That is the professional opinion of manufacturing IT expert Peter Turner from outsourced IT company Ulysses IT, who believes the most forward-looking companies will have already started programmes to head off the recession.

Peter says: "The technologies that are available are so sophisticated, as business owners we are virtually limited only by our own imagination.

"Automated systems can be used to make a workforce more efficient, meaning you can keep staff numbers under control. And remote working technology means the need to maintain an expensive office is becoming less important."

Best of all, Peter is convinced many businesses will be able to achieve this by cutting back on their IT spend. He says: "We are seeing a real trend for businesses to make their IT manager redundant, saving a significant amount of money, and outsource their IT instead.

"It's not unusual for businesses to get a better service for a quarter of what they paid an IT manager, and without the disadvantages of having to manage that person and cover their holiday and sick days."

Peter has worked in IT for 30 years, and established Ulysses IT with business partner Paula Backen in 1998. Since then it has grown into a national company, offering outsourced IT on a pay-as-you-go basis.