual charity through a series of fundraising events.

NURSERY SOLD: Playdays Children’s Day Nursery, in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has been sold for a six-figure sum to Nursery Group Ltd, which is building up a portfolio of day nurseries around the region.

The deal was overseen by the Newcastle office of Christie and Co.