Holcim UK launches 2026 apprenticeship scheme to attract new talent
The company is providing apprenticeships in a range of roles at sites in the Midlands, North, West, North East, South, South West and Scotland.
Latest
Yodel strengthens employee wellbeing offering in partnership with the Retail Trust
The partnership which dates back to 2018, has seen the Retail Trust support almost 1,000 Yodel colleagues, equating to 34% of its workforce.
The OU and 5% Club launch free academy for HR professionals
Phil Kenmore said: “At the OU we are always looking for new ways to support flexible and accessible upskilling."
Rising costs and inflation remain top concerns for SMEs – Shawbrook
Almost eight in 10 (78%) of SMEs said they worried about inflation and the cost of living, an increase from 69% in 2024.
HowNow launches ‘Guru’ AI learning agent
The agent has been designed to understand the learner, adapt to their skill level, and deliver feedback and support.
Usdaw appoints Joanne Thomas as first female general secretary
Thomas was elected unopposed and will replace current general secretary Paddy Lillis upon his retirement on 25th July 2025.
UK lags in workplace AI use despite daily adoption, research reveals
EY data showed that in the UK, common uses include accessing customer support (32%), finding travel routes (20%) and shopping assistance (14%).
Compensation & Benefits
Volkswagen Financial Services launches salary sacrifice scheme
The scheme includes insurance, servicing, maintenance, breakdown cover and financial support for home chargers and EV charge cards.
Most businesses lack confidence in payroll data security, research finds
The latest data from CloudPay found that only 37% of midsize businesses said they were very confident in protecting payroll data from cyber threats.
Recruitment & HR
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.
Scottish productivity report shows rising investment but persistent workforce challenges
Business investment in Scotland has reached double-digit levels for the first time in two decades, according to the latest CBI–Addleshaw Goddard Scottish Productivity Index.
UK joins European defence export pact to boost industry jobs
Ministers argued the treaty will enhance the UK’s industrial cooperation with key European partners while supporting domestic employment.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
Mitie achieves Good Business Charter accreditation
Jason Towse said: “As a top ten UK employer and the largest to be accredited, Mitie is leading the way in championing fairness, sustainability, and integrity."
Siemens Mobility posts rise in jobs, skills and workplace inclusion in 2025
Lisa Macdonald said: “Siemens Mobility has created an inclusive environment where interns can develop and thrive."
Nationwide commits £25m to IWT for female-led business funding
The lender said the investment aims to boost economic growth by helping close the gap in funding female-led businesses face, compared to male-led ones.
Westminster’s RCPP boosts wellbeing for staff supporting vulnerable groups
Gemma McGrath and Rita Joshi ran activities to help identify wellbeing challenges and share strategies for more resilient workplaces.
Technology
Business mentoring for SMEs focused on AI doubles in 2025 – ABM
Ben Jacobs said: “By enabling businesses to adopt AI with confidence, mentors help unlock productivity gains, strengthen competitiveness and stimulate innovation.”
The AA launches ‘Leading with AI’ programme in partnership with Cambridge Spark
Louise Benford, CPO at The AA, said: “We are delighted to partner with Cambridge Spark to help equip our leaders to thrive in an AI-enabled world."
KPMG partners with Aiimi to roll out workplace AI platform
The move is part of its ongoing push to improve its data management and artificial intelligence (AI) use.
Health & Wellbeing
Social connection drives better mental health for 25 to 34 year old workers, Aviva finds
Dr Subashi M said: “The workplace should be a space of psychological safety, where people feel seen, heard, and valued."
Workers view ill health as biggest job threat – AXA Health
Data found that 33% of those aged 16-24 believed they may need to retire early due to health concerns.
Unite calls for urgent action to improve lorry driver facilities
The Transport Focus survey reported a shortage of safe and secure lorry parks, with nearly two-thirds of drivers dissatisfied with rest locations.
32% of employers do not measure the impact of sickness absence – GRiD
Figures from previous years showed 61% measured absence in 2025, 59% in 2023, 63% in both 2022 and 2021, and 65% in 2020.
Employee Relations
London NQ solicitor pay nearly 40% higher than rest of UK, research finds
London firms paid nearly 40% more than those outside the capital, with the London average at £124,000.
Only half of employees report being happy at work, data shows
The research from Reward Gateway | Edenred indicated that a quarter of employees often feel unappreciated, while 22% said they frequently feel unvalued.
Half of businesses unclear on new sexual harassment laws – HR Dept
One in three (33%) said they are not prepared for the changes, which start in October 2026.
Quarter of job ads fail to disclose salary, research finds
Lidl disclosed pay in 77.5% of 4,118 job ads, Tesco in 73.2% of 6,008, Mitie in 54.5% of 6,436 and Whitbread in 54.3% of 4,032 ads.
Global HR
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.
Umberto Tossini steps down from Automobili Lamborghini after nearly two decades
Lamborghini’s chief people, culture and organisation officer Umberto Tossini is leaving the company after 19 years, with chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann assuming interim responsibility.