EDITORIAL: Shafts of sunlight in an overcast year

As we come to the end of a tricky 12 months, most British managers will feel they've experienced far more enjoyable years than 2002. Never mind the general economic climate - which maintains a perpetually cool, damp greyness - it's the self-esteem many now have trouble with. As a cadre, the UK's managers have taken a reputational battering from all sides in the past year and are probably feeling more than usually unloved at the moment.

The first morale-sapper was the notorious Radio Four Today programme poll of Britain's most - and least - respected professions, which put manager 65th, 40 places below road sweeper and 60 below paramedic.

('Company director' came 84th and there were only 92 categories.)