LSC plans £60m boost to technology
The Learning and Skills Council is investing £60m in technology to enhance post-16 education, funding learning infrastructure, student equipment upgrades, and mobile devices. The initiative aims to improve learner experience and employability across FE colleges, work-based learning, and specialist provision.
Nearly 10 million out of work
Nearly 10 million people in the UK are out of work, including 1.65 million unemployed and 7.9 million economically inactive, according to the latest Labour Market figures from the Office of National Statistics. This represents one in four of the working population, though employment levels have risen by 93,000 over the last three months.
HR tip: Redundancy consultation
In redundancy situations, employers must conduct collective consultation with all affected employees, typically through representatives or group meetings. After initial selection, individual consultations are required to explain the decision and hear any questions or alternative suggestions from each affected employee.
How to get the staff you really, really want
Discover five alternative recruitment strategies beyond traditional interviewing to find the right staff for key positions. Dr Tim Barnett explains how capability testing, structured candidate meetings, and two-way information exchange help ensure effective fit between organization and candidate.
No more chasing references
Electronic referencing solutions streamline the employee reference process by storing references centrally and reducing time-consuming chasing and recreation of documents. This technology improves efficiency for HR teams, decreases hiring delays, and helps mitigate risks like litigation and reference fraud.
All mixed up: Have diversity issues lost face? By Louise Druce
Diversity policies in UK workplaces remain largely ineffective despite legal requirements, with discrimination claims rising significantly. Experts argue that successful diversity initiatives require genuine organizational commitment and clear communication, not just compliance with legislation.
Training scheme that increases company profitability
Learning Through Work (LTW) is a work-based training scheme where employees develop higher education qualifications while working on projects that increase company profitability. This framework balances staff development with business performance, offering companies a measurable return on training investment.
Job seekers must keep ‘NetRep’ in tact
A quarter of HR decision makers reject job applicants based on negative online information, while 59% say personal web content influences recruitment decisions. Job seekers should maintain a positive online reputation to improve employment prospects.
First aid training must be increased
Work-related injuries cost UK organizations £5 to £8 billion annually in lost productivity. The British Red Cross is urging employers to increase first aid training beyond legal requirements, citing significant workplace safety and economic benefits.
Firms must combat fraud amongst temp workers
A survey found that 89% of temporary workers in UK financial services had undisclosed criminal records, with experts warning that firms must implement stricter vetting procedures to prevent fraud and organized crime.
Down and out: How to deal with downsizing effectively
Effective downsizing requires careful management of both the legal process and employee relations. Key considerations include meaningful two-way consultation, proper timelines based on employee numbers, selection criteria, and support services like outplacement assistance for affected staff.
Improved retention tools needed to keep workers
One in five UK workers are leaving their jobs to pursue new careers, with lack of promotion and poor management also driving departures. Employers must enhance retention strategies through regular appraisals, training, development opportunities, and stronger management practices to keep talent.
Networking or not working? The value of social networking
Personal and social networking sites can significantly impact workplace productivity, creating distractions that range from minor interruptions to complete work disruption. Understanding the difference between productive professional networking and time-wasting personal messaging is essential for both employees and businesses concerned about performance.
£1.68 million ROI for interim managers
Research reveals interim managers deliver an average ROI of £1.68 million per assignment, with businesses earning £14 for every £1 spent. The analysis of change management and transformation projects shows particularly strong returns in financial and manufacturing sectors.
Sidelined? The disappointing maternity return. By Annie Hayes
Many working mothers face being sidelined, excluded, and undermined when they return from maternity leave, experiencing a real or perceived drop in career prospects. Despite growing numbers of women returning to work, they often struggle with self-doubt, exclusion from key projects, and pressure to revalidate themselves as valued employees.
The collaborative executive
BT Global Services’ chief HR officer Alan Davis explores how collaboration has become essential to modern business success, marking a dramatic shift from the competitive corporate culture of the 1980s and 1990s toward what experts call “wikinomics”—a model where companies openly share resources and co-innovate globally.
Ask the expert: Representation
Employment law experts advise a manager who has been implicated during a disciplinary proceeding involving other employees. They recommend documenting concerns in writing, raising a formal grievance if needed, and notifying senior management, as an innocent manager should have no legal concerns about unfounded allegations.
Style over Substance?
Many organizations reject talented candidates lacking industry experience, potentially missing skilled professionals. This practice raises questions about whether strict industry requirements serve as legitimate criteria or inadvertent discrimination in hiring decisions.
Absent staff cost companies £20.9 billion
UK absenteeism costs companies £20.9 billion annually, with 480 million days lost, according to a survey of 2,139 employers. Fraudulent sick days account for £3.5 billion of losses, representing 17% of all company sickness, with average sick days per worker doubling from eight in 2002 to 16 today.
Working away from office increases productivity
Research shows 48 percent of office workers believe changing their work location would boost productivity, while 46 percent say it would improve work-life balance. The survey reveals growing demand for flexible working options beyond traditional office environments.
