New investment for 10,000 more volunteer business mentors
The UK government is investing £1.2 million to recruit and train 10,000 new volunteer business mentors through the ‘Get Mentoring’ scheme. This initiative aims to provide affordable mentoring support to entrepreneurs and boost economic growth, bringing the total available mentors on the mentorsme.co.uk portal to approximately 26,000.
Legal Insight: Qantas of solace – Would Oz’s dispute resolution model work in the UK?
Qantas grounded its entire fleet during an industrial dispute over job cuts, prompting Australia’s Fair Work tribunal to intervene. This article examines how Australia’s dispute resolution model compares to UK workplace relations systems, particularly as the UK faces public sector strikes.
Update: UK worker loses race discrimination claim against Chinese telco
A UK employment tribunal ruled that a Huawei customer support engineer did not face unfair dismissal or race discrimination when made redundant in 2009, rejecting claims that the Chinese telco had axed British workers to replace them with Chinese nationals.
Blog: A new role for HR?
HR professionals are redefining their role to bridge the growing disconnect between business and talent functions. Key insights from industry leaders highlight the need for data-driven strategies, personalized approaches to talent management, and closer collaboration between HR and line managers as strategic partners.
Employers asked to bid for chunk of £250m apprenticeship pot
The UK Government is opening a £250 million apprenticeship fund for employers to bid on, aiming to tackle youth unemployment and give businesses greater control over vocational training. Initial funding of £50 million will be available for 2012/13, with an additional £200 million in the following year pending evidence of quality proposals.
Communication: the secret to recruitment success
Effective communication throughout the hiring process is crucial to recruitment success. Many candidates withdraw after experiencing delays, poor coordination, or lack of updates during lengthy recruitment periods. Keeping candidates informed and maintaining professionalism at every stage—from interviews to contract—directly impacts hiring outcomes and organizational reputation.
ADT awarded for ‘inspirational’ staff engagement initiatives
ADT Fire & Security has received an ‘Inspiration in HR’ award for its staff engagement initiatives, which improved morale and customer service. The multi-faceted campaign included leadership training, NVQ qualifications, employee wellness programs, and a new reward scheme, resulting in 99% completion of performance appraisals and reduced absenteeism.
CEO Video Insight: NetApp UK’s Dave Allen on staff engagement
NetApp’s UK managing director Dave Allen shares insights on maintaining staff engagement and motivation during challenging economic times when many organizations face cutbacks and austerity pressures.
Attrition rates for contact centre staff leap
UK contact centre staff attrition rates increased to 21% in 2011 from 16% the previous year, with further rises predicted to reach 26% by 2014. While higher turnover often signals economic growth creating new opportunities, outsourcing, retail, services and telecoms sectors face the greatest impact.
Blog: How to turn volunteering into team-building
Employer-sponsored volunteer programs create authentic team-building experiences while supporting communities. By participating in meaningful service work together, employees bond naturally, gain new perspectives on coworkers, and strengthen organizational culture in ways traditional team-building events cannot achieve.
Unemployment at 17-year high – and worsening
UK unemployment reached 2.6 million in September, the highest level in 17 years, with the jobless rate hitting 8.3%. Wage growth weakened to 2.3% while earnings excluding bonuses rose only 1.7%, far below inflation, signaling a severe jobs and pay crisis.
Talent Spot: Gemma Aird, head of HR at Anesco
Gemma Aird, head of HR at fast-growing energy efficiency firm Anesco, built the company’s HR function from scratch after joining six months ago. She’s now managing rapid expansion from 25 to 60 employees while recruiting an additional 100 staff and establishing all corporate policies across the organization.
Redknapp to stand trial in January for tax evasion
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will stand trial in January on two counts of tax evasion for allegedly hiding £180,000 in earnings through a Monaco bank account while working at Portsmouth. He faces the charges alongside former club chairman Milan Mandaric, with both men denying wrongdoing.
Will the ‘gig economy’ be the death of HR?
The gig economy’s rapid growth raises questions about the future of HR departments. As organizations increasingly rely on freelancers and temporary workers for flexibility, traditional HR functions may shift toward procurement-focused roles, with smaller teams managing transactional relationships rather than employee development.
Blog: Five truths about millennials in the workplace
Millennials in the workplace are individuals, not stereotypes based on birth year. While generational generalizations ignore true workplace issues, research shows younger workers value meaning and seek growth opportunities—traits common across generations rather than unique to Gen Y.
Legal Insight: Key learnings from AWR, six weeks on
Six weeks after the Agency Worker Regulations took effect on October 1, 2011, key questions about implementation remain unanswered, with courts expected to clarify legal gray areas through future claims. The regulations’ full impact is anticipated in December and January when qualifying temporary workers begin requesting information and asserting their rights to equal treatment with permanent staff.
Book Review: Purple your People by Jane Sunley
Jane Sunley’s “Purple your People” is a practical business guide designed to help HR professionals and leaders attract, engage and retain talent while enhancing company reputation and profitability. The 182-page book breaks down employee lifecycle management into 24 accessible chapters featuring real-world case studies and actionable advice for creating a great workplace.
Home Office may have breached employee “trust and confidence”, warn lawyers
Lawyers warn the Home Office may have breached its duty to maintain trust and confidence with employees following the Border Force chief’s constructive dismissal claim. The case highlights how employers must handle disciplinary matters privately, allow employees to respond to allegations, and avoid public statements that could undermine the employment relationship.
Treasury Minister rules out full income tax and NIC merger
The Treasury Minister has ruled out a full merger of income tax and National Insurance Contributions, despite calls from tax experts to integrate the two systems as part of efforts to simplify the personal tax system. The government plans instead to improve transparency through online tools and Real Time Information systems.
CIPD Conference: Developing business savvy
HR professionals must develop business savvy to support organizational performance effectively. A CIPD survey found that 60% of HR leaders agree their function needs stronger business understanding, with employers increasingly hiring HR directors from non-HR backgrounds to drive strategic impact.
