National Science and Engineering Week: Plugging the specialist skills gap
National Science and Engineering Week highlights Europe’s critical specialist skills gap, driven by rapid technological and market changes. Rising demand for expertise in technology, finance, and energy sectors creates recruitment challenges amid economic uncertainty and stricter EU labor regulations, forcing employers to compete harder for qualified talent.
Cable reveals coalition horse-trading over scrapping 50p tax rate
Business Secretary Vince Cable confirms coalition negotiations are underway to replace the 50p income tax rate with a mansion tax on expensive homes. The Liberal Democrats support replacing the levy with wealth taxation rather than scrapping it outright, though Conservatives debate the proposal’s fairness.
Remploy factory closures risk jobs of 1,500 disabled workers
Remploy plans to close 36 of its 54 factories due to government funding cuts, risking compulsory redundancies for over 1,500 disabled workers. The employment service, established 66 years ago, will consult with unions about the closures by year-end.
Video Interview: Sharron Davies on what it takes to be a winner
Olympic silver medalist Sharron Davies discusses the qualities required to be a winner, her path to sporting success, effective leadership, and the impact of the Olympics on London.
OTS pushes for simplification of employee share schemes
The Office of Tax Simplification recommends merging the Enterprise Management Incentive and Company Share Option Plan into a single employee share scheme to reduce complexity and legislation. The proposal also calls for removing approval processes in favor of a self-certification system, potentially encouraging wider uptake among UK employers.
Scheme unveiled to cut unemployment among ex-prisoners
The government has launched a new scheme requiring ex-prisoners to join the Work Programme immediately upon release or face benefit cuts. The initiative aims to provide 30,000 former offenders annually with employment support and reduce reoffending rates.
Workers making official Olympics sportswear are abused, claims charity
A charity investigation reveals that workers in Bangladeshi factories making official Olympics sportswear for Adidas, Nike, and Puma face exploitation including wages as low as 9p per hour, excessive working hours, and physical and verbal abuse from managers.
50p tax rate harming job creation, claim businessmen
Over 500 business leaders have signed a letter claiming the 50p income tax rate for high earners is damaging the UK economy and discouraging job creation and investment. They argue the levy, which reaches 58p with national insurance, puts populist politics before sound economics and should be scrapped in the upcoming budget.
Boots pulls out of 2nd controversial unemployment scheme
Boots has withdrawn from a government work programme for the long-term unemployed due to its compulsory elements, citing company policy against schemes that force people to work. The move comes as ministers already dropped sanctions from a separate youth work experience initiative following criticism from employers and charities.
Changes to skilled migrant rights will “cause big problems for employers”
The UK government will restrict skilled migrant workers earning under £35,000 from staying longer than five years, a policy critics warn will harm employers and discourage top talent from relocating to Britain.
Blog: Will your staff be called up during the Olympics?
Reservists will be mobilized for Olympic security, with most serving one to three months. Employers will receive 60 days’ notice and financial assistance up to £110 daily, while the Safeguard of Employment Act 1985 protects Reservists’ jobs.
Analysis: Are women being hit hardest by public sector cuts?
Women in temporary public sector roles fell by 28.3% over two years due to cuts in social care, catering, and administrative positions. However, the CIPD argues women aren’t being hit harder overall in the UK jobs market, citing ONS data showing female employment actually rose slightly while male employment declined.
Neet employer funding: ‘Why fill in forms for a social experiment?’
The government’s £126m training scheme for 55,000 NEETs has drawn criticism from business leaders who argue funding should go directly to employers rather than training providers. Pimlico Plumbers’ founder says the approach creates unnecessary bureaucracy, while employers question whether the scheme justifies completing tender documents.
Tesco changes work experience terms in bid to end protests
Tesco is offering paid placements and guaranteed jobs to work experience candidates, reversing its unpaid labor practices after consumer backlash over its participation in the government’s Workfare scheme.
Minister: UK employers should favour UK unemployed
Employment Minister Chris Grayling has called for UK employers to prioritize young British unemployed workers over immigrant job applicants, despite EU employment laws prohibiting such discrimination. The appeal echoes earlier “British jobs for British people” rhetoric, as youth unemployment reaches around 1 million.
UK unemployment continues ‘steady crawl’ to 9% by year end
UK unemployment rose to 8.4% in December, the highest level in 17 years, with experts warning joblessness will continue climbing toward 9% by year’s end as the labor market experiences slow contraction rather than recovery.
Blog: Why is coaching still an elitist sport?
Workplace coaching demonstrates significant benefits for employees and organizations, yet remains limited primarily to middle managers and senior staff. While smaller companies successfully integrate coaching across all levels, larger organizations often restrict it to higher-ranking positions due to cost and resource constraints.
Training budgets first to be cut due to unclear business value
Training budgets are frequently cut first during downturns because organizations struggle to measure training’s business value and return on investment. A survey found 79% of L&D managers agree that improving how training is evaluated could help protect budgets by demonstrating clear alignment with business goals.
UK unemployment is double official figures at 6.3m, reveals study
A UK study reveals true unemployment is 6.3 million—more than double official figures—when using US metrics that include underemployed and economically inactive workers. The analysis shows underemployment has reached historic highs at 1.9 million people, highlighting a jobs crisis extending beyond joblessness to inadequate employment.
Redundancies expected to hit highest levels since spring 2009
Private sector redundancies are expected to hit their highest levels since spring 2009, with nearly a third of employers planning to cut headcount this quarter. The net employment balance has fallen to -8, reflecting worsening economic conditions and declining business confidence across the UK.
