The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) is advising policymakers to amend labour laws, so they become fit for the modern, more flexible labour market. Changes will make it easier for employers to comply with employment legislation and for workers to understand their rights. The proposed changes should enable more people to participate flexibly in … Continued
We take another look at the monthly statistics about SIA licences from the Security Industry Authority. We last looked, in the October 2023 print edition of Professional Security Magazine, at the August 2023 figures, when the total of SIA-badged was 429,088. Of those, 46,266 were women, or 10.8 per cent. The March 2024 total is 433,036 and of those 47,168 were … Continued
Construction buyers reported another rise in business activity in April with commercial building work leading the way. The bellwether S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index posted 53.0 in April, up from 50.2 in March. The index was in positive territory for the second month running and signalled the strongest pace of expansion since February … Continued
In the wake of Gallagher’s latest Benefits Strategy & Benchmarking Report, UK businesses are making significant strides in supporting working parents. With 81 percent of organisations implementing well-being strategies for working parents—a substantial increase from 15% the previous year—there’s a clear recognition of the need for workplace evolution. Amidst the rising cost of childcare, which … Continued
Just over one-third of pension savers (35%) feel confident to make decisions such as choosing how to access their pension when they reach retirement age, according to research by workplace pension scheme provider TPT Retirement Solutions. Its survey of more than 2,500 defined contribution (DC) scheme members also found that a similar proportion of respondents were unsure … Continued
London mayor Sadiq Khan and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves recently unveiled the London Growth Plan to create 150,000 high-quality, high-paid jobs by 2028, highlights Derek Mackenzie. With a focus on growing sectors including AI and cyber, it is an impressive and ambitious plan to bolster the job market in the capital, but with that comes … Continued
The UK plastics industry plays an important role in the country’s economic engine, generating over Ј25 billion annually and employing approximately 155,000 people. In this article, Nigel Smith, managing director of TM Robotics, the international distribution partner of Shibaura Machine and the UK and Ireland distributor of its injection mould machines, explores the changing landscape of … Continued
UK car production rose again in February, up 14.6% to 79,907 units, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It was the sixth consecutive month of growth and best February performance since 2021,1 with nearly all volume manufacturers posting uplifts, driven by output for the domestic … Continued
Last November, the government announced it will take steps to reform the fit note process to support more people to resume work after a period of illness. It will do this through trials in some integrated care systems (ICS) in England to increase access to health and employment support, referrals for those who have received a … Continued
FOLLOWING the announcement that the Prime Minister has pledged £60m of funding for next year to boost apprenticeships, Lee Parkinson, chief executive at Efficiency North, the holding group for flexi-job apprenticeship service EN:Able Futures, shares his thoughts on what this means for the construction sector. Lee said: “We welcome the announcement that apprenticeships are getting not only the … Continued