Government-backed creative careers programme reaches almost 80,000 young people
Discover! Creative Careers Month, which ran throughout November, provided 79,134 people aged 11 to 18 with direct encounters with creative industry employers.
Latest
O’Reilly report reveals rising interest in AI and security, declining usage of traditional programming languages
O’Reilly’s Technology Trends for 2025 report shows a surge in AI learning, a decline in traditional programming languages, and a growing focus on security skills.
Millions of UK workers risk retirement shortfall as care costs remain overlooked
A new report from Barnett Waddingham highlights a worrying gap in retirement planning, with fewer than one in five workers fully accounting for future care costs.
Teaching unions suspend industrial action as pay negotiations continue
Teaching unions in Northern Ireland have suspended planned industrial action to allow further pay talks to proceed.
RMT confirms strike action at Avanti West Coast as talks stall
RMT members at Avanti West Coast will strike this Sunday after the company failed to offer new proposals in talks aimed at ending their dispute.
Regional Employment Councils launched to help offenders find work
The Government has launched regional Employment Councils to support offenders serving sentences in the community into work, with backing from major employers including Greggs, Iceland and COOK.
BSI launches inquiry into the ‘hybrid generation’ of early-career workers
BSI has launched an inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on early-career workers, focusing on the effects of hybrid working, job satisfaction, and well-being.
Compensation & Benefits
Over two million workers miss shifts due to financial stress, Pepper Money finds
The study calculated this has led to 8.4 million lost working days, costing the UK economy around £860m in reduced output.
CBVC expands salary sacrifice to include used car leasing
The fleet management provider’s online platforms have been expanded to include ex-fleet cars which are typically less than three years old.
Recruitment & HR
CIPD welcomes apprenticeship funding boost but calls for clearer national skills strategy
The CIPD has welcomed additional government funding for apprenticeships but warned that wider structural issues must be addressed.
Business Moves Group appoints Sharon Sales to strengthen customer experience and compliance
Sales brings experience in customer service leadership, administration and operational governance across the facilities management and workplace change sectors.
Contract hiring outperforms as permanent roles dip in latest APSCo trends
APSCo’s November data shows softer permanent hiring but sustained year-on-year growth in contract jobs and placements.
Education leaders urge Government to unlock unused apprenticeship levy
At a House of Lords roundtable hosted by Commercial Services Group, leaders heard that four in 10 teachers expect to leave within a decade.
Inclusivity, Equality & Diversity
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.
44% of Gen Z office workers faced criticism from older workers, Kahoot! finds
Of those who had been criticised, 47% said it was for being “too passionate” or outspoken and 46% for using informal language or humour.
Principality Building Society climbs to 27th in Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers list
Principality Building Society has risen to 27th place in the 2025/26 Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers list, reflecting its continued focus on diversity and inclusion.
Business Disability Forum launches Disability Smart Impact Awards 2026
The awards aim to highlight the difference inclusive business practice makes for disabled employees and consumers.
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
49% of sick days linked to mental or emotional exhaustion – Employment Hero
Data showed that younger workers were more likely to use sick days for stress, while older workers tended to use them for personal errands.
Night workers face inequalities in pay, health, safety and dignity, study finds
Research from UCL found that workers reported harassment, theft and discrimination at work and while travelling.
Digital health services could help solve employee absence crisis, says Unum UK
Research found that digital health services resolved concerns faster, reduced absence and empowered employees to manage their wellbeing.
31% of disabled chemists face bullying or discrimination, survey finds
The survey from the Royal Society of Chemistry found that 27% of disabled chemists said they did not feel a sense of belonging at work.
Employee Relations
Seetec calls for stronger focus on employee ownership to drive growth
John Baumback, CEO at Seetec, said: “Employee ownership is a proven path to stronger businesses and stronger communities."
60% of workers dislike Secret Santa, finds Jukebox Marketing
The report found most employees (78%) would rather have a cash bonus than a Christmas party or gift.
London Assembly calls for more affordable housing for front-line staff
Members said more affordable homes need to be built close to workplaces and the Mayor should support a London Ambulance Service Housing Strategy.
Salary and work-life balance top priorities for Gen Z accountants, survey finds
20:20 Innovation’s research found that 80.77% said both mattered most when picking a new employer.
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.