I was talking to a mate about this the other day - the rise of the virtual company where the company is little more than a name and a handful of staff in an office somewhere. Everything is outsourced - contracts are easier to manage than departments. Develop your skills for the new jobs market: know yourself and what you have to offer, market yourself aggressively, and always do what's best for your career. Forget company loyalty because they won't be loyal to you and chances are you'll be employed by an agency anyway. Get what you can out of your company, particularly in terms of training - but know and be clear about what training you need and make sure you get it. Remember that when it comes to agencies you become a comodity just like a packet of cat litter, say. They're not nice people. In my estimations they're down there with Job Centre and DSS staff. It sucks I know but it's a modern world
The cosy British notion of a job for life just doesn't exist anymore.