With the general election coming up this week, we have set out a summary of some of the key employment law proposals from the main political parties. Conservative The Conservative Party has said little in its manifesto in relation to its plan for employment law, and they have proposed very few substantial employment reforms. Its … Continued
The UK’s manufacturing sector sprung back into growth in May as levels of production surged and business optimism hit a more than two-year high. The closely watched S&P Global/CIPS UK manufacturing PMI survey rose to 51.2 in May, after falling back to 49.1 in the previous month. Any reading above 50 means a sector is … Continued
Major contractors have called for a clear focus on construction during the campaign period that began with yesterday’s announcement of a general election on 4 July. Prime minister Rishi Sunak caught many political commentators by surprise by calling voters to the ballot box six months before the end of the current Parliament. Balfour Beatty chief executive … Continued
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