Former Health Secretary launches inquiry into youth unemployment and inactivity
The inquiry, backed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), comes as almost one million young people are not in education, employment or training (NEET).
Latest
Most Brits back equal minimum wage for 18 to 20-year-olds – YouGov
One in five (22%) said there should be a lower minimum wage for people under 21 and 67% said the same minimum wage should apply to everyone over 18.
Private sector employees hit £25.5bn in workplace pension contributions in 2024 – Broadstone
The data, based on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) annual survey, showed this was up from the previous high of £25.3bn in 2019.
Octopus EV adds XPENG G6 to salary sacrifice scheme
The salary sacrifice scheme includes the car, home charger, energy bundle, maintenance and insurance.
Vitality’s Champion Programme boosts workforce activity and productivity
An extra 750 employees signed up as champions, bringing the total to 2,139 across more than 1,200 companies.
Scrapping age bands for minimum wage will mean major change for employers, says expert
Claire Cole said: “While many employers already pay above the minimum, this increase, alongside the move to a single adult rate, will have a real impact on payroll.”
West Midlands Mayor sets out ambitions to boost AI skills and job prospects
The scheme aims to help local people use AI in daily life and work, as well as prepare thousands for jobs in technology.
Compensation & Benefits
Uber offers NHS staff discounted rides and meals for Christmas Day
Uber said the offer recognises healthcare workers who spend Christmas caring for patients instead of celebrating at home.
Workers urged to protect Christmas bonuses from tax through pension sacrifice
Penfold warned that bonuses are taxed in the same way as salary, meaning a significant portion can be lost before it reaches employees’ bank accounts.
Recruitment & HR
Job postings fall in November as firms cautious after Budget – REC
New job postings in November dropped by 14.4% to 622,156, matched by an 11.2% fall in active postings to 1,460,051.
Belfast City Council secures £700k to create jobs and revive vacant properties
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, said: "This initiative will continue to support local businesses, create jobs, and make a lasting positive impact on neighbourhoods across the city."
NI Economy Minister launches training academy to meet childcare workforce demand
The programme offers supervised childcare experience, with industry recognised qualifications for roles in Belfast, Antrim, Armagh and Down.
Fulham FC extends HiBob partnership with focus on people and performance
Following a year of integrating HiBob’s human capital management (HCM) platform across Fulham FC, Fulham Pier and the Fulham FC Foundation, the expanded partnership reflects the Club’s growing emphasis on workforce development and operational excellence.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Inclusive policies drive career confidence and wellbeing at E.ON, report reveals
The report set out how inclusion and colleague wellbeing have helped deliver better outcomes for customers and communities.
Stonewater launches revamped graduate scheme
The housing provider welcomed five new graduates to its programme, which offers an 18-month rotation through various departments.
North East Ambulance Service secures funding for Neurodivergent Wellbeing Project
Kevin Scollay said: “By investing in tailored support for neurodiverse staff, we are not only improving individual wellbeing but also strengthening our teams."
Allianz UK launches Domestic Abuse policy to support employees
Matt Cox said: “We want to help and support our employees as much as we can during the times that really matter, whatever the situation."
Technology
Multiverse’s Atlas halves routine workload for human coaches
The rollout has allowed Multiverse to scale upskilling and provide 24/7 support, while coaches have seen routine support queries halve from 41% to 18%.
Armed forces and NMITE partner to launch drone-focused engineering degree
The course is set to start in September 2026 and will lead to a masters in engineering in three years, rather than the usual four.
New MedTech qualifications launched to address NHS workforce gaps
The qualifications are designed to support entry into roles including technicians working on AI-enabled health devices such as wearable technology, imaging and diagnostic tools, as well as regulatory advisers.
Health & Wellbeing
Workers need spaces that feel good to boost productivity, says Co-space CEO
William Stokes said: “By aligning layout, colour, light and natural elements, you create environments where people feel energised, calm and ready to perform at their best."
Health and childcare costs hinder employment for social housing residents, data reveals
The latest Clarion Index, based on feedback from over 2,000 residents, showed 56% of working-age residents were in work, up from 50% last year.
68% of workers save annual leave for Christmas, research reveals
According to data from Robert Walters, one in four workers said they now “struggle to find days” to book off in December due to demand.
Nurses and doctors warn of safety risks as Welsh Parliament prepares to debate corridor care
Representatives from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and the British Medical Association (BMA) gathered at the Senedd on Wednesday to highlight growing concerns about corridor care.
Employee Relations
53% of job applicants experience ghosting from employers, finds iHire
Dmitrii Anikin, co-founder of SalaryGuide, said: “Being left without a response isn’t just poor etiquette, it reflects outdated hiring practices in a modern job market."
Lords defeat risks delaying Employment Rights Bill
The Lords’ decision means ministers must now review compensation caps for unfair dismissal, creating uncertainty over timing and the impact on businesses.
Gen Z emerges as feedback-driven talent cohort, insights show
Ben Wright, global head of partnerships at Instant Offices, said employers should rethink assumptions about how Gen Z responds to feedback.
Airlines adapt operational practices to manage increasingly diverse pilot workforces
Franco Narcisi, chief pilot at Avion Express, has outlined how carriers are responding to multilingual crews.
Global HR
Arsenal selects Deel to manage global HR operations
Arsenal will use Deel’s HR platform to manage its workforce and operations.
Equiom and Ledgy partner to expand global equity plan services
The integration of Ledgy lets Equiom’s teams support clients with complex share plans and gives employees access to manage their equity through one platform.
Employers continue move away from traditional CVs, study finds
Willo found that four-in-10 employers said they are actively moving away from CV-first hiring, and 10% have replaced CVs with skills-based and scenario-driven assessments.
AI-driven defences could strengthen cloud HR systems against ransomware, research reveals
A new academic study by Jay Barach, IEEE senior member and expert technologist, has examined how cloud-based HR systems could better withstand rising ransomware threats.