Pensions UK launches student initiative with Manchester Metropolitan University
The Pensions UK: Future Leaders programme aims to introduce final-year finance and accountancy students to the pensions industry.
Latest
Record numbers shop around for best annuity rates as open market purchases hit 62% – Just Group
In 2024/25, 62% of annuities were bought on the open market, up from 59% last year and 53% in 2022/23.
M&G completes £96m buy-in with UK pension scheme
The deal secures the pension benefits for more than 1,000 scheme members.
Cancer survivors need more tailored workplace support, NEOMA research finds
A study by NEOMA Business School has found that existing support measures for employees returning to work after cancer fail to reflect the lasting impact of the disease on their professional lives.
La Fosse launches female mentorship programme to challenge tech gender gap
The scheme follows La Fosse’s Women at Work Blueprint report, which found that women hold just 25% of C-suite positions - a figure that falls even lower for women of colour.
Over a third of students receive no response to most job applications – Yugo
35% had no response from more than half of their unsuccessful applications, and one in 12 had been ‘ghosted’ by up to 80% of employers.
Aviva and The Wherry School reopen internship applications for young people with autism
The programme is run in partnership with Norfolk County Council and Pluss, and aims to give more inclusive employment opportunities.
Compensation & Benefits
Pension engagement and profitability go hand in hand, say UK firms
Businesses that help employees take an active role in their pensions are also seeing stronger financial results, according to Scottish Widows.
EV salary sacrifice helps retain staff, finds Tusker
The survey revealed that 21% were unsure and 60% of jobseekers said the availability of a salary sacrifice car scheme would influence their decision to apply for a company.
Recruitment & HR
Glen Callum Associates highlights logistics as overlooked route into automotive aftermarket careers
Specialist recruiter Glen Callum Associates says logistics professionals are increasingly moving into automotive aftermarket roles, bringing valuable transferable skills to a sector facing ongoing talent shortages.
UK unemployment rises to 4.8% as job vacancies continue to decline
The UK unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in the three months to August, according to the latest ONS figures, with vacancies and employment levels both showing modest declines.
easyJet opens applications for 2026 Engineering Apprenticeship Programme
Aviation Minister Keir Mather said: “This engineering apprenticeship scheme marks an important step in continuing to build a highly skilled aviation workforce fit for the future."
Most creative industry jobs go to friends and connections – Bectu
The findings showed 75% of workers got jobs through friends or contacts, rising to 82% in film, TV drama and fashion.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Access FS launches Equality Council to strengthen diversity and inclusion
Access FS has launched a new Equality Council to promote fair representation, inclusivity and accountability across its business and adviser network.
Open University and NatWest launch creators fund to support women entrepreneurs
The fund, launched in partnership with the DWP will offer grants of up to £2,500 each, with £50,000 in sponsorship from NatWest.
Thousands with health conditions to get work support as advisers join GP surgeries – DWP
Over 40,000 more sick and disabled people are set to receive employment support following a £167.2m investment in the Connect to Work programme.
Brighton & Hove and West Sussex councils secure funding to support people into work
Emma Daniel said: “Everyone deserves the chance to thrive in work, and I am really pleased to see that in-work support is provided as part of this programme."
Technology
Enterprises face “AI black hole” as one in three struggles with skills shortage
The findings, published in FDM Group’s whitepaper Workforce 2.0: AI Adoption and the Future of Jobs, are based on a survey of more than 300 clients across the UK, North America, EMEA
L&G partners with Microsoft to launch AI-powered customer service platform
L&G has announced a multi-year partnership with Microsoft to develop an AI-driven customer service platform that will enhance support for its 12.4 million customers.
HowNow partners with Harvard Business Impact to integrate Harvard Business Review content into AI learning platform
HowNow has announced a strategic partnership with Harvard Business Impact to bring curated Harvard Business Review content to its AI-powered learning platform, HowNow Guru.
Health & Wellbeing
Tructyre to invest further in employee health and safety
This comes after the implementation of initiatives designed to further protect its technicians, both onsite and on the road.
Towergate Employee Benefits calls for stronger menopause support to retain experienced women in the workplace
Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Towergate Employee Benefits, has urged employers to improve menopause support, warning that businesses risk losing valuable experience and diversity without it.
Housing Hand reports record quarter as demand for guarantor services rises
UK rental services provider Housing Hand has reported its busiest ever quarter, helping more renters than at any other time in its 12-year history. Between July and September 2025, the company saw a 17.8% increase in renters completing its guarantor application process compared with the same period last year, and a rise of nearly 30% compared with 2023. The business attributed the surge to growing reliance on guarantor services among renters and landlords, as financial pressures and proposed legislative changes increase the importance of secure tenancy arrangements. The organisation said its continued investment in technology, alongside new support initiatives such
CIH president launches campaign to boost resilience among housing professionals
The campaign will run throughout Julie Haydon's year in office and aims to help housing professionals build a resilient mindset.
Employee Relations
Poor leadership the biggest barrier to career progress for arts professionals, research finds
Arts Professional’s Arts Pay Survey found over 70% of people said they faced obstacles to moving up in their career.
Most workers use unapproved AI tools at work, research reveals
Employees said they used consumer AI assistants to draft and reply to work communications, prepare reports and presentations, and do finance tasks.
One in five employees secretly hold jobs with competitors, finds Cifas
Nearly a quarter (24%) said they believed this behaviour was justifiable.
Just Mortgages marks four years of broker mental health support with new resources
Just Mortgages has rolled out a new podcast and regular updates on Facebook and monthly articles on wellbeing, financial issues and the cost of living.
Global HR
Most businesses now allow employees to work abroad – Grant Thornton UK
The survey found 77% of mid-market firms had a policy for international remote working in 2025, up from 59% in 2023.
TMF Group launches payroll platform to streamline HR administration
TMF Optix uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide intelligent analytics, global reporting, AI-powered dashboards and optimised data management.
MAN Truck & Bus partners with TUM Venture Labs to boost mobility innovation
MAN Truck & Bus has formed a strategic partnership with TUM Venture Labs to strengthen collaboration with deep tech start-ups and advance mobility innovation.
Linklaters appoints Lynne Burns as CPO
Burns will lead the people function globally from London and work closely with Aedamar Comiskey and Paul Lewis.