A SURVEY on office support staff has shown that the economy of the Thames Valley remains strong, with 96 per cent of companies predicting that staffing levels will either increase or remain the same.

The survey by independent recruitment agency Bucks & Berks Recruitment plc, which has offices in Marlow and Maidenhead, has just published its Year 2001 Salary Survey emphasising the demand from Thames Valley companies for skilled and experienced office staff.

It also found that companies are continuing to be aware of the importance of structuring the salary package together with benefits in order to recruit and train the right people.

These include:

76 per cent of companies offer a pension scheme

51 per cent provide individual private health insurance

86 per cent offer free car parking

18 per cent provide a fitness centre subsidy

When it comes to wages the average salary of a manager's secretary, working for one or more managers, has increased from last year by 11.9 per cent to £19,126 while a chairman's PA receives an average salary of £23,801, a rise of 6.3 per cent from last year.

A payroll administrator can expect a salary of £19,918 and a credit controller £18,855, up 12.2 per cent from 2000.

However, an office junior with no experience has seen a salary drop of 0.2 per cent to an average salary of £10,765.

Training is provided by 89 per cent of companies with the average annual training budget per employee put at £841.46.

John Hamilton, chairman and managing director of Bucks & Berks Recruitment said: "The strong increase in the salaries section confirms the current high demand for skilled and experienced staff.

"Companies are continuing to be aware of the importance of structuring the salary package together with benefits to recruit and retain the right people."