Eight in ten recruiters say graduates are missing job offers due to weak work ethic and soft skills, with many employers extending probation periods, research finds.
Category: In Business
Advice on growing your small and medium sized business, SME, in the UK. Hiring and managing staff and finance plus marketing all on one website
Nominations open for the 2026 Black British Business Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Black British Business Awards, recognising outstanding Black British leaders and rising stars across nine UK business sectors.
Workers’ rights reforms prompt a third of employers to curb hiring
A CIPD survey finds 37% of employers plan to cut permanent hiring due to the Employment Rights Act, with more than half expecting increased workplace disputes.
Alphabet ramps up AI spending with up to $185bn capital plan
Alphabet plans to spend up to $185bn this year as it accelerates AI investment, reporting strong fourth-quarter results but facing investor scrutiny over soaring costs.
Apple and Google agree UK app store changes after ‘effective duopoly’ ruling
Apple and Google have agreed to change how their app stores operate in the UK after the CMA ruled they held an effective duopoly, marking a major step in digital market regulation.
RoSPA launches expert commission to shape the future of occupational safety skills
RoSPA has launched a new OSH Skills Commission at the House of Lords, bringing together industry experts to address recruitment, retention and skills gaps in workplace safety.
Innovate UK awards £300k grant to boost AI-led early detection of hospital infections
Innovate UK has awarded more than £300,000 to Exeter HealthTech Research Centre and Sanome to advance MEMORI, an AI platform designed to detect hospital-acquired infections days earlier.
Andrew Bailey warns AI training is critical to future of UK jobs
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey says training workers in AI skills will be critical as artificial intelligence begins to disrupt jobs, vacancies and financial markets.
Royal Mail urges SMEs to tap £1m apprenticeship fund during National Apprenticeship Week
Royal Mail is reminding SMEs to apply for its £1m apprenticeship levy fund during National Apprenticeship Week, offering support to help smaller firms tackle skills gaps and drive growth.
Tesco snaps up former Amazon Fresh sites as convenience push gathers pace
Tesco has acquired five former Amazon Fresh shops in London as it accelerates the rollout of its Express convenience stores, planning more than 70 new openings by 2027.
New guidance aims to help small business owners cope with mental strain of late payments
The Small Business Commissioner launches new guidance to support SME mental health and tackle the stress caused by late and unpaid invoices.
NatWest to expand Accelerator community to 50,000 UK entrepreneurs in 2026
NatWest plans to expand its Accelerator community to 50,000 UK entrepreneurs in 2026, scaling founder support, university hubs and growth programmes nationwide.
£80m student skills investment to strengthen UK defence workforce
The UK Government has announced an £80m investment to expand student places in defence-critical skills such as engineering, cyber security and advanced manufacturing.
American Express launches flexible payment feature to ease small business cashflow pressure
American Express has launched a new Flexible Payment Option for Business Platinum and Gold Cardmembers, giving UK SMEs an instant line of credit to manage cashflow.
Pinterest sacks engineers after internal tool exposed laid-off staff during AI-driven cuts
Pinterest has dismissed two engineers who created software to identify colleagues made redundant as the company cuts 15% of jobs and shifts further towards AI.
