University of Manchester gives all students and staff access to Microsoft 365 Copilot
The aim is to give all students workplace-ready skills, support teaching and research, and close the digital divide with access to advanced AI tools.
Latest
‘30 by 30’ campaign launched to expand cadet forces by 40,000 by 2030
The Government has announced a £70m investment to expand Armed Forces cadet forces by 30% by 2030, creating places for more than 40,000 additional young people.
Youth Futures launches summer employment programme for young people
The programme will be delivered to 600 young people at risk of violence, with another 600 getting standard provision as a comparison group.
Teesside University Online expands global reach through FutureLearn partnership
The deal will see TU Online’s undergraduate, postgraduate and certificate programmes promoted and available through FutureLearn.
Derby City Council relaunches SEND scheme to boost job opportunities for young adults
The scheme aims to help learners build skills and move towards paid roles either at the University of Derby or with partner organisations.
Aviva completes £700m buy-in deal with the ABB Plan
Andy Morley said: “The transaction is testament to the strong relationship and shared commitment from all parties to safeguard pension benefits."
Lomond launches new website drive acquisitions and support recruitment
Ed Phillips said: “We’re incredibly proud to launch lomond.co.uk, and to see that our workplace culture is now properly articulated and reflected online."
Opinion
Compensation & Benefits
New Defence Housing Service to overhaul military housing as Armed Forces Bill is introduced
The legislation forms part of a broader package of reforms aimed at improving conditions, support and retention across the armed forces as the Government seeks to modernise defence infrastructure and policy.
More than half of self-assessment taxpayers still see filing as a nuisance, Royal London finds
New research from Royal London shows confusion and budgeting gaps persist 30 years after self-assessment was introduced, with many taxpayers facing higher-than-expected bills.
Recruitment & HR
One in four workers apply for jobs that don’t exist, finds Employment Hero
A quarter (24%) of UK workers said they had applied for a ‘ghost job’ - a role advertised but not actually being recruited for.
Lifeways launches recruitment drive to attract diverse candidates
The campaign, called You’re Not Just Anyone, highlights the work of frontline teams supporting more than 4,000 people across the UK.
FMB calls for clarity on Scottish construction sector after Budget statement
Gordon Nelson, director at FMB Scotland, said: “With a shortfall of 100,000 homes and ambitious net zero targets, we urgently need to boost our building industry."
New and expectant parents face high levels of unfair treatment at work, TUC warns
More than one in seven women (14%) who have children or are expecting a child have lost their job, or felt forced to leave their role.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Government unveils £200m SEND teacher training programme
The new courses will be made available to all teaching staff to improve their knowledge in adapting lessons for a range of needs.
Government overhauls Disability Confident scheme to boost workplace standards
The Government said changes will provide more tailored support for SMEs and boost peer-to-peer support for employers.
Cardiff Council sets out charter to protect migrant care workers
The Charter, developed with UNISON Cymru, aims to prevent exploitation, promote fair work, and set clear expectations for ethical recruitment and pay.
Limited training holds women back from progressing at work, data finds
Data from AllBright everywoman found 35% pointed to limited development or training opportunities and 28% reported low support from managers.
Technology
Corpay warns UK CFOs face ‘automation deficit’ as manual finance processes persist
UK finance leaders are struggling to turn automation ambition into reality, with integration issues and fragmented systems holding back efficiency and real-time visibility, according to new research from Corpay.
Parents back teaching staff to lead AI decisions in schools, unions say
The polling from the TUC revealed that 80% of parents with a child in school or college trust educators to make decisions about AI in their children’s learning.
Government drops plans for mandatory digital IDs for right to work checks
The move comes after concerns were raised about privacy and data protection linked to a centralised digital ID system.
Health & Wellbeing
Managers reluctant to discuss mental health in the workplace, finds Unum UK
Of the SMEs surveyed, 45% said mental health was a key reason for staff absence.
High stress and lack of support drives workers into sick leave, report finds
The latest Burnout Report from Mental Health UK found one in five (20%) workers took sick leave due to poor mental health caused by stress.
Amazon UK and ABB among 100 organisations named as 2026 Top Employers in the UK
Lidl GB, ScottishPower, Bentley Motors, Mitie, Primark and McLaren Racing were among the 100 organisations named as 2025 Top Employers in the UK.
Nearly half of home workers work from their beds in winter, research finds
The survey of 1,000 adults found that almost half (48%) of people who regularly work from home do so from their bed.
Employee Relations
Employers must embrace flexible careers to retain Gen Z talent, says expert
Lucy Kemp said lily padding is the future of work and warned that employers who do not adapt risk losing talent.
Bentley recognised as Top Employer by the Top Employers organisation
Active in 131 countries, the institute is the global authority in HR certification, benchmarking and advisory.
HubGem Marketing named world’s happiest workplace – WorkL
Other UK companies in the top 10 included ServiceNow UK, PCI Pal, Auth0 and VIOOH, all in technology.
Office space demand rises as more workers return to physical workplaces, data finds
BPS London said the high supply of office space shows the market is still adjusting after the pandemic.
Global HR
Pearson and Deloitte partner to deliver AI-powered workforce training
The partnership will use both companies’ experience to deliver AI learning, leadership development and training solutions.
Retention and productivity top benefits of health support for overseas workers – Everywhen
32% of employers said retention rates were the main reason for offering health and wellbeing support, with 31% choosing productivity as the biggest advantage.
Morgan Lewis appoints London Labour and employment team partner
Katherine Gibson brings extensive experience in employment litigation, transactional support, business protection matters, and workplace data privacy.
Majority of European workers plan to move jobs in 2026, research reveals
According to MyPerfectCV, 37% of workers wanted to reduce stress, while 34% said they are focused on achieving a better work–life balance.